The play about General Le Van Duyet attracts audiences

Ho Chi Minh City - A historical play about General Le Van Duyet - "the foremost founding hero of the nation" - attracted 700 viewers at its first performance.

Dinh Toan (left) - playing Le Van Duyet and Quang Thao - playing King Minh Mang. Photo: Mai Nhat.

Lasting two and a half hours, the film captivates viewers with its dramatic storyline. Dinh Toan surprises with his calm demeanor and profound inner depth. The portrait of Le Van Duyet emerges not only through his achievements but also through his dialogues with the surrounding characters: Minh Mang, Deputy Governor Huynh Cong Ly, and his wife Do Thi Phan (Hoang Trinh).

Facing the king, he displayed the integrity of a loyal official, refusing to grovel like the treacherous officials surrounding Minh Mạng. Once Lê Văn Duyệt made a decision, no one could stop him, not even the king. Beside his wife, he was tormented by his inability to give her true marital happiness, vowing to "repay her in the next life."

Plays about General Le Van Duyet attract audiences.

A musical scene depicting Le Van Duyet's anguish over the suffering of ordinary people. Video : Mai Nhat

Before Huynh Cong Ly, the Left Army commander clearly showed contempt, relentlessly questioning his accusations. Le Van Duyet warned the corrupt official with the philosophy, "The people are the ones who lift the boat, and the people are the ones who overturn it." With the concept of "fighting corrupt officials like fighting termites," the Left Army commander believed that it was not the court, but the people who bestowed upon him blessings and wealth. Several times, Dinh Toan earned applause from the audience for his emphasis on impactful lines, such as, "The law is a small whip, it only strikes the hands and feet, not the head. But with me, I strike from the head down."

In the villainous role, Huynh Cong Ly was not a difficult character for Dai Nghia. The artist fully portrayed the cruelty of a military general who had once achieved many merits but gradually became corrupted by lust for power. Along with his daughter Hue Phi, the Deputy Governor revealed many schemes when "he let Le Van Duyet throw himself into the fire and bullets of war, while Huynh Cong Ly calmly sat back and enjoyed the benefits." Dai Nghia also had many moments of comedic interplay, such as joking with the people and berating the henchmen.

General Le Van Duyet executes Huynh Cong Ly.

Scene of General Le Van Duyet executing Huynh Cong Ly. Video: Mai Nhat

The remaining characters mostly played their roles well. Quang Thảo made his mark in scenes where he countered Lê Văn Duyệt, harboring political ambitions. Deep down, Minh Mạng feared both the power and integrity of the Left Army Commander, but also admired him for his lifelong honesty and the people's favor. Mỹ Duyên portrayed the cunning and flirtatious nature of a concubine cherished by the king. Through Hoàng Trinh's performance, Mrs. Đỗ Thị Phận embodied the sentiments of a loyal wife, constantly worried whenever her husband faced danger, yet vowing to be a confidante and spiritual support for the Left Army Commander throughout her life.

The play captivated the audience until nearly 11 PM. They applauded every line spoken by Le Van Duyet as he confronted the treacherous minister. As they left, viewers lingered, taking souvenir photos with the backdrop and posters of the play's characters.

Audiences watch the first performance of a play about General Le Van Duyet. Photo: Mai Nhat.

Audience member Nguyen Thi Nguyen, 38, said she brought her 8th-grade daughter along so the girl could learn more about the legendary general. She appreciated the new script, which focused on the relationship between the Left General and his wife, something many other plays haven't done when portraying his life. "The sound quality wasn't great; the actors' voices were cut off several times. Some of the performers occasionally stumbled over their lines, possibly because it was their first performance and they were nervous," Nguyen said.

This work marks Idecaf's return to the historical genre after 5 years, since the once-sensational musical "Tien Nga" . The project kicks off the "Vietnamese History in Schools" theatrical program, a project that Mr. Huynh Anh Tuan - director of Idecaf - has been nurturing for many years.

Huynh Anh Tuan said the team spent a year preparing for the play. The design team went to Hue to find suitable materials for the set and props. All the costumes were custom-made at a workshop specializing in crafting Nguyen Dynasty costumes in Hue. "We aim to closely adhere to the historical and cultural context with the motto 'it must be accurate to be beautiful'," Mr. Tuan said. The play will continue to be performed on April 21 and 28 at the Youth Theatre (District 3, Ho Chi Minh City), and the team said the first three performances were sold out.

Le Van Duyet (1763-1832), also known as Ta Quan Duyet, was a politician and military leader who assisted Nguyen Anh in the war against the Tay Son army. After the war ended and the Nguyen dynasty was established, he became a high-ranking official in the court and served two emperors, Gia Long (Nguyen Anh) and Minh Mang. In 1832, General Le Van Duyet died after an illness at the age of 69. He was buried on a high mound west of Gia Dinh citadel, now known as Lang Ong in Ba Chieu, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City. Many theatrical works have been inspired by his life, such as the play "Ta Quan Le Van Duyet" (directed by Doan Hoang Giang) and the Cai Luong play "Trung Than" (directed by Hoa Ha).

Mai Nhat

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/kich-ve-ta-quan-le-van-duyet-thu-hut-khan-gia-4732914.html