Grandfather's Tears

Tuan Le told me because Minh Nhat and Minh Quang used to act in plays for the Hong Hac stage. Minh Nhat even played the main role very charmingly in the play My Little Angel for two years. Duy Ha entrusted her two grandchildren to Tuan Le because they were circus performers at the Southern Arts Theater, where her grandfather worked, specializing in juggling, cycling... Knowing that he was seriously ill, but hearing the news of Duy Ha's death, I was shocked. She was only 64 years old! The biography of the veteran circus artist of the South, along with his achievements and the title of Meritorious Artist, has been mentioned in the newspapers. This short article is my memory of the tears...

Minh Nhat in My Little Angel

In 2019, I was anxious to find the 8-year-old boy to play the role of Kha in the play My Little Angel , thanks to a game show in which Minh Nhat was the champion, I immediately contacted his relatives. Over the phone, circus artist Duy Ha was not as enthusiastic as I thought, the reason I knew when we met was because he did not believe that his son could act when he could not read yet, and was only used to circus acts. I still asked for permission to meet him based on his experience and intuition of the bright face in the game show. Duy Ha asked me where I was to bring him, but I wanted to do the opposite, in case the casting was not successful, I would not feel too guilty. Before coming, I sent the script to the family for reference.

Minh Nhat performs juggling in the play

During the first meeting, the gentle grandfather kept reminding his grandson that he had never acted in a movie or play; that Minh Nhat was only in first grade and was afraid that he wouldn't be able to memorize the script and "spoil" everyone's business; that he didn't have time to take his grandson to practice... In general, he tried to discuss things, although he couldn't hide his excitement and joy at the new opportunity for his grandson. Charmed by the child with a bright smile and bright eyes, I asked permission to whisper privately to Minh Nhat. Asked if he liked acting, Minh Nhat said he did. Asked if his role was fun, but when he had to say goodbye to Hong Hoa, Kha cried, could he cry? Minh Nhat looked at his younger brother Minh Quang who was lurking around as if looking for an ally. Seeing Minh Quang signaling his support, his older brother hesitantly said, "Yes, let me try..., I think it will work."

Then the play was put into shape after a long dialogue rehearsal in which the assistant mainly read to the child actors to memorize, with the grandfather patiently following closely, nervously, eagerly watching his grandson transform into the character... An hour and 45 minutes of rehearsal passed. Amidst the joyful cheers of the crew for success were the sobs of the grandfather and younger brother of the main actor. If Minh Quang cried because "Kha had to say goodbye to Hong Hoa, I'm so sad!", then the grandfather cried because "I didn't expect my grandson to do such a difficult thing. I couldn't control my emotions!". Looking at the grandfather's teary eyes filled with happiness and pride for his eldest grandson, I almost cried too.

Minh Nhat, Minh Quang, Thuan Phat and Ngan Chi in the play Winged Love

Then, during the emotional performances, the grandfather always followed his grandson closely, not to take care of him because his grandmother would take care of him, but to enjoy, to enjoy the joy of his grandson performing, making the audience cry after being so good at circus arts - a quiet, gentle joy like his personality. Every time the play ended, Minh Nhat always performed 1-2 circus acts for the audience, then happily hugged his grandfather backstage. Looking at them, we felt love and affection, felt connected. And yet the grandfather had passed away!

As I write these lines, I am in France, only sending condolence flowers but not being able to pay my respects, but I imagine Minh Nhat cried a lot. He would have cried even more if he knew how much his grandfather had worried about his grandchildren before he passed away. Duy Ha did not entrust his two grandchildren to me because drama is not Minh Quang and Minh Nhat's forte, but missing him, I silently told myself I would do something when I had the chance. I miss Duy Ha so much...

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/nuoc-mat-nguoi-ong-185240205102839224.htm