Author Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc was moved by the new version of The Lost Woman.

Although it was only a graduation play for student Le Thai Dang's directing major, the new production of the play Lost Woman moved author Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc.

The artist talks to the character Vu Nuong in Thieu Phu Nam Xuong - Photo: LINH DOAN

Returning to Vietnam from the US for some personal matters, author Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc took the opportunity to see the play The Lost Woman , which she wrote, now wearing a new look through the hands of young director Le Thai Dang.

Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc is happy that the director did not abandon Queen Mother Duong Van Nga.

Le Thai Dang was originally a student of the traditional theater department at the University of Theater and Cinema in Ho Chi Minh City. After graduating, he participated in freelance art activities, and now he has returned to study directing as a way to improve his skills.

Choosing the script The Lost Woman , Dang had the opportunity to bring his love of traditional art into a play with many experimental qualities.

The Lost Woman is a story about a young couple. The husband is a painter, the wife is a talented zither player. While the wife has won awards and been invited to tour, the husband is still stressed and pressured because he has not found perfection in the paintings he is preparing for the upcoming exhibition.

He was frustrated and irritable even when his wife took good care of him. His wife felt lonely and lost when she did not receive any attention or sharing from her husband, so she chose to leave.

At this point, the husband panicked and went to look for his wife. In that panic, he had conversations with the famous women in history and in the art he was painting, such as Princess Huyen Tran, Ho Nguyet Co, poetess Ho Xuan Huong, Empress Duong Van Nga and Vu Nuong ( Thieu Phu Nam Xuong ) to find the answer "Why did my wife leave when we were so happy?".

Artist My Hang plays the role of Queen Mother Duong Van Nga in the play The Lost Woman - Video : LINH DOAN

Queen Mother Duong Van Nga (played by My Hang) was in pain when every anniversary of King Dinh's death, people used sticks to hit her statue to "punish" her for being the mother of the world but not keeping the three obediences and four virtues, and for being the queen of two kings - Photo: LINH DOAN

After the performance, Le Thai Dang thanked author Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc for allowing him to stage her work. The evening of August 5th was also Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc's birthday, and she was surprised when Thai Dang celebrated her birthday right on stage.

She emotionally shared: "Many students have staged the script for The Lost Woman , but no one has chosen Queen Mother Duong Van Nga. With this version, I am touched that the director did not abandon this character."

Ms. Ngoc expressed her gratitude and confided that this was the heart and soul of researcher Cao Tu Thanh. As for the part about Queen Mother Duong Van Nga, Mr. Cao Tu Thanh wrote it for her.

She was also very happy to meet People's Artist My Hang again in the role of Queen Mother Duong Van Nga, because My Hang was once brought to the US by Ms. Ngoc to perform in the play Nguoi dan loi in 2008.

Le Thai Dang gave flowers to thank author Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc - Photo: LINH DOAN

Ho Nguyet Co was bitter when Tiet Giao betrayed her and took her jade, causing her to lose thousands of years of cultivation - Photo: LINH DOAN

Women's feelings

The Lost Woman was released more than 20 years ago, but until now, many students still ask to stage it because the script gives them many things to exploit and show their talents.

The Lost Woman was once taken by Ms. Minh Ngoc to many places around the world . In 2008, the play had 12 performances in the US with the participation of many famous and skilled artists such as Thanh Loc, Ngoc Dang, My Hang, Thuc Hanh, Leon Le, zither artist Hai Phuong...

With his graduation production at the University of Theatre and Cinema in Ho Chi Minh City, Le Thai Dang brought the freshness and youthfulness of young people into the script. Thai Dang emotionally said that he grew up in a house with his grandmother and mother as the pillars, they were a great inspiration for him to approach and stage The Lost Woman .

Dang's play is a combination of art forms such as reformed opera, traditional opera, dance, and folk songs from the Central region...

To ensure that the audience gets the true essence of each genre, he invited professional artists in each genre to participate in the play so that the audience has the opportunity to enjoy many art forms in one play.

The painter talks to Princess Huyen Tran's feelings - Photo: LINH DOAN

In any era, women always need to be respected and shared to feel happiness - Photo: LINH DOAN

After all, The Lost Woman still leaves in the hearts of viewers the feeling of women's fate. In any era, women always need to be respected and shared so that they can feel true joy and happiness.

The Lost Woman has just been put on stage at Hong Van Drama Theater to prepare for the 2025 International Experimental Theater Festival, scheduled to be held in November in Ninh Binh . Director Le Nguyen Dat said the crew will rename the play very concisely, Lac .

LINH DOAN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tac-gia-nguyen-thi-minh-ngoc-xuc-dong-voi-ban-dung-moi-nguoi-dan-ba-that-lac-2025080613025831.htm