Both familiar and strange with the opera "The Soul of Jade Poetry"

In the program commemorating the 2nd anniversary of playwright Le Duy Hanh's passing, director Le Nguyen Dat presented the entire play Hon Tho Ngoc at Tran Huu Trang Theater.

The first edition of "The Soul of Jade Poetry" premiered to the audience on the evening of September 6th - Photo: LINH DOAN

The poetic soul of author Le Duy Hanh is no stranger to Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) lovers. In this complete production, director Le Nguyen Dat has incorporated many experimental elements, aiming for the play to participate in the 2025 International Experimental Theatre Festival in Ninh Binh in November.

A new poetic soul

"The Jade Soul" is a segment of Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) that many young actors use in talent competitions, often only taking the final act of the play to perform. In "The Jade Soul" on the evening of September 6th, Le Nguyen Dat staged all three acts of the play in the Cai Luong musical drama genre.

Artist Binh Tinh played the role of Ngoc Han, performing alongside approximately 60 artists from the Huynh Long troupe, young artists, students from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Theatre and Film, dance groups, etc.

The play recounts the journey of Queen Ngoc Han, carrying her young child, as she escaped the pursuit of the enemy after the death of Quang Trung Nguyen Hue.

While previously the "Jade Soul" segment was typically a solo performance by artists, this time Binh Tinh still plays the key role but with the addition of 60 supporting actors, sometimes as a choir, sometimes in the deep forests and mountains, and sometimes as dark forces relentlessly pursuing the frail woman with her infant child in her arms, burdened by the soul of the emperor she loved and respected to the extreme.

In a scene from the play "The Jade Soul," the animals supporting Ngoc Han, such as the pink horse and elephant, are no longer supported by props as before, but are performed by the actors themselves - Video : LINH DOAN

The stage had no scenery, only LED screens, sound, music , and lighting to support the artists' performances.

Director Le Nguyen Dat shared that he admires the "one-person" style of playwright Le Duy Hanh, whose scripts demand a great deal of skill, expertise, effort, insight, and personal talent from the artist.

Regarding the performance of "Soul of Jade Poetry" on the evening of September 6th, he said it was version 1 for professionals and the public to review and provide feedback, and the team would gradually make adjustments with each performance.

The portrayal of Queen Ngoc Han in "The Soul of Jade Poetry" was a challenge for artist Binh Tinh.

He recalled that he had to revise 16 versions of his previous play , *Eclipse*, before he was even somewhat satisfied with it enough to present at the International Experimental Theatre Festival. Soon, the play will participate in the ASEAN Theatre Festival in China.

Training the next generation

When director Le Nguyen Dat chose Binh Tinh for the role in "The Jade Soul of Poetry ," he faced considerable skepticism, with many believing she was unsuitable for the part.

The director explained that although Binh Tinh is small in stature, she has experienced many losses, so she will empathize with Ngoc Han's pain.

Furthermore, the story's setting isn't in the palace but rather a chase scene, requiring a lot of dance moves, and Binh Tinh can fulfill that requirement.

Artist Binh Tinh emotionally shared that she calls playwright Le Duy Hanh "my teacher," because he was her mother's teacher, artist Bach Mai. She is very grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Le Duy Hanh for giving her the opportunity to perform in "The Soul of Jade Poetry ."

She said that when she received the script, there were times she wanted to return it because she was afraid she wouldn't do a good job. "My hand reached out to return it, but I held back because I felt regretful; I longed to act, to receive this golden opportunity."

"And finally, I decided to take on the role. I don't know how people will judge my performance, but I tried my best because I cherish this opportunity," Binh Tinh expressed.

Young actor Trong Nhan was given the opportunity to embody the spirit of Nguyen Hue, guiding Ngoc Han's journey.

Throughout the 90 minutes of "The Jade Soul ," Binh Tinh put in her best effort to navigate the challenging scenes. However, perhaps she needs more time to perfect her performance.

Viewers also hoped that Binh Tinh would be a little "softer" to better portray the refined demeanor of the empress; her fragility and slight vulnerability would fill the audience with emotion, making them tear up at the image of a solitary woman overcoming countless arrows and seas of fire to maintain her loyalty and integrity.

In the performance, alongside Binh Tinh, the director created opportunities for 60 young people to participate, many of whom are university students. He emphasized that "The Jade Poet's Soul" is not just a performance but a training course to educate young people in the craft, carrying on the flame of Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera).

Composer Thanh Liêm, who participated in the performance, said he had broken the mold by combining modern music with traditional art forms.

He also boldly chose all young musicians, aged between 25 and 32, to participate. These young people had graduated from the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music, possessed talent, and he believed they needed a place to hone their skills in order to inherit and develop Cai Luong music.

LINH DOAN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vua-quen-vua-la-voi-vo-cai-luong-hon-tho-ngoc-20250907074808652.htm