Artists of cai luong (reformed opera) troupes in the Cuu Long Mekong) River Delta region will offer news shows that they hope will prove to be fun for farmers during the Christmas, New Year and Tet holiday season. — Photo by Duy Khoi

Can Tho City’s Tây Đô Cải Lương Troupe will offer comedy shows that will, as usual, focus on the year’s top social and cultural events. Historical plays about national heroes will also be included.

Shows on tài tử music, a traditional genre of southern theatre, will be staged on boats on the Cai Rang Floating Market every weekend.

These shows aim to serve tourists and star young talents such as Phuong Anh, Hong Thuy and Kim Ngan.

"Our shows featuring tài tử songs will reflect farmers' daily lives, including work and family problems, and have lessons for the audience," Hong Quoc Khanh, head of the troupe, said.

The theatre’s shows will begin next week and run through Tet, which starts on January 25 and runs through February 4.

In Bac Lieu Province, the Cao Văn Lầu Theatre is offering free cải lương shows every Saturday.

Veterans and young talents will perform excerpts from popular operas like Mùa Xuân Bất Tận (The Endless Spring) and Mặt Trời Đỏ (Red Sun) describing patriotism.

They will also perform excerpts from their new plays, Duyên Kiếp (Destiny of Love) and Dưới Rặng Dừa Xanh (Under the Coconut Tree), both featuring stories about love and betrayal.

The plays helped young actors of Cao Văn Lầu Theatre win golden and silver medals for leading roles at the National Professional Cải Lương Festival 2018 held in Long An Province last year.
More than 800 people are expected to visit the theatre every weekend in the Christmas and New Year holiday. The number will double during Tet.

The Hương Tràm Theatre of Ca Mau Province offers Ông Táo (Kitchen God), a series of one and two-act comedy featuring southern dances and songs and based on traditional legends.
“We always stage Ông Táo every Tết to entertain local farmers. The show is our theatre’s tradition,” said Meritorious Artist Hoa Phuong of Hương Tràm Theatre.

“On the 23rd of the last lunar month, Vietnamese families clean their kitchens and worship Ông Táo as he leaves for heaven to report about the family to the God of Heaven. He returns to the kitchen on the 30th.”

“This season, our young actors, graduates of film and theatre universities, will stage Ông Táo shows,” said Phuong.

Phượng and her staff will travel to remote areas to stage their shows during the holidays of Christmas and New Year and Tet.

Like other cai luong troupes in the Cuu Long region, Hương Tràm Theatre spends around VND70 million (US$3,000) on a new show this season.

“The money is not enough. Most of our shows are free. Some cost VND20,000 (US$9). We hope to create a happy and peaceful season for poor farmers and children," said Phuong.

Last year during the holidays, Hương Tràm Troupe travelled around Ca Mau and neighbouring provinces like Bac Lieu, Dong Thap and Hau Giang and performed in front of more than 40,000 people. — VNS

Can Tho theatre targets young audiences to popularise traditional arts

Tay Do Theatre in Can Tho City plans to launch new free cải lương (reformed opera), hát bội and tuồng (classical drama) performances for young audiences as part of efforts to preserve the traditional arts.

'Cai luong will never die,' says People’s Artist Minh Vuong

Veteran artist Minh Vuong of HCM City was awarded the title People’s Artist by the Prime Minister in recognition of his great contribution to cai luong (reformed opera), a 100-year-old traditional theatre genre of the southern region.