VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City’s theatres promise a variety of new shows this Tet (Lunar New Year festival), which falls this year on February 5, to suit audiences of varying musical and dramatic tastes. 

Veteran and young artists of the Phu Nhuan Drama Stage are preparing for big shows to celebrate the Tet (Lunar New Year festival) holiday. — Photo courtesy of the producer.

For comedy fans, the Phu Nhuan Drama Stage on Truong Son Street in Tan Binh District will offer a special series of three comedies each night from next weekend to February 15.   

Tắt Đèn Là Chạy (Run Out), Cơn Mê Cuối Cùng (The Last Dream) and Cung Tâm Kế (Game of Throne) has attracted young actors from the HCM City University of Theatre and Cinematography. The plays focus on messages about love.  

“We decided to stage comedies during the Tết holiday because people want to be entertained and forget their problems after a year of hard work. Our actors will perform with sound and light effects on a modern stage," said People’s Artist and comedic actress Hong Van, the theatre’s owner and art director.

“We hope our shows will bring good profits during the year’s biggest business season,” she added. 

Van’s theatre spent VND2 billion (US$87,000) on production.

Another option for laughs is Vẻ Đẹp Hoàn Hảo (Perfect Beauty) staged by the IDECAF Drama Stage in Distrct 1’s Le Thanh Ton Street. Directed by Vu Minh, the play focuses on lessons about love and family. Famous comedians Thanh Loc and Dinh Toan will be featured.  

The play will be first staged at 8pm on January 18.

For more quiet selections, try the popular stages of HCM City 5B Drama Theatre on Vo Van Tan Street in District 3 and Hoang Thai Thanh Drama Club on Bac Hai Street in District 10. Both are popular with local students and workers.

Hoang Thai Thanh Drama Club’s Nửa Đời Ngơ Ngác (Life), one of the theatre’s favourite works, portrays the changes in traditional values related to young farmers, particularly women. The leading characters are played by veteran actresses Meritorious Artist Tuyet Thu, Hanh Thuy, Hong Anh and Ai Nhu, the theatre’s co-founder and art director.  

Nửa Đời Ngơ Ngác, written by Hoang Thai Thanh, was first staged in HCM City in 2010, starring talented actors Quang Thao and Ngoc Lan.

The play has been staged for 150 shows. It will be restaged in a new version by art director Nhu, who has more than 20 years of experience in the theatre. 

Nhu worked hard to rewrite and direct the version.

“Nửa Đời Ngơ Ngác and its spirit are still in the minds of theatre lovers,” said Nhu, adding that she wants the play’s new version to meet the demands of young audiences.

The HCM City 5B Drama Theatre is working on Chợ Đời Hát Rong (Voice of Life), a drama directed by young talent Bui Quoc Bao.  

The play highlights a poor, veteran actress in cải lương (reformed opera), played by My Uyen, who shares her stories about career, love, money and glory. It also focuses on the challenges and sacrifices she faces to preserve the art. 

The show’s leading actors Le Phuong and Quy Binh will dance and sing cải lương.

"Through our show, audiences can laugh but also can cry and gain useful lessons. We hope our creative approach toward the play will provide a relaxing and humorous evening for audiences during Tết,” said the theatre’s director and actress Uyen.

All of the new plays will be staged every night during the Tet holiday.

Fans of music should head to the HCM City Youth Cultural House on Pham Ngoc Thach Street in District 1.

The house will stage a free outdoor theatre and music show, Mừng Xuân Mới (Celebrating New Spring), on Lunar New Year’s Eve, February 4.   

The event includes songs, dances, circuses and one-act comedian shows, attracting nearly a hundred of singers, dancers and theatre artists.  

More than 7,000 people are expected to join the show.

Source: VNS