VietNamNet Bridge – Millions of young people in HCM City and the Cuu Long (Mekong) River Delta region have been captivated by a new TV programme featuring cai luong (reformed opera), a traditional southern music genre, produced by veteran artists.  

Educational entertainment: Young people in HCM City and the Cuu Long (Mekong) River Delta region learn about Vietnamese history though cai luong programmes on TV produced by veteran artists.

A programme featuring young actors who perform cai luong (reformed opera) on Vinh Long Television’s THLV1 channel, has become one of the station’s hottest entertainment shows since its release last year.

The show, Sao Noi Ngoi (Young Stars), produced by Vinh Long Television, offers performances of vong co (nostalgic tunes), cai luong and tuong or hat boi (classical drama), traditional genres of theatre, in the southern and central regions. 

It features a series of vong co songs and extracts from historical plays, such as Thai Hau Duong Van Nga (Mother Queen Duong Van Nga), Huyen Tran Cong Chua (Princess Huyen Tran) and Tran Quoc Toan (Young Hero Tran Quoc Toan).  

The show’s young actors Thieng Ngan, Hong Nhung and Binh Tinh were trained by their parents, including skilled artists Le Giang and Vu Linh, who have worked hard to develop the traditional art and maintain their families’ artistic tradition.

“Performing in Sao Noi Ngoi is a chance for us to learn more about Vietnamese history,” said actress Tinh, daughter of veteran actor Duc Loi.   

“Each performance is a lesson with images, sounds and lights that provides young audiences with useful and fascinating facts about history and why their older generations fought for the country’s independence,” the 26-year-old said.  

People’s Artist Bach Tuyet, 65, a member of the show’s producing staff, said that teaching history with theatre could help youth mature.

“After watching, audiences can improve their knowledge, love and respect for the country and our national heroes,” she said. 

Vinh Long Television plans to work with radio and TV stations in the region, including Ho Chi Minh City Television, to offer new shows on historical topics for children and young audiences.

“Many young audiences have sent their letters and comments on our show’s quality. Some students wrote that they enjoyed learning Vietnamese history through cai luong performances on TV rather than reading about it in books,” said theatre director Chau Ngoc An of Vinh Long TV, and the show’s art director.

Cai luong nights  

Meritorious Artist Kim Tu Long of HCM City agrees. “Historical plays keep cai luong alive,” he said.

Long, in co-operation with a staff of skilled artists, launched the drama project, Ba The He Ve Lai Coi Nguon (Three Generations Perform Reformed Drama), at the Cong Nhan Theatre in District 1.

The project offers live shows featuring the country’s events in the contemporary period and extending back to several hundred years ago.

The shows include historical plays in praise of national heroes, first staged in the 1980s and 90s, such as Cau Tho Yen Ngua (Poems on the Saddle), Ngon Lua Thang Long (Fire of Thang Long Citadel) and Tieng Goi Non Song (The Call of the Nation).

“Our project also aims to restage famous plays that have been performed by talanted artists in different generations. We hope to encourage young people to learn more about traditional theatre,” Long said.

Star turn: Actor Vo Thanh Phe is popular among youth for singin cai luong in historical plays on TV shows produced by veteran director and producer Kieu Tan. Photo dongtay.vn

“We have received support from HCM City Television (HTV) and HCM City Theatre Association, as well as many young and veteran performers of the city and southern provinces,” he added.   

Long’s shows offer tickets at affordable prices, ranging from VND50,000 (US$2.5) to 100,000 ($4.5) each.

His staff is working to stage a show for three nights in Hai Phong and Ha Noi next month.

Since its first show in 2006, Chuong Vang Vong Co (Nostalgia Golden Bell), one of HTV most popular music programmes, has supported dozens of young talents to develop their cai luong career.  

The programme features extracts from historical plays composed by talented artists. It has also offered new concepts for the theatre. 

The man behind the show is renowned theatre researcher, director and producer Kieu Tan, former head of the HTV’s Theatre and Music Office.

"Theatre is life. I want to write, compose and direct traditional music programmes filled with light, sound and visual effects," said Tan, who has more than 40 years of experience in the industry.       

A HTV producer, Tan has helped many young artists improve their talent by training through performing.  

Thanks to his shows, many students and farmers have developed their careers and become professional actors.    

Young actor Phe, winner of the 2008 Chuong Vang Vong Co, said: “I love playing in TV shows produced by Tan and his staff because they have good quality and help to educate my young fans.”

“Cai luong was only staged live decades ago. So, the art’s expansion has been limited in modern society,” said Tran Quoc Bao, third-year student at the HCM City University of Law. “TV shows, particularly historical productions, have helped to bring the art to bigger audiences.” 

Thu Anh

VNS