"Cai luong" troupe to perform for free in rural areas during Tet

Ho Chi Minh City’s Tran Huu Trang “Cai luong” (reformed opera) theatre, one of the region’s leading traditional art troupes, is preparing a series of new shows to entertain farmers during Tet (Lunar New Year), which begins January 28.

The two shows will focus on historical events. Veteran and young talents like Tu Suong, Vo Minh Lam and Le Thanh Thao will perform in Hoa Vuong Tinh Mong (Hero’s Love Story) and Bao Tap Nguyen Sa (The Storm), both of which depict heroes’ sacrifices for the country.  

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

They will also stage Hon Ma Bao Oan (The Ghost) and Hiu Hiu Gio Bac (The Wind), comedy shows featuring the year’s top social and cultural events.

The plays, directed by young artists Quoc Kiet and Le Trung Thao, will include sound and light effects to lure young fans.

Theatre director and People’s Artist Tran Ngoc Giau said that a group of 20 young artists will travel to perform in the rural districts of Can Gio, Binh Chanh, Nha Be, Cu Chi and Hoc Mon.

“We will offer free shows at an outdoor stage located in cultural houses for rural residents, who love cai luong but have fewer entertainment choices than their urban counterparts,” he said.

Ca Mau province’s Huong Tram Cai Luong Troupe plans to offer quality shows for local farmers. Dozens of artists will travel around the province to perform for free or for only 10,000 to 25,000 VND (1.1 USD).

Talented artists such as Kim Hien and Minh Sang will take part in extracts from popular operas like Huyen Thoai Nguoi Me (The Legend of Mother) and Ben Dong Nhi Nguyet (Living on Nhi Nguyet River), works which describe the love of parents for their children.

They will also perform Ong Tao (Kitchen God), a comedy featuring dances and songs based on traditional legends.

On the 23rd of the last lunar month, Vietnamese families will clean their kitchens and worship Ong Tao as he leaves for heaven to report about the family to the God of Heaven. He will return to the kitchen on the 30th.  

“Our play Ong Tao will reflect farmers’ daily lives, including work and family problems, and will have lessons and entertain the audience," Nguyen Quoc Tin, head of the troupe, said.

"We face many challenges in offering a stable income to our performers and staging quality plays. However, we always offer free performances every Tet to send our best wishes to our people," Tin said.

He said that he hoped that local companies and organisations would offer more financial support to traditional troupes.

Last year during Tet his troupe travelled around Ca Mau and neighbouring provinces such as Hau Giang and Dong Thap and performed for more than 35,000 people.

(Source: VNA)