Young actors of HCM City’s Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre perform a new version of the famous play 'TiếngTrống Mê Linh' (The Sounds of Mê Linh Drum), which tells the story of Trưng Sisters, two national heroines.  Photo courtesy of the theatre

HCM CITY —  A cải lương (reformed opera) play on national heroines, Trưng sisters, is being restaged to celebrate the National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1). 

The play, called Tiếng Trống Mê Linh (The Sounds of Mê Linh Drum) will feature young artists of the Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre, a leading traditional art troupe in HCM City. 

It will narrate the stories of Trưng Trắc and her younger sister Trưng Nhị, who led the first resistance movement against the Southern Han Chinese occupation in the first century, around 2,000 years ago.

The sisters led their troops on elephants to repel Chinese invasions. Their victory delivered liberation for Đại Việt (an old name for Việt Nam) after 247 years of Chinese domination

Young actress Kim Luân (left) plays Trưng Nhị, the younger sister of Trưng Trắc, in 'Tiếng Trống Mê Linh' (The Sounds of Mê Linh Drum) directed by People’s Artist Trần Ngọc Giàu. Photo courtesy of the producer

The play’s premiere, held on April 10, had Meritorious Artist Thanh Ngân playing older sister Trưng Trắc, and Kim Luân as the younger sister, Trưng Nhị. 

Young talented actor Văn Khởi played Trưng Trắc’s husband, General Thi Sách. 

The performance left a very strong impression on the audiences and theatre critics.  

“The actors have presented a cải lương play using modern performance techniques,” said director and People’s Artist Trần Ngọc Giàu. 

“We have worked to refresh Tiếng Trống Mê Linh, a famous cải lương play on Vietnamese history that was first staged in 1977,” said actress Kim Luân. 

“We hope to encourage young audiences to learn more about Vietnamese history and culture through our art.”

Kim Luân said she watched a video of the play’s original version starring the late talented actress Thanh Nga as Trưng Trắc. This enabled her to improve her own performance in the new version this year, she added 

“Our new version introduces the art in both old and new styles,” said the 25-year-old Luân.  

Tiếng Trống Mê Linh will be staged every night from April 24 to May 1 at the Trần Hữu Trang Theatre, 136Đ Trần Hưng Đạo Street, District 1. Tickets are available at the box office. — VNS