MODERN CẢI LƯƠNG: The Việt Nam Cải Lương Theatre’s play Nước Non Vạn Dặm (The Country) about late President Hồ Chí Minh uses modern performance techniques. Photo courtesy of the producer

BÌNH PHƯỚC — A cải lương (reformed opera) play about the late  President Hồ Chí Minh will be staged in southern provinces to celebrate national War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27). 

The play, called Nước Non Vạn Dặm (The Country), features artists of Việt Nam Cải Lương Theatre, a leading traditional art troupe in Hà Nội.

The 120-minute show depicts the childhood and first years of revolutionary activity of President Hồ Chí Minh, from when the President used his birth name Nguyễn Sinh Cung living in Nghệ An Province to when he went by the alias Văn Ba and left Việt Nam to France on a steamer to find ways for the country’s salvation.  

The President’s revolutionary spirit and views in 1908 and 1909 when he studied in Huế are also highlighted. 

The play’s director is People’s Artist Triệu Trung Kiên, who has more than 30 years in the industry and is also the theatre’s director. 

Kiên and his actors have worked to present Nước Non Vạn Dặm, as a cải lương play using modern performance techniques. 

Talented actor Minh Hải plays President Hồ Chí Minh. His performance left a very strong impression on the audiences and theatre critics after the premiere in May in Hà Nội.  

Hải said: “I watched documentary films and videos featuring President Hồ Chí Minh. This enabled me to learn the spirit and character of the President and improve my own performance as well.” 

“I hope to encourage young audiences to learn more about Vietnamese history through the play Nước Non Vạn Dặm.”

UNCLE HỒ: The opera will be staged in southern provinces to celebrate national War Invalids and Martyrs Day on July 27. Photo courtesy of the theatre

 The opera Nước Non Vạn Dặm is the first show of a special stage project by Việt Nam Cải Lương Theatre. 

The project includes three plays on President Hồ Chí Minh and Vietnamese revolutionaries. It praises the President’s life and revolutionary career, and his contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party, the liberation of the nation and to the movement of international communists and workers.

The project will complete in 2024. 

“Our project introduces cải lương in both old and new styles,” said Kiên, the project’s art director. 

The play Nước Non Vạn Dặm will be staged on July 27 in Bình Phước Province. It will be released on July 29 and 30 in Long An and Đồng Nai. — VNS