LAUGH IT UP: The Thế Giới Trẻ (World of Youth) Drama Club on Cống Quỳnh Street in District 1 will offer a new comedy Thả Thính Mà Không Dính (Fail at Flirting) to entertain audiences during the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday. — Photo courtesy of the club

HCM CITY — HCM City’s theatres promise a variety of new shows to suit audiences of varying musical and dramatic tastes during the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday.

The Small Theatre on Võ Văn Tần Street in District 3 will offer the musical Đại Náo Thuỷ Cung (Fight for the Ocean) for children from January 22 to 29.

The play sends a message of environmental protection, featuring a group of children on a journey to protect the ocean.

Meritorious Artist Mỹ Uyên, the theatre’s director, told to local media: “I decided to stage a play for children because they also need entertainment during Tết. All the artists and I very feel happy when staging a special performance for children in such a special occasion.”

For comedy fans, the Thế Giới Trẻ (World of Youth) Drama Club on Cống Quỳnh Street in District 1 will offer two new comedies Thả Thính Mà Không Dính (Fail at Flirting) and Nghiệp Quật (Retribution) each night from January 22-30.

Thả Thính Mà Không Dính, a co-production with the HCM City Theatre Association, highlights funny stories happening daily at a coffee vendor, featuring veteran and young actors such as People’s Artist Hoài Linh, Nam Thư and Hồng Trang.

Nghiệp Quật has attracted young actors from the HCM City University of Theatre and Cinematography. The play focuses on messages about karma.  

According to the theatre’s representative, they are trying to create more new exciting plays to serve audiences and offer opportunities for young actors to show off their skills.

Another option for laughs is the musical Em Em Chị Chị (Brother and Sister) staged by the IDECAF Drama Stage.

Directed by Quốc Thịnh, the play focuses on the challenges and competition in the entertainment industry, featuring young actors Võ Minh Lâm and Lệ Trinh.  

The play will be first staged at 4pm and 8pm on January 23, 25 and 29 at the Thanh Niên (Youth) Stage at 4 Phạm Ngọc Thạch Street in District 1.

Traditional art

TRADITIONAL PLAYS: Meritorious Artist Vũ Luân will play a leading role in two cải lương plays, Hoa Mộc Lan (Mulan) and Kiếp Tằm (Life Cycle of Silkworm), which will be staged during Tết. — Photo courtesy of Sen Việt Theatre

For fans of cải lương (reformed opera), there will be more quality plays from popular theatres.

The Gia Bảo Entertainment Company will stage the classic cải lương play Hoa Mộc Lan (Mulan) on January 25, or the fourth day of Lunar New Year.

The play will attract the performance of veteran actors such as Meritorious Artists Vũ Luân, Kim Tiểu Long and Tú Sương, along with young actors Bình Tinh and Lê Thanh Thảo.

Bảo said: “Hoa Mộc Lan is a lovely and funny play which is suitable for the holiday season. I hope the play will become a good start for the cải lương art of Việt Nam in 2023.”

The play will be performed at the Trần Hữu Trang Theatre on 136 Trần Hưng Đạo Street in District 1.

The Sen Việt Theatre will perform Kiếp Tằm (Life Cycle of Silkworm), a historical play written by playwright Lê Duy Hạnh and directed by Meritorious Artist Lê Nguyên Đạt on January 26, 27 and 28, or the sixth, seventh and eighth of Lunar New Year.

The play highlights a conflict in politics to gain power between two best friends, featuring Meritorious Artists Vũ Luân and Lê Trung Thảo.

Meritorious Artist Đạt said: “Renewing a classic play is also a way to attract audiences, especially youth, and remind them of the country's history, traditional culture and lifestyle.”

The play will begin at 8pm at 5B Võ Văn Tần Street in District 3.

The Trần Hữu Trang Theatre, the city’s leading cải lương troupe, will offer an interesting feast for cải lương lovers with two new plays, Ngai Vàng và Tội Ác (Throne and Crime) and Tuyệt Tình Ca (Goodbye Song).

The performances will feature Meritorious Artists Trọng Phúc and Ngọc Đợi, together with young actors from the theatre.

The two plays will be staged on January 30 and February 4 at 136 Trần Hưng Đạo Street in District 1.

As is their tradition, the theatre will offer free shows for residents living in outlying districts such as Nhà Bè and Củ Chi and workers at industrial parks and export processing zones during the holiday.  

The shows began this week and will continue through January 26. — VNS