LIVING LEGEND - Vietnamese-American theatre actor Minh Cảnh, a guru of cải lương (reformed opera), will perform in a mini show in HCM City this weekend. — Photo courtesy of the producer.

HCM CITY — Vietnamese-American theatre actor Minh Cảnh, a guru of cải lương (reformed opera), will perform in a mini show in HCM City after 13 years away from home.

The show is part of Tài Danh Đất Việt (Vietnamese Gurus of Theatre), a long-term project that includes performances and shows of vọng cổ (nostalgic tunes), cải lương, and tuồng (classical drama), traditional theatre genres in the southern and central regions.  

Cảnh has more than 60 years in the theatre. He was called the “King of Vọng Cổ” by his fans in the 1960s-70s. 

He will stage extracts from plays featuring Vietnamese historical events and heroes. 

He will perform with his peer, People’s Artist Minh Vương, who has played an important role in the 100-year-old development of cải lương. 

His younger colleagues, such as Meritorious Artist Kim Tử Long and Phượng Loan, are also featured. 

"I will offer a beautiful and original style of cải lương. I hope my show will help my fans improve their love for the traditional theatre," said Cảnh, who lives in the US. 

TRADITIONAL ART - Veteran actor Minh Cảnh and People’s Artist Lệ Thuỷ have worked to preserve cải lương, a 100-year-old theatre genre in the South. — Photo courtesy of the producer.

Cảnh began his career in 1960 in Sài Gòn (now HCM City). He worked for Kim Chung Troupe, one of the region’s leading cải lương theatres. 

In 1967, he opened the Minh Cảnh Drama Troupe, attracting young theatre talents. His troupe offered shows featuring the culture and lifestyle of southern people. 

Cảnh has performed in several hundred cải lương plays, TV shows and videos. 

Although he found it difficult to perform cải lương in the US, he has still worked to expand the art to his fans and their children.

“Cảnh is a guru of cải lương. I hope his mini show will help fans, particularly the youth, to understand why and how cải lương is the spirit of the Vietnamese people," said the show’s producer Gia Bảo.

Bảo launched his project, Tài Danh Đất Việt, in 2020. His project has attracted dozens of veteran actors and young talents. 

He has overcome serious challenges and proven his ability to produce quality shows about Vietnamese culture that both entertain and inform.

Many of Bảo’s colleagues have affectionately described him as a “monster” as he directs them and takes part in marketing and sales.

“Every show from the project Tài Danh Đất Việt offers tickets at only VNĐ100,000 (US$4) for students because I want to encourage youngsters to learn more about Vietnamese history and culture through traditional theatre,” said 36-year-old Bảo, who spent several hundred million đồng on the production.

Cảnh’s mini show will begin at 8pm at the Bến Thành Theatre in 6Đ Mạc Đĩnh Chi Street, District 1, on Saturday, July 15. — VNS