VICTORIOUS GENERAL: Actors from the private Chí Linh-Vân Hà Cải Lương Troupe perform in Sấm Vang Dòng Như Nguyệt (The Battle on the Như Nguyệt River), a cải lương (reformed opera) production featuring Vietnamese history. — Photo courtesy of Chí Linh-Vân Hà Cải LươngTroupe

HCM CITY — Artists from the private Chí Linh-Vân Hà Cải Lương Troupe are working on a new show about Vietnamese history to serve young audiences in HCM City this summer.

They will stage Sấm Vang Dòng Như Nguyệt (The Battle on the Như Nguyệt River), a cải lương (reformed opera) production featuring General Lý Thường Kiệt, a prominent military leader and politician of Đại Việt (former name of Việt Nam) in the 11th century.

Lý Thường Kiệt is well-known as a prominent military leader and politician of Đại Việt. In 1075, he led his soldiers north to fight a 40-day battle against the Song Dynasty of China and gained victory.

The 90-minute play is directed by Meritorious Artist Chí Linh, founder of the theatre. He also plays Lý Thường Kiệt.

It focuses on Lý Thường Kiệt and his soldiers who used spikes under the Như Nguyệt riverbed as a death trap and tricked their enemies into the trap. They were victorious, and Đại Việt then completely defeated the invasion of Song Dynasty’s army.

HISTORY FOR KIDS: Actor Võ Minh Lâm (left) performs in the cải lương play Sấm Vang Dòng Như Nguyệt (The Battle on the Như Nguyệt River), a production that targets students and young people in HCM City this summer. — Photo courtesy of Chí Linh-Vân Hà Cải Lương Troupe

Director Linh uses realistic events mixed with fantasy to feature Lý Thường Kiệt and his staff with incredible acts of patriotism, loyalty, bravery and intelligence.

The themes of love and passion are also highlighted.

Linh invited cải lương stars Võ Minh Lâm and Lâm Minh Nghiêm to perform with young talents from art schools.

“Sấm Vang Dòng Như Nguyệt features historical events and national heroes. Our artists have worked to breathe life into the play,” said the play’s director Linh, in a recent interview with local media after the play’s premier in HCM City.

“I’m willing to perform in historical plays because they are like valuable books containing lessons that help young people learn more about the country’s history and traditional culture,” said actor Võ Minh Lâm as Chiêu Văn, a young general under Lý Thường Kiệt.

Lâm came from Cần Thơ Province. He won first prize for male artists at Chuông Vàng (Golden Bell) in 2006, a national cải lương singing contest organised annually by HCM City Television.

He works for leading art troupes, including Đại Việt Theatre and Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre.

He has played leading roles in 12 dramas and performed in many TV shows and videos.

The play Sấm Vang Dòng Như Nguyệt is staged on weekends at Hưng Đạo Theatre in District 1. — VNS