MID-AUTUMN CELEBRATION - HCM City’s theatres and cultural houses will offer theatre shows for children in celebration of the Trung Thu (Mid- Autumn) Festival, which falls on September 17 (the 15th day of the eighth lunar month). Photo courtesy of the Ban Mai Drama Stage.

By Thu Anh

HCM CITY— New shows for children in celebration of the Trung Thu (Mid-Autumn) Festival, which falls on September 17 (the 15th day of the eighth lunar month), have launched in HCM City. 

The private Ban Mai Drama Stage offers a new musical about Chị Hằng (Moon Lady), who lives on the Moon, and her friends, traditional characters called Cuội (Moon boy) and Thỏ Ngọc (Moon Rabbit). 

The show is entitled Trăng Ơi, Trăng À (Legend of the Moon) and is based on a Vietnamese fairy tale. 

In the legend of Rằm Trung Thu (Mid-Autumn), Chị Hằng is a beautiful woman. 

Her husband, Hậu Nghệ, is famous for his bravery and talent, and uses his bow and arrows to shoot down nine of ten suns to save his villagers.

One day, Chị Hằng drinks a strange liquid and becomes a Goddess and flies into the sky. Because she still cared for her husband, she tries to land on the place closet to the Earth, the Moon. 

On the night of Rằm Trung Thu, her husband looks up the sky to call her name, and he sees the Moon is especially bright, which allowed him to catch a glimpse of his beloved wife, Chị Hằng. 

Their love story has been told by different generations until today. 

Trăng Ơi, Trăng À also highlights themes of friendship, bravery and honesty.

The musical features 20 young artists, such as Như Thuỳ as Chị Hằng, Thảo Vi and Gia Huy, who perform in beautiful outfits, accessories and stage designs.

“Our artists invite their audiences to play and light up trung thu lanterns together,” said the play’s director Bảo Chu. “We wear masks, beat drums, perform fantastic lion dances, and sing folk songs during the show.” 

Tickets for the show, staged from August 28 to September 17, are available at the theatre’s box office, 240Đ 3 Tháng Hai Street in District 10.

The IDECAF (Institute of Cultural Exchange with France) will stage a musical about Sinbad and his friends. 

The show, Cuộc Phiêu Lưu Của Thuyền Trưởng Sinbad – Huyền Thoại Mắt Thần (The Adventures of Sinbad – Legend of The Magic Eyes), is a re-telling of the adventures of Sinbad from The Arabian Nights, a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales. 

The challenges that Sinbad and his crew on a ship face during their voyage, including witches, mermaids, strange tribes and fantastic creatures, will be highlighted.  

The musical attracts Meritorious Artist Mỹ Duyên and Thanh Thuỷ as lead characters.

Traditional theatre actor Bạch Long, a cải lương (reformed opera) star, is also featured. 

FUN FOR KIDS - Children enjoy art shows and receive Trung Thu gifts, including mooncakes, candies, fruits, and traditional lanterns, during the Mid-Autumn Festival in HCM City. Photo courtesy of the Ban Mai Drama Stage.

“We invested a lot in light and sound effects to make our show perfect. We hope to entertain children and encourage them to never stop their dreams and hopes,” said the show’s director Đình Toàn, who has 15 years in the industry. 

Toàn said he will use new concepts and techniques in drama, puppetry and circus to attract young audiences. 

The show will take place on September 14, 21 and 22 at the Bến Thành Theatre, 6 Mạc Đĩnh Chi Street, District 1. 

Local cultural centres are working to offer charity events and music shows targeting children aged three to 15 on the full moon night, September 17. 

Many Trung Thu gifts, including traditional lanterns, moon cakes, candies, fruits, books and notebooks, will be delivered. 

The Suối Tiên Theme Park in District 9 will offer free tickets for disadvantaged children on September 14, 15 and 17. Traditional games, music and song performances will be provided. 

“I got a good result last school year. My parents promised to take my younger brother and me to visit HCM City’s Suối Tiên Theme Park this Trung Thu  Festival. We will enjoy a live music show for the first time in our lives,” said Trần Thị Bảo Trân, a nine-year-old girl of Đồng Nai Province’s Biên Hoà City.–VNS