HCM CITY— More than 30 cải lương (reformed opera) actors from Long An Cải Lương Theatre in Long An Province will tour Hà Nội and northern provinces during three upcoming national holidays, the Hùng Kings Memorial Day on April 14,  Reunification Day on April 30, and Labour Day on May 1.

They will perform Cuộc Đời Của Mẹ (Life of Mother), a production by Meritorious Artist and theatre director Hồ Ngọc Trinh.

The play, which features Vietnamese women of the south during the American war, brought home two top prizes, Best Play and Best Scriptwriting, at the National Cải Lương Festival 2018 in Tân An City in Long An Province.

The festival attracted 25 theatres and troupes, including eight private troupes from HCM City and Mekong Delta provinces. During the 14-day event, several hundred veteran and young performers were featured in 32 historical and social plays.   

The theatre will also stage dozens of excerpts from famous plays like Tô Ánh Nguyệt (Ms Tô Ánh Nguyệt), Tiếng Trống Mê Linh (Sound of Mê Linh Drum), Dòng Sông Quê Em (My Homeland River) and Về Miền Tây (Coming to the West). These works highlight the country’s history and culture.

The performances are expected to be an amalgam of traditional and modern styles, and will use modern sound and light effects on stage.

In recent years, Long An Cải Lương Theatre has offered new shows that it hopes will prove to be fun for local farmers.

They have staged historical plays in praise of the country and national heroes, while comedy shows, as usual, have focused on social and cultural issues.   

Veterans and young talents, including Ngân Cường, Hoàng Anh and Hoàng Dư, have also performed tài tử songs, a genre of cải lương, based on the province’s traditional legends and customs.

"Our shows featuring songs and dances that reflect our farmers’ lives, including work and family issues, have entertained audiences," veteran actor Ngân Cường, deputy head of the theatre, said.

Cường has 30 years of experience in cải lương. He and his young staff often travel to remote areas in provinces of Đồng Tháp, Bạc Liêu, Hậu Giang and Cà Mau to stage their shows. They offer 120 shows and concerts for more than 35,000 people last year.

The theatre’s tour to Hà Nội, Phú Thọ, Bắc Ninh, Bắc Giang and Nghệ An will begin on April 2. The first show in Hà Nội will be staged at 7:30pm on April 2 and 3 at the Voice of Việt Nam Theatre in Hoàn Kiếm District. —VNS