The poster for the legendary cải lương (reformed opera) play Lan và Điệp (Love Story of Lan and Điệp) in Đà Nẵng. — Photo courtesy of the organising committee

ĐÀ NẴNG — Meritorious artist Thanh Kim Huệ will play the lead in the legendary cải lương (reformed opera) play Lan và Điệp (Love Story of Lan and Điệp) at Đà Nẵng’s Trưng Vương Theatre on August 23, 46 years after its debut.

Huệ, who performed the play when she was 14 upon its release, has not taken on the role since. She will be reunited with male lead Chí Tâm after more than four decades and will be joined by people’s artist Lê Thủy, Hồng Nga, Trọng Phúc, Vũ Luân and Tú Sương.

The new version of the play will have the participation of 50 reformed opera artists, comedians and modern vocalists, director Gia Bảo said at a press conference earlier this week.

He said the singers, opera artists and comedians will bring their own musical styles to their portrayals of their characters.

Bảo said the new version will present a challenge for the artists, who will have to be at their best to tackle the mixture of old and modern music and comedy.

This will be the first time the new version will be shown in central Việt Nam and will be the first reunion of the old cast after 46 years.

Aingers Hamlet Trương, Mai Tiến Dũng, Hoài Lâm and Quốc Đại and comedian Minh Nhí are also involved in the production.

The play will be performed over two hours and 30 minutes on a single night in Đà Nẵng.

Tickets will be offered for between VNĐ300,000 (US$13) and VNĐ2 million ($87) at Đà Nẵng’s Trưng Vương Theatre, 86 Hùng Vương street. — VNS