Viet Nam News
HCM CITY — A cai luong (reformed opera) play on the late President Ho Chi Minh will be staged free for workers in HCM City this weekend.
The 90-minute work, To Quoc Noi Cuoi Con Duong (The Country), highlights the revolutionary career of Nguyen Ai Quoc, the President’s other name, a Communist and patriot who dedicated his life to national independence.
It features actors of The Gioi Tre Theatre, owned by HCM City university of Theatre & Cinematography.
It won three Golden Medal prizes for the Best Play, Best Lead Actor and Best Lead Actress at The National Cai Luong Festival 2018 in Long An Province in September.
The play’s producer has worked with HCM City Labour Union to offer free performances of To Quoc Noi Cuoi Con Duong for more than 6,000 union members, who work in the city’s industrial parks and export processing zones.
“Labourers are encouraged to join our free performances. We hope to entertain labourers and help them learn about theatre,” said Ho Xuan Lam, deputy chairman of HCM City Labour Union.
To Quoc Noi Cuoi Con Duong portrays the time of Nguyen Ai Quoc, under the Chinese name Sung Man Cho, in 1931 — when he was arrested by British authorities in Hong Kong.
Nguyen Ai Quoc was imprisoned in Hong Kong and transferred to the French government in Indochina.
A year and a half earlier, the Imperial Court in Vinh (Nghe An Province - Annam) had sentenced Nguyen Ai Quoc to death.
The play highlights Nguyen Ai Quoc’s foreign friends, including British solicitor Francis Loseby, who played roles in helping Nguyen Ai Quoc masquerade as a wealthy Chinese merchant before boarding a boat leaving Hong Kong for Vladivostok and then to Moscow.
The play’s director Le Nguyen Dat spent more than VND2 billion (US$85,800) on the production.
“I wanted To Quoc Noi Cuoi Con Duong to be a perfect work to honour President Ho Chi Minh, who has appeared many times in theatre,” said director Dat, adding that his actors worked hard to present a new performing style for cai luong.
The historic play will be staged at 9:00 am and 2:00 pm every Saturday and Sunday at the Cong Nhan Theatre, 30 Tran Hung Dao Street in District 1, through November. — VNS