Viet Nam News
HCM CITY — Cultural experts and cai luong (reformed opera) artists took part in a seminar in HCM City yesterday to seek ways to bring the art form closer to audiences.
The seminar was organised by the city’s Party Committee’s Department of Publicity and Education, and Department of Culture and Sports, as part of a programme to mark 100 years of cai luong.
Young scriptwriter and journalist Anh Vu said: “Many young people like me love to watch cai luong, but we don’t know where to go for live performances”.
The city’s only State-owned Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre does not open frequently, while private cai luong troupes have difficulties in finding a performance places
Meritorious Artist Kim Tu Long, director of Kim Tu Long Entertainment and Service Company, said: “Many of my colleagues and I want to stage our plays frequently, but it is difficult to find a venue because of high rent”.
Long invested VND800 million (US$34,490) in staging a historical play Rang Ngoc Con Son (Pearl in Con Son), which premiered at the National Cai Luong Festival in Long An Province in September.
He later wanted to introduce it to city’s audiences, spending VND90 million ($3,880) on renting the Ben Thanh Theatre for two nights, and VND10 million ($430) for a rehearsal.
“We have to sell tickets for VND1 million ($43). It is enough for the expense,” he said, adding that audiences pay only VND300,000 ($13) for a dramatic play.
Long said the government would find a place for private cai luong troupes to present their productions at a reasonable price.
Workshop participants, particularly educators, also emphasised the need to educate and inspire student’s interest in cai luong.
Dr Mai My Duyen of the HCM City University of Culture said: “The city needs to organise a space to showcase exhibits related to cai luong to educate young people about the art.”
She suggested holding talk shows and performing excerpts from famous cai luong plays in schools and cultural houses to provide basic knowledge about the art.
Than Thi Thu, head of the city’s Party Committee’s Department of Publicity and Education, said that cai luong was facing many challenges, including a decrease in the number of staff, performances and audiences.
“The department will collect the delegates’ opinions and submit them to the government and the city’s authorities will try to develop and promote the art,” Thu said. — VNS