Viet Nam News
HA NOI – The first ever live show of cheo (traditional opera) presenting artist Xuan Hinh as a folk comedian will be held at the National Conference Centre on October 5.
Titled Xuan Hinh-Ke Choc Cuoi Dan Da (Xuan Hinh-A Folk Comedian), the live show is a retrospective performance highlighting Hinh’s contribution to traditional cheo.
“The live show will bring both laughter and tears to spectators. It is very difficult to me,” artist Hinh said.
He wants not only to introduce the essence of cheo, but also several other traditional genres, such as van singing (a folk art of the north that combines trance singing and dancing) and quan ho (love duet).
Hinh will perform with colleagues such as Thanh Thanh Hien, Hong Van and Van Dung and some 20 established comedians at the show. He will also perform with two A-list pop singers Tung Duong and Bang Kieu.
Nguoi Ngua-Ngua Nguoi (Horse Human-Human Horse), the most favourite repertoire of Hinh’s career, will also be restaged. It is a short story written by Nguyen Cong Hoan, a Vietnamese writer from the early part of the 20thcentury, famous for his tragicomic literature.
The piece has been performed for the past 12 years by Hinh and actress Hien.
The highlight of the show will be the hau dong (trance ritual) performance with a combination of light and colourful costumes.
Hinh will also show his ability to change costumes and enact five roles, each and all of them helped him building a name with Vietnamese audience, in a 10-minute performance.
The show will be staged by three renowned directors Le Hung, Pham Hoang Nam and Do Thanh Hai. Veteran Hung has worked closely with Hinh and has directed all Hinh’s repertoires since the early phase of Hinh’s career.
“The live show must be interesting and beautiful. It will have to be emotional and memorable,” Hung said.
“I want Hinh to shine at his live show. He deserves to be honoured after 40 years of entertaining the audience.”
Hinh was born in 1960 in the northern province of Bac Ninh, the cradle of quan ho (love duet) singing. His passion for folk art developed at an early age and he joined the provincial art troupe as a singer in 1977.
The live show Xuan Hinh-A Folk Comedian will take place at 7.40pm at No. 57 Pham Hung Street, Ha Noi. -- VNS