HCM CITY — Dozens of cai luong (reformed theatre) artists performed at HCM City's Hung Dao Theatre last night for an ongoing programme to raise funds for poor people living in remote regions.
The concert, titled Golden Stage, saw young stars like Tu Suong, Trinh Trinh, and Quoc Thanh rub shoulders with stalwarts like Minh Vuong, Le Thuy, Thanh Thanh Tam and Vu Linh, and attracted nearly 500 people.
They mostly performed in a traditional, old-school manner that has recently been supplanted by a modern style.
The evening's entertainment included plays like Ngheu So Oc Hen (The Stories of Snails) and Hoa Buom Ngay Xua (Flowers, Butterflies in the Old Days), with the highlight being the performance of Minh Vuong and Le Thuy, the artist couple that has been so influential in preserving and developing the art.
Vuong and Thuy were also the event's organisers.
The crew of more than 100 has been touring the Mekong Delta region for the last two years for the programme, performing in remote corners of Tien Giang, Dong Thap and Ca Mau provinces.
They have collected nearly VND500 million (US$28,000) in the period.
"Our art is for remote audiences, especially elderly people and children suffering from diseases," 52-year-old Thuy, who began her career at an early age, said.
"Putting our hands together and performing for disadvantaged people is our duty," she said.
Thuy's performances, mostly recorded by radio and television stations, are broadcast around the country, attracting several million listeners and viewers.
The show's theme, One Heart, is meant to encourage more organisations and individuals to contribute to charity, she explained.
The ticket proceeds of around VND30 million ($1,700), will be used to build new houses for the poor in Khanh Hoa Province's Dien Khanh District.
The show was sponsored by the HCM City Theatre Association and HCM City Television. — VNS