Vu Minh is best known for his modern Vietnamese dramas, but his latest project has the theatre director try his hand at staging a traditional cai luong (reformed theatre) show. Minh's production of two cai luong operas, Cau Tho Yen Ngua (Poetry and Saddle) and Dieu Tam Xuan Bao Phu Cuu (Dao Tam Xuan Avenges Her Husband) star artists from the former Bau Thang - Minh To reformed opera troupe and is scheduled to debut in HCM City tomorrow. Minh talks about his passion for cai luong and his work with veteran cai luong singers from the Bau Thang-Minh To Troupe, which was one of the oldest cai luong troupes in the south until it disbanded. It's surprising to see a director known for modern dramas take on a cai luong show?
I become a stage director because I loved cai luong so much, especially the work of two troupes: Minh To and Thanh Nga.
I wanted to get involved in staging cai luong performances and so I decide to study directing. However, when I graduated several factors led me away from cai luong, one of them being the fact that cai luong was not very popular anymore. I think I had not experienced enough back then to follow my dream of directing an opera.
Now, I'm confident that I will achieve my aim. In addition, I received a lot of support from members of the former Minh To Troupe and from my colleagues.
Has it been difficult to reunite the members of the Minh To Troupe, some of whom have moved abroad?
Yes, it was difficult. I never dreamed that I could meet my idols when I was a child. But fate gave me the rare chance to work with them.
I had already been planning the show for five years when I saw a performance by cai luong artist Thanh Tong, a member of the troupe. I was really moved. The show included extracts from various cai luong performances.
My plan to stage a cai luong show received some extra support when I met my idols, artists Bach Le and Dien Thanh. They also wanted to produce a video of one of their shows as a way of preserving an example of their art. I convinced them to join me in the production.
The two cai luong dramas you are staging are very familiar to audiences. Is there something new in your production?
The show has three highlights. This is the first time several generations from the theatrical Minh To family are performing together. The show marks the return of three veteran cai luong artists after 30 years, and finally it stars modern theatre artist Thanh Loc. He will sing cai luong with his family.
The two cai luong dramas are typical examples of the Minh To Troupe's cai luong art. Cau Tho Yen Ngua was a milestone for the former troupe, and their performance of this opera won a gold medal at the national festival in 1985.
This time, the drama will have a new look and the characters will be developed further. While following the original script, I will also inject a modern sensibility to the drama. It won't be only singing and dancing as I have added more drama into it and focused on the acting.
The costumes will be tailored to have a modern style. I believe the old audiences will be satisfied with the new elements and young audiences will be charmed by the traditional art of cai luong.
What about the artists in the show who haven't performed on stage for some time?
I'm aware of this. I think that the audience and I will not focus on the beauty of the artists. The artists are worried about their strength but I think the audiences will support the artists if they try their best. Of course I don't want any lip-synching.
Age is not a problem. The artists' youth is in their characters. Moreover, the artists are the best in their art form. They are not themselves on the stage. They turn into their characters.
Do you make a profit when you produce these shows?
I do not work for profit. And I am not hoping to make a milestone. My aim is to stage a show that brings together my favourite artists. This is the first time I'm producing a cai luong show and I learned a lot thanks to these experienced artists. In turn, these artists respect my contributions, my modern style. So it's a rewarding experience. — VNS