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Dramatic licence: A scene of cai luong historical drama Poetry and Saddle, performed by members of Thang family. Six generations of the family have performed in historical drama and they are accredited with having invented the new form. — VNS Photo Thanh Hiep |
HCM CITY — Three generations of one family will perform in two historic costume dramas in HCM City for the first time. The two dramas will be performed on alternate evenings, starting with Cau Tho Yen Ngua tomorrow and ending with Dao Tam Xuan Bao Phu Cuu next Wednesday at Ben Thanh Theatre on District 1's Mac Dinh Chi Street.
The show titled Gin Vang Giu Ngoc (Conserving the Treasure), features Cau Tho Yen Ngua (Poetry and Saddle), a Vietnamese historical drama, and Dao Tam Xuan Bao Phu Cuu (Dao Tam Xuan Avenges Her Husband), a legendary Chinese drama.
Poetry and Saddle chronicles court conflicts and power struggles that followed the death of Vietnamese King Ly Thanh Tong in the face of the northern invasion.
The Chinese drama features the dilemma of General Dao Tam Xuan when her husband was unfairly executed at the order of a Song Dynasty king.
Both are classical dramas which were popular two or three decades ago, with their reputation closely linked with the family troupe of bau Thang (impresario Thang).
Up to six generations of the Thang family have taken turns to follow in the footsteps of their ancestors who were theatrical performers.
Bau Thang, who inherited a flair for hat boi (classical opera) from his parents, was a successful artist and impresario of Cau Quan Temple Troupe, a famous hat boi troupe in the city at the beginning of the century.
However, faced with the decline of hat boi, his sons Minh To and Khanh Hong, his daughter Huynh Mai and his son-in-law Thanh Ton blended strict choreography with the music of the emerging theatrical genre of cai luong (reformed theatre), creating new cai luong hybrids dubbed as cai luong tuong co (ancient plots) and cai luong Ho Quang (incorporating Chinese music).
The family is viewed as a pioneer and the greatest custodians of the new art forms.
Their children, which represent the fourth generation of the family to embark on its theatrical path, developed hybrid forms to its heights two to four decades ago.
Most members of the generation are now in their sixties and are considered leading artists of cai luong tuong co.
They include Minh To's son Thanh Tong and his daughters Thanh Loan and Xuan Yen and son-in-law Truong Son; Huynh Mai's sons Bach Long and daughters Bach Le, Bach Luu and Bach Ly, and sons-in-law Thanh Bach and Dien Thanh, among others.
However, Thanh Loc, one of Mai's sons, turned to Western-style drama and has become one of the most famous actors of the genre. For the first time ever, he is performing in two cai luong dramas.
Le and her husband Bach have been living in France, while Luu and Thanh settled in Australia dozens of years ago. They have not performed onstage once since relocating abroad.
The show is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the family to perform together on the same stage, allowing them to revive their own passion and the public's interest in art forms now viewed as passe.
Apart from the fourth generation, the show also brings together their children, including Que Tran, Trinh Trinh and Tu Suong, who are all potential cai luong actresses and their grandchildren, including Tu Quyen, Hong Quyen and Thanh An.
Most of the 100 artists performing in the two cai luong dramas are members of the family, including actors, musicians and dancers.
Vu Minh, who has been directing dramas at IDECAF (Institut d'Echange Culturel avec la France), said it was the first time he had directed cai luong plays.
The drama (Poetry and Saddle is dedicated to Ha Noi's 1,000th anniversary, according to the family.
Tickets are available at the theatre with prices ranging from VND200,000 (US$10) to 500,000 ($26) each. — VNS