Tuong play on historic event restaged

Actors of the HCM City Hat Boi Theatre in the tuong play Vo Dong So- Bach Thu Ha, which will be restaged after 89 years. - Photo courtesy of HCM City Hat Boi Theatre

The 90-minute play is about patriotism, faithfulness and love.

It portrays the lives of love of hero Vo Dong So and his wife, Bach Thu Ha, both of whom lived under the reign of Gia Long, emperor and founder of the Nguyen Dynasty in the 19th century.

The play is considered a classic of tuong, a Vietnamese classical drama originating in the 12th century, developed in the central and southern regions.

The play’s scriptwriter Quan worked with his partner, author Nguyen Trong Quyen, to complete Vo Dong So-Bach Thu Ha based on a novel written by Tan Dan Tu in 1926.

Tu is one of the South’s first and leading writers in the 20th century.

Since its debut by the Huynh Ky Troupe in Sai Gon in 1928, the play has been staged many times by art troupes in HCM City and southern provinces.

It has starred talented artists such as Phung Ha, Bach Tuyet, Hung Cuong, Minh Canh and Le Thuy, recognised as gurus of tuong and cai luong (reformed opera).

This new version is performed by actors of the HCM City Hat Boi (classical drama) Theatre and targeted to young audiences.

“We want to encourage young people to learn more about Vietnamese history and culture through theatre,” said the play’s director Nguyen Hoan.

Hoan used young actors to play the title roles because he wanted to “bring a fresh wind to tuong, a very old and unique genre of Vietnamese theatre,” he said.

The director asked his young staff to study traditional culture and theatre of centuries ago, and demanded that they refine their voice and acting skills to successfully convey the spirit of tuong.

"Although my friends and I really like movies and musical performances, we will come to get a taste of what tuong in Vo Dong So-Bach Thu Ha is like," said Tran Thi Anh, a 21-year-old student at the HCM City University of Culture.

Anh said that she learned about the play from her parents, who watched the show performed by actors Canh and Thuy in the 1980s.

The script of Hoan’s production was written by People’s Artist Dinh Bang Phi, who has more than 50 years in tuong. The play is expected to be staged late next month.