Ho Chi Minh City Cai Luong Theater - Looking back half a century to move forward

On the morning of July 8, at Ho Chi Minh City Book Street, the book 'Ho Chi Minh City Cai Luong Stage 1975 - 2025' was launched as a meaningful project to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification.

This is the dedicated work of the Ho Chi Minh City Theater Association, gathering 81 articles by 50 authors who are researchers, artists, directors, critics, and journalists who have been involved with Cai Luong for many years.

The book is divided into 4 parts: Ho Chi Minh City's reformed theater looks back on a journey, The art of staging and performing, Creative elements in reformed theater, Artists and valuable lessons in acting.

Turning each page of the book, readers not only see the history of the development of Cai Luong, images of classic plays, and famous names that created a golden age, but also feel the concerns and tireless efforts of generations of artists in preserving and promoting the value of traditional art.

Veteran artists at the book launch (from left to right): Dr. Mai My Duyen, Meritorious Artist Ca Le Hong, Associate Professor Dr. Huynh Quoc Thang, People's Artist Tran Minh Ngoc, People's Artist Tran Ngoc Giau

PHOTO: AV

The book launch gathered veteran names in the theater world such as People's Artist Tran Minh Ngoc, People's Artist Tran Ngoc Giau, Meritorious Artist Ca Le Hong, Associate Professor - Doctor Huynh Quoc Thang, Doctor Mai My Duyen, Meritorious Artist Le Thien, People's Artist Trong Phuc, artist Thanh Hang... along with hundreds of audiences and Cai Luong fans. The atmosphere of the event was filled with emotions and passion for the national art form.

According to Meritorious Artist Ca Le Hong, the book was born as a necessary tribute in the context of milestones and older artists being easily forgotten by time. She emphasized the uniqueness of Cai Luong, an art form that uniquely blends the stillness of spoken drama and the movement of Hat Boi, creating a unique identity.

In particular, the sharing of People's Artist Tran Ngoc Giau - Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Theater Association touched on core issues. He raised the question: "If Vietnamese theater did not have Cai Luong art, what kind of art would we have to reflect contemporary people, short hair, dresses, wearing Western shoes?". From there, he explained that it was the intelligence of Confucian scholars, Western scholars who loved theater in the past that gave birth to a type that could both reflect modern people and carry strong national identity. According to him, studying the combination of Western performance techniques, decoration, music and traditional theater is the most important premise. That is the way to find the roots, to clearly understand "what is old" before embarking on the journey of innovation and creativity for the future.

That heartfelt statement is also the message that the book wants to convey. It is not only a purely research work, but also a foundation, a valuable "handbook", a bridge for today's and future generations to understand, inherit and continue the journey of developing national art.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/san-khau-cai-luong-tphcm-nhin-lai-nua-the-ky-de-tien-ve-phia-truoc-185250708180006108.htm