Trad’ Thespian Treats to Highlight the Lunar New Year

The 2008 lunar New Year (Tet) is less than a month away and theatres in HCMC are hectically preparing their best plays for the season.

Phu Nhuan Theater (Photo:KK)

Several cai luong (reformed theatre) plays are on schedule for the lunar festive season. The most remarkable may be “The Swan Gown” of the Tran Huu Trang Theatre, budgeted at VND2 billion, to play on the 14th, 15th and 16th of February at the Military Zone 7 Stadium.

Directed by Hoa Ha, the play features a number of romantic scenes, including a bridge of 20 swan-like figures.
“Spring 2008 Gala”, arranged by young talent Vu Luan, is to be presented early on the 9th of January at 179 Binh Thoi Street, Distict 11, and feature several cai luong “superstars”, like Thanh Tong, Bach Tuyet, Vu Linh, Thoai My, Tu Trinh, Trinh Trinh, Chi Linh, Trong Nghia, Hoang Quoc Thanh, Le Thanh Thao and more.
Phuoc Sang studios, who normally produce films and comedies for Tet, are to organize a cai luong tribute for renowned player Hong Nga, entitled “48 Years of Years And Happiness”. Again directed by Hoa Ha, with special guests Diep Lang, Le Thuy, Thanh Sang, Viet Anh, Thoai My, Kim Tu Long, Cam Thu, Hoang Son, Bao Chau, Hoai Linh, Tan Beo, Tan Bo, Thuy Nga and on and on, the traditional theatrical romance is to open on the 16th ,17th and 24th at the Trong Dong Stage.

Hong Nga is to feature some renowned extras from other plays, like To Anh Nguyet and Co Gai Do Long in a duet with pop star Dam Vinh Hung.

Horror plays seem out of favor this year. Even the Phu Nhuan Stage, which succeeded in this genre last year, decided to move “The Blooded Heart”, a horror by young director Thai Hoa, to its March schedule and present instead two new comedies Van Phuoc Gia, Love and Thief over the several days of Tet.

HCMC’s Play Theatre is to present “Oh, My Idol”, “The Lost Belief” and a series of short comedies, while 5B Stage is to introduce some new plays, like “Love Hostel”, written by Le Binh and directed by Thanh Hoang.
After the success of “The Phantoms of The Opera” (a parody of the Western “Phantom of The Opera”), this year, director and writer Le Hoang is to present a new story called “The Contract of Predators”, directed by Vu Minh and staged at the Idecaf Stage under director Huynh Anh Tuan. It is said to be an unprecedented play, with only four actors appearing, Thanh Loc, Thanh Phuong, Huy Khanh and Dinh Toan.
Phuoc Sang will also stage “Hatred and Love” and “Honey”, featuring Viet Anh, Ngoc Giau, Hoai Linh, Hoang Son and Huu Nghia.

Source: SGGP