The program "The Charm of Hanoi Cheo" took place on 24/7 at Dai Nam Theater. People's Artist Thu Huyen wrote the script, and People's Artist Nguyen Tien Dung edited and directed it. For 60 minutes, famous traditional cheo excerpts were presented concisely and seamlessly.
The performance opened with "Mua hat Vo nuoc" (Dance and Song of Breaking Water), where artists emerged from the orchestra pit below the stage, creating a wave effect with fan movements. The team then introduced classic cheo characters. Thi Mau, portrayed as flirtatious, bold, and vibrant, appeared in the excerpt "Thi Mau len chua" (Thi Mau Goes to the Pagoda). Suy Van evoked sympathy, living in a half-conscious state in "Suy Van gia dai" (Suy Van Feigns Madness). The excerpt "Luu Binh - Duong Le" conveyed a humanistic story of loyalty and affection.
The program's highlights included flexible staging, lighting effects, LED screens, and stage design. For the "Luu Binh - Duong Le" segment, the audience experienced a countryside scene with golden rice fields and storks flying. The image of a buffalo boy playing a flute, a familiar symbol of rural Vietnam, was recreated, evoking emotion. In "Suy Van gia dai", the stage featured numerous white silk strips, suggesting a somber mood. The final scene displayed spiderwebs on the screen, symbolizing the character's inescapable fate.
Beyond domestic audiences, the program also targeted international viewers. Consequently, at the beginning of each excerpt, LED screens displayed character and play introductions in both Vietnamese and English. Through this, the team aimed for tourists to recognize cheo as a unique art form and a cultural heritage of Vietnam.
People's Artist Thu Huyen, Director of the Hanoi Cheo Theater, approached director Nguyen Tien Dung two years ago with the concept, and the team has rehearsed for about one month. He expressed joy witnessing the positive reactions from both the audience and veteran artists present at the performance. "Audience members are the ones who extend traditional art," he stated.
According to the director, the messages from the past remain relevant. To introduce novelty, he and his team modernized the staging, music, and dance. Young actors were chosen to portray Thi Mau and Suy Van, demonstrating the continued presence of a new generation of cheo artists.
People's Artist Thu Huyen stated that the approximately one-hour duration suits current audience preferences, particularly for tourists. This allows viewers to observe typical facets of traditional cheo. This approach does not diminish the art form's value but creates an opportunity for audiences to learn, appreciate, and develop a desire for deeper exploration. "This is our new direction as the cultural industry is strongly promoted," she said.
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Thi Mau (Thanh Huyen) flirts with the young monk Kinh Tam, disguised as Thi Kinh (Thuy Nga). Photo: Organizers |
Phuong Linh
