The traditional art of Cai luong is falling into obscurity, despite efforts to save it.
Quoc Hung, Director of the Hcm City-based Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre, said though the state is interested in resuming and developing Cai luong, this art will only just exist, never develop.
Minh Vuong – Le Thuy, the famous couple of cai luong artists, are trying to bring back Cai luong at the age of over 60, as it brought fame to them in previous decades.
“Many new forms of arts have appeared so the number of loyal customers of cai luong is falling,” Minh Vuong said.
Though they deeply understand that it is a dim hope to bring Cai luong back to the golden age, this couple established a cai luong club named “Golden Stage”. The club introduced the first Cai luong play, entitled “Long River”, which attracted the audience’s attention.
Minh Vuong said it is hard to arrange a Cai luong play at this time because besides difficulties in seeking funding, it is also difficult to find a script suitable to modern existence because the characteristic of Cai luong is “lengthiness”. Some Cai luong troupes were ashamed to perform the best extracts to draw audiences and not make them leave shows early. But this way was not approved of by Cai luong fans so Cai luong artists have to arrange new plays.
The Golden Stage is practicing a famous Cai luong play, named Durian leaf, hoping to lure more audiences. Minh Vuong said he sometimes has to play the role of a young person because it is difficult to find young cai luong artists.
Cai luong artist Vu Luan, with over ten years of experience, plans to arrange a famous Cai luong play entitled Loi Vu.
“I’m willing to personally invest in this project and to cope with any difficulty to bring this play to the stage to serve the remaining Cai luong lovers,” Vu Luan said.
Quoc Hung, Director of the Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre, said the theatre set up a cai luong club in 2000 to mobilise various resources to reintroduce Cai luong but the club had to close after arranging two plays because it couldn’t attract people.
The Theatre recently got fame for arranging two great cai luong plays, named Kim Van Kieu and Swan Coat. The two projects proved that Cai luong can fit in with the modern age.
However, Hung said: “After Kim Van Kieu and Swan Coat, we don’t dare to venture further. Luckily, we didn’t suffer a loss.”
Tran Huu Trang Theatre wishes to bring the two plays to Hanoi to serve northern audiences but it can’t afford to now.
Quoc Hung mentioned a sad fact: Young cai luong artists aren’t focusing on their profession but singing at bars and night clubs to earn their living. Many young artists forget lyrics while performing.
Besides the decline of young artists, Quoc Hung complained of the serious downgrade of equipment and facilities for cai luong.
(Source: Dat Viet)
Tag: Hanoi , Hcm , Hcm City Beyond remedy for Cai luong
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