(VOVworld)- Cai Luong or Reformed Opera is a typical kind of theater genre from southern Vietnam. But, to entertain everyone, especially young audiences, it requires artists to revise the way they play and the content of their playing. Over the past year, the Dong Au Bach Long Classical  Reformed Opera group has managed to entertain numerous audiences.

Dong Au Bach Long Classical  Reformed Opera's artists in the play :"White horse and giant turnip"

The Dong Au Bach Long Reformed Opera and Classical Opera group is rehearsing the play “Toad suing the god” to perform for children. Each rehearsal often lasts for 3 hours. In a 25 square-meter-room, nearly 20 artists are acting, singing and dancing. They play the roles of happy characters in a children’s play. The group, which has performed dozens of plays over the past year, has brought Cai Luong closer to younger audiences. Bach Long is one of the artists: “I want to educate the younger generation about this type of art and increase audience numbers. Because we need both actors and audiences to preserve and promote this genre. Children often like cartoons, music and hiphop, but they know nothing about Cai Luong. So, we need to reintroduce them to Cai Luong.”

Most of the Dong Au Bach Long group’s plays are classics featuring humane and educational lessons to guide the younger audience toward the good, as well as love for their homeland and parents. Producer and scriptwriter Bach Long says each play conveys a certain message. For example, the play “Little maid serves the lord” talks about rules in life, “White horse and giant turnip” praises family love and “Toad suing the God” tells them how to practice thrift in life. Historical stories are also common in Bach Long’s plays. Director Long has managed to make these historical stories more lively and interesting for children.

Dong Au Bach Long group in the play "Tran Quoc Toan"

The plays performed by the Dong Au Bach Long groups are accompanied by beautiful dances, which have been modified from traditional moves. The group has been funded by Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to perform 4 free plays a month at the city’s main theater to serve local children. Actress Phan Thi Phuong says: “It is difficult to act in a play at the beginning but I to my best to entertain the children. This is my career although don’t earn a living from it”.

The city’s Center for Organizing Performance and Cinematography has created the best conditions for groups to perform their plays thus helping younger audience in the city learn more about folk theater. Nguyen Huu Luan is Director of the center.“We have assisted many art troupes and actors to promote folk art genres. Over the past year, we have invested a great deal of money in organizing performances at the city’s theaters and in neighboring districts”.

This activity was enthusiastically responded to by several artists. Through these performances, local children have learned more about Cai Luong, a classic kind of theater in southern Vietnam.