Southern Vietnam’s oldest cai luong theater revived TUOI TRE      View more pictures Bao Quoc transformed into an ignorant feudal official who worships money in “Thi Mau,” a very popular Vietnamese folk tale, acting together with Hong Van comedian. Photo: Tuoi Tre The nearly 100-year-old cai luong theater in Tien Giang province’s My Tho Town, the first of its kind in southern Vietnam, has recently been restored and reopened to local enthusiasts of this long-standing traditional art form. Since reopening to the public in April, 2011, the theater, which was called Artist Nam Tu’s theater almost 100 years ago, has been packed with patrons, who arrive early and eagerly await the performances. Reminder of a bygone age Nguyen Thanh Hai, a local who had watched performances at the theater prior to 1975, said the new shows are strongly reminiscent of those from the past. Another local audience member, Tran Van Hai, fondly recalled the time when he and his friends could go to three local theaters, Nam Tu’s, Dinh Tuong and Vien Truong, for cai luong shows. After a time only Dinh Tuong remained, but it mostly showed movies, Hai said. “It has been ages since I enjoyed cai luong shows at this theater. Though the feelings aren’t exactly the same as before, I’m glad that locals are still deeply in love with cai luong,” Hai confided. Luu Ngoc Dung also vividly remembers when the shows at the theater were huge hits with locals. Cai luong artists Minh Thiet and Kim Loan perform an extract from the play ‘Thang Long mua xuan ay’ (Thang Long in that spring). Photo: Tuoi Tre Audiences had to form long queues early in the morning to get tickets. Those who couldn’t get a ticket enjoyed the performances from outside. Among today’s audience are Le Thi Cam Nhung, a My Tho native, and her French husband, Robert Nugier. They are active philanthropists who spend around four months each year in Vietnam giving gifts to needy local kids. During their first time visit to the theater, Nugier was instantly mesmerized by the performance. “The sophisticated emotions expressed on the artists’ faces impress me most,” Nugier commented. Reviving efforts Nguyen Huynh Anh, chair of the Tien Giang Literature and Arts Association, is in charge of running the performances, from preparing scripts to inviting artists. “Locals are infatuated with cai luong. They only come to the shows when they include a cai luong performance,” Anh said. “I’m so happy to see many people enjoy the shows from beginning to end after a long day’s work,” he added. Since its reopening, the theater has featured appearances by many local artists. “No other traditional art form has such a strong appeal to southerners as cai luong. Though facing intense competition from other art forms, cai luong is still enthusiastically embraced,” said veteran artist Minh Thiet, who has performed at various theaters over his 25 year career. According to Nguyen Ngoc Minh, director of the provincial Culture, Sports and Tourism department, through ups and downs, the theater has suffered from serious infrastructural downgrades, and the stage is now merely a with plain decorations. His department has submitted its renovation project to the provincial People’s Committee, he added. From 2013 on, activities will be held yearly to cater to locals, as well as reviving the theater and cai luong. According to Anh, the performances are free of charge. In addition to don ca tai tu and cai luong, the shows feature new additions such as comic skits, and magic shows.