[Audio] Touching Cheo play "Love story by the river"

A scene from a play

Although it is a folk opera, "Love Story by the River" by the opera writer, Dr. Tran Dinh Ngon, contains many implications of modern life.

True feelings

On the evening of August 14, at the Provincial Cultural and Art Center, Hai Duong Cheo Theater performed the cheo play "Love Story by the River".

The main content is a touching love story between Truc and Mai. She is a noble lady, and he is a poor ferryman. Mai's greedy and cruel father (a rich man) forbids them, wanting to marry his daughter to a rich man of equal social status, but their love encounters many obstacles. Overcoming all, they come together with sincere love and a happy ending.

“It has been a long time since I have seen such a good Cheo play live. Through its content, the Cheo play criticizes patriarchal, authoritarian parents who always impose on their children. The Cheo play is a lesson for parents, in the family there needs to be understanding and sympathy between generations,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong (in Binh Han ward, Hai Duong city).

With profound humanistic meaning, "Love story by the river" has brought the audience many genuine emotions, close to life.

The breath of the times in the play is also shown through the detail of the fairies, moved by the love story of Truc and Mai, deciding to do a good deed: filling the river and creating a path to pick up the bride as requested by the rich man. When they reached the top of the mountain, seeing the beautiful landscape, they were so engrossed in their play that they forgot what they were doing...

Cheo writer, Dr. Tran Dinh Ngon said he wanted to send a message: people holding positions in today's society are like fairies. Sometimes we have to forget the small joys, sacrifice our own interests to be able to do good deeds for the community and society. This is the profound meaning and still has current value in today's life.

Director, Meritorious Artist Le Tuan Cuong, Director of Vietnam Cheo Theater (right) and Meritorious Artist Bui Quang Toan, Director of Hai Duong Cheo Theater during a rehearsal with the crew

Elaborate staging

According to Meritorious Artist Bui Quang Toan, Director of Hai Duong Cheo Theater, the script of the play "Love Story by the River" ensures two factors: it is suitable for traditional Cheo art, and suitable for the cast of Hai Duong Cheo Theater to convey the author's message.

Another important factor that determines the success of a Cheo play is choosing a staging team. After receiving permission from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to stage, Hai Duong Cheo Theatre invited a staging team from the Vietnam Cheo Theatre: director, Meritorious Artist Le Tuan Cuong, Director of the Vietnam Cheo Theatre; musician, Meritorious Artist Vu Van Hoan; designer, Meritorious Artist Nguyen Dat Tang; choreographer Meritorious Artist Hoai Anh... This is a team with a wealth of experience, many new ideas, able to transform, harmonize and blend the modern folk Cheo style.

With a cast of highly skilled actors and musicians from Hai Duong Cheo Theatre, the performance on the rehearsal night of August 14 moved the audience. Details of Truc, who, for love, worked day and night to carry dirt to fill the river, or Mai, who threw herself into the river to commit suicide because she did not want to be forced to marry someone else... brought many viewers to tears.

Along with the main characters: Truc (played by artist Quang Phuc), Mai (played by artist Thu Hue), the villain is the rich man who was played very well by artist Quang Minh. That is the image of a nouveau riche in feudal times who was rich but looked down on others, pushing his daughter to the end. With the help of the gods, he realized and repented so that the play could have a happy ending. "To bring out the spirit, push the drama to a higher level, in addition to reading the script carefully, studying the image of the rich man, I think the most important thing is the emotions, the sublimation of the actor when on stage. We have to transform into the character, live with the character", artist Quang Minh said.

After every quiet moment, the actors of Hai Duong Cheo Theatre also immediately made the audience laugh. The image of the mountain god and river god with their humorous and lovely acting style is a unique mark throughout the Cheo play…

With the inheritance, transformation, and absorption of the quintessence, imbued with traditional Cheo style, folk acting, and literary language that is fantastical, mythical, and poetic, the play has created a beautiful love story.

After receiving comments from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Cheo play will be performed at cultural, political and social events in and outside the province. It is expected that this will be one of two works of Hai Duong Cheo Theatre participating in the 2025 national Cheo stage competition organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

LE HUONG