Power assured during dry season
Power supply will meet the anticipated surge in demand during the dry season this year, said Dang Huy Cuong, director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Viet Nam.
Cai luong (a Vietnamese modern folk opera) performer and comedian Bao Quoc will put on a show featuring all his best roles for the first time in a 52-year career next week.
He speaks to Lao Dong newspaper about the cai luong show which will be held at Ho Chi Minh city’s Hoa Binh Theatre on May 14 and 15.
You spent VND 1 billion (US$49,000) on this show which has no sponsors. Is that the reason you had to invite many young singers and actors to attract more people?
I am doing what I really want to do, which is to tell the story of my life and career. It is such a blessing for me to know and now be able to pay tribute to all the mentors, playwrights, actors, actresses, and fans who have supported me all these years.
It is not because I am not confident about myself that I invited these young artists. I think having them perform cai luong with me is a way to attract more music, film, and theatre fans to cai luong.
The art has gone downhill recently. Thus, when watching their idols perform, young people may change their minds. I want to bring a breath of fresh air to cai luong.
You are a veteran comedian, but recently you played Nhan Tan, an exceptional character in the play “No than” which got you Vietnam’s Best Theater Actor prize in 2009. What do you think is the role of a senior like you in developing theatrical art forms like cai luong and comedy?
Nhan Tan is a difficult character. I had to completely change my usual way of acting to play a cruel character like him. That is also the reason why I decided to include an excerpt from the play in my live show.
Having said that, I think all actors and actresses have to love what they do. They have to try hard and never stop learning to be better in every new role they play.
What do you think about the development of theater in Ho Chi Minh City?
There are more and more new theaters and theatrical groups which is a good thing. They are competing openly and fairly.
However, I do not feel that positive about the comedy scene. Some groups only care about making people laugh, without really thinking deeply about what message they want to deliver and whether they have helped audiences reflect upon themselves.
Some just mouth vulgar jokes. I do not think I can blame them because getting people to laugh is a difficult job.
Many loyal fans of Bao Quoc are upset since he has said this will be his only show of this kind. “I will only do it [just] once no matter how successful it is,” he said. The show, “Bao Quoc - 52 years of bringing smiles to life,” will feature many other well-known artists like pop singer Dam Vinh Hung, movie actor Chi Bao, theater actresses Hong Van, Thanh Thuy, and Le Thuy, and comedians Tan Beo and Gia Bao who will all perform cai luong. |