Telling the story of the August Revolution on stage:

That glorious period of history always inspires artists to recreate it on stage. Many recent works have chosen meaningful slices to retell in new art forms, leaving their mark.

A scene from the musical “Cafe Banh Mi” by the Vietnam Drama Theater.

Praise the revolution and Uncle Ho

The musical performances of “Cafe Banh Mi” at the Star Theater ( Hanoi ) are always very special. The audience sat packed, holding red flags with yellow stars, eagerly waiting. On stage, Korean composer and conductor Seo Sang Wan wore a Vietnamese ao dai, a scarf with a red flag with yellow stars, and held a baton to conduct the orchestra. During the two hours, the play led the audience through many emotions, sometimes calm, sometimes tearful, sometimes full of enthusiasm, and then exploded at the end when the whole audience and the artists sang the Vietnamese National Anthem with pride.

With a new historical approach, the collaboration between the Vietnam Drama Theater and Korean experts has brought a special story about the years before the August Revolution. In the midst of hunger and hardship, under the enlightenment and leadership of the Party, headed by President Ho Chi Minh , the people, especially the petty bourgeoisie, devoted themselves to the revolution, contributing to the victory of the August General Uprising, breaking the chains of colonialism and feudalism, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Throughout the musical, Uncle Ho's image does not appear directly on stage, but his thoughts, ideals and spirit are present in each character, each line of dialogue, each dramatic situation, creating a deep emotional depth for the audience.

Korean artistic director Park Hyun Woo shared: “Vietnam has ignited a passion in me, urging me with all my heart and opening up new challenges. Through the play, I hope we will not forget the history of the struggle for independence, remember the losses that should not be repeated, and from there nurture passionate patriotism and look forward to a better future.”

The Cai Luong play “Tu Viet Bac ve Ha Noi” by author Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen The Ky, directed by People's Artist Trieu Trung Kien, has just been performed, performed by the Vietnam National Traditional Theater. The work recreates the period from 1941-1945, from the day leader Nguyen Ai Quoc returned to the Fatherland, directly leading the revolutionary movement, to the moment of September 2, 1945, when Uncle Ho read the Declaration of Independence. With acting, dialogue, music , dance combined with fine arts, the multi-colored stage picture has fully depicted the stature and aspirations of the entire nation in the historical turning point.

On this occasion, the Youth Theater introduced the play “The Guide’s Heart” (script by Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen The Ky, directed by Meritorious Artist Nguyen Si Tien, Meritorious Artist Cao Ngoc Anh), combining drama, music and documents, depicting the image of Uncle Ho from the time he left to find a way to save the country to the moment he read the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945 and the years he lived simply, close to the people. Each character on stage becomes a piece of a puzzle, a story that records his merits, conveys the faith, love for the revolution and the desire to contribute of today’s generations.

Multiplying public pride

The glorious historical period 80 years ago and the sacred moment when President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence at Ba Dinh Square have always been an endless source of creative inspiration for artists. Over the years, the stage has been marked by many successful works, but it is the recent plays that continue to open up new realms of emotion, multiplying public pride through creative and attractive forms.

Regarding the collaboration in staging the musical “Cafe Banh Mi” between the Vietnam Drama Theater and the Korean artist team, through Metaforce Joint Stock Company, Meritorious Artist Kieu Minh Hieu, Director of the Vietnam Drama Theater, said that not only is it a collaborative artistic product, the work also marks a significant step forward in the journey of bringing Vietnamese theater to the world. This is also a testament to the spirit of daring to challenge genres outside of one’s forte, so that musicals - which are trendy and demanding - become a bridge between history and young audiences.

The modern staging, using a semicircular stage and multi-layered LED screens, brought the audience into a historical space, witnessing the sacred moments of the nation. Young person Nguyen Vu Nhat Minh (Cau Giay ward) shared: "The work makes me proud of the history of the nation. There are many moments when I can still join in and sing along with the artists very closely."

In the cai luong play “Tu Viet Bac ve Ha Noi”, author Nguyen The Ky and director Trieu Trung Kien have succeeded in “normalizing” and “simplifying” the image of President Ho Chi Minh. Simple details such as nostalgia for family, childhood, and historical details that are rarely exploited, have portrayed a portrait of President Ho Chi Minh that is both familiar and sharp with a strategic vision. The play also made an impression when it delicately combined cai luong, dance, traditional music and painting, creating an epic and expressive whole. In the same direction, the play “The Guide’s Heart” is expressed through the blend of drama, music and documentary images, bringing simple yet emotional slices.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen The Ky affirmed that bringing revolutionary history to the modern stage is a big challenge, but the artists have constantly created and succeeded, helping the audience understand more about the milestones in the nation's history, nurturing faith and pride in today's generation.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/ke-chuyen-cach-mang-thang-tam-tren-san-khau-nhung-lat-cat-lich-su-nhung-mien-rung-cam-moi-714672.html