"The Thunder of Lach Hoi": People's Artist Trieu Trung Kien thrives on the foundation of historical legend

Not only is it deeply moving because of the true story of heroine Nguyen Thi Loi, "Lach Hoi Thunder" is also a testament to the subtle combination of modern staging and a creative spirit to preserve the core of traditional cai luong art.

Under the direction of People's Artist Trieu Trung Kien and a team of professional and dedicated artists, the script by writer Nguyen Toan Thang once again affirms that they are a cohesive duo that has created many beautiful impressions on the country's stage over the past time.

A scene from the play "Thunder of Lach Hoi"

When history merges with theatrical reality

People's Artist Trieu Trung Kien - a director who has made his mark in both drama and reformed theater - in the play "Thunder of Lach Hoi" continues to affirm his solid, restrained but effective staging style.

Avoiding the historical narrative or dogmatic illustration, he chose to emphasize the emotional state of the main character, thereby building a deep, haunting drama. Moreover, in the current trend of mergers, Lam Son Art Theater gathered the actors Cai Luong and Cheo under one roof, so the play was an opportunity for all the actors of the genres to sublimate their emotions and they created a very beautiful picture from this work.

One of the remarkable techniques of People's Artist Trieu Trung Kien is the use of a stage space with two layers of time - between reality and memory, between duty and family, between resistance and life. The gentle movements between the layers of scenes - from the small house where Ms. Loi holds her child, to the fake war zone, then the enemy ship where fate awaits - are not interrupted, but are connected by light, music and images.

It is this staging technique that makes the audience not only watch but also live with the characters. The most beautiful are the dances that are elaborately staged and of high quality.

Artist Pham Thi Ngoc - Nguyen Thi Loi and Artist Truong Van Phong - Ca Loc (Nguyen Thi Loi's husband)

Another special point is the way the director chooses "naturalness" as a measure of emotion. He leaves very real silences on stage - where the sound of waves crashing in the distance, where a character just looks into space but the audience can still hear their heart echoing.

Details such as Nguyen Thi Loi's shadow appear vaguely at the end of the play, a wreath floating on the waves, or the silence of her comrades when receiving the suicide note of the character accepting sacrifice... are poetic moments, creating aesthetic depth for the work.

Even maturity and sublimation in the main role

One of the great successes of this cai luong play comes from the harmony between the young cast, who were trained by director and People's Artist Trieu Trung Kien with all his heart, helping them to truly excel, especially the two main roles.

The affection of colleagues and audiences for the play is the happiness of director, People's Artist Trieu Trung Kien.

Artist Pham Thi Ngoc (as Nguyen Thi Loi) is the emotional discovery of the play. Taking on the lead role in a long cai luong play for the first time, and a highly symbolic role, she showed remarkable stage presence. In each verse – from the heavy lullabies to the farewell monologue to her husband before the battle – Artist Pham Thi Ngoc perfectly demonstrates both her refined Vong Co singing technique and her deep inner acting.

The scenes where she struggles between her motherhood and her duty as a soldier, the cries she tries to hold back… make the audience sob with every word.

Unlike the often dry heroine roles, the character Nguyen Thi Loi, portrayed by artist Pham Thi Ngoc, is soulful and "very real". She does not force herself to be a hero, but is a mother who loves her child to the core, a wife who loves her husband dearly - that is why her sacrifice touches the deepest emotions of the audience.

It is worth noting that author Vu Trong Hai has adapted Cai Luong with great emotion, so that each verse and dialogue penetrates deeply into the audience's heart.

People's Artist Le Chuc congratulated director People's Artist Trieu Trung Kien and the artists for successfully performing the play.

Truong Van Phong (as Ca Loc - Loi's husband) was also surprised with his simple, full-bodied performance of a man of integrity, the spiritual support of the female police officer who threw herself into hardships to achieve victory. The farewell scene between him and his wife was a peak in both singing and acting.
The supporting cast and over 40 extras did a good job of creating the background for the main scenes. Especially the character Hoang Dao (A13) - with his rich voice and meaningful eyes - became the "witness" that added historical depth to the story.

When Cai Luong is not old – thanks to love for the profession and understanding

"Lach Hoi Thunder" shows that Cai Luong is not outdated if it is staged properly and entrusted by artists who understand and love the profession such as People's Artist Trieu Trung Kien, writer Nguyen Toan Thang and the team that made this masterpiece. Without the need for visual sophistication, without following performance techniques that are far from tradition, the play conquers with intelligence and emotion - where the director uses historical perception as a fulcrum, where the actors use their inner self to create characters, and music is used to connect the audience with the artistic space.

I have seen many works staged by People's Artist Trieu Trung Kien, but every time I am surprised by his very intelligent handling of space. In 2020, the play "Khau Vai Love Story" staged by him for Dai Viet New Cai Luong Stage was awarded the Mai Vang Award by readers of Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper.

Actors from Lam Son Art Theater successfully performed the opera "Thunder of Lach Hoi" - considered a highlight at this Festival.

With what has been shown, the play "Thunder of Lach Hoi" is a highlight at this Festival. The play is also a testament to the transformation of cai luong art in the North when the past and present are told in a sincere, emotional and profound artistic language.

Not only is it the thunder from Lach Hoi estuary, it is the thunder that awakens national pride in each person, thanks to the talented staging and the artists who truly give their all for the stage, honoring the people's police officer as a legend of the heroic Thanh land.

Artists in character images:
Artist Pham Thi Ngoc - Nguyen Thi Loi
Artist Truong Van Phong - Ca Loc (Nguyen Thi Loi's husband)
People's Artist Vuong Hai - Hoang Dao (Head of intelligence team A13)
NS Vuong Canh - Kim Son (A13 spy team agent)
Artist Hong Phong - Chu Duy Kinh (Informant of Intelligence Team A13)
Artist Nhat Hoa - Petit (French Major)
Meritorious Artist Quoc Dung - Dinh Xuan Cau (Member of the Nationalist Party)
Meritorious Artist Khanh Vinh - Le Quang Thien (Member of the Nationalist Party)
Artist Khanh Duy - Nguyen Van Huong (Member of the Nationalist Party)
Artist Tien Luc - Aubin (Captain of the Amyot D'Inville)
NS Hoang Chinh - Merlin (French Major)
Artist Hoang Duy - French Soldier
With the participation of artists:
Manh Lam, Pham Dung, Ngoc Lan, Luong Hoa, Thanh Tinh, Huyen Thuong, Ngoc Anh, Pham Son, Nguyen Mai, Nguyen Nhung, Nguyen Giang, Tuyet Anh, Nhu Quynh, Le Ha, Cong Hoa, Minh Duc, Tong Dat, Ngoc Tu, (In the roles of extras, French soldiers, and dance troupes).
Orchestra: Duy Tham: Dan Sen; Hoang Oanh: Dan Tranh; Xuan Tung: Guitar; Hoang Chinh: Dan Bau; Tien Sy: Organ.