Vietnam Exhibits Golden Age Cai Luong Artifacts, Unveiling Traditional Art's History

A precious exhibition showcasing the golden era of Cai Luong, Vietnam's traditional opera, is being held in Ho Chi Minh City. Over 100-year-old records and handwritten scripts featuring prominent actresses are being unveiled for the first time, attracting significant attention from visitors. The exhibition is part of a series of events honoring Cai Luong art, jointly organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee's Propaganda Department, TFS Film Production, and Tran Huu Trang Theatre. Most of the artifacts belong to collector Huynh Minh Hiep, 54, who has spent over 30 years collecting and preserving them. The collection includes more than 300 handwritten scripts, records, and promotional flyers. The oldest exhibit is a record of 'Kim Van Kieu,' first performed on March 15, 1918, at the Thay Nam Tu Theatre in My Tho. Also on display are two panoramic photos of actors Cong Tai and To Loan, reportedly used during the establishment of the Tran Huu Trang Theatre in 1976. The theatre's predecessor was the Hung Dao Theatre, once known as the 'cathedral of the stage' in Saigon. A commemorative magazine from 1965 celebrating the 15th anniversary of the renowned Thanh Minh Thanh Nga Cai Luong troupe is also featured. Its cover depicts the 'queen of the stage,' actress Thanh Nga, alongside her mother and troupe producer, Bau Nam Tho. The exhibit also includes the autograph of actor Nam Chau, a playwright of many classic works who contributed to the troupe's success. Included is a script for the play 'Gian Xua,' printed in 1947, with a portrait of actor Tam Van. These were often distributed to audiences before performances. Tam Van (1924-2009) was the mentor to many Cai Luong golden generation artists, including Thanh Nga, Bach Tuyet, Thanh Tu, Mong Tuyen, and Bao Quoc. Promotional posters for popular troupes from the 1960s are also exhibited, including those from the troupe of actress Ut Bach Lan and actor Thanh Duoc, known for famous plays like 'Do Long Dao' and 'Vo Dong So - Bach Thu Ha.' A poster for the Tan Hoa Lan troupe, founded by Ut Bach Lan, features her portrait. Actor Thanh Sang is shown in his role as Kim Mao Su Vuong, a character that earned him a gold medal at the Thanh Tam Awards in 1964. Records of Vong Co and Bolero songs popular in the 1950s-1960s are carefully preserved. Collector Huynh Minh Hiep mentioned that his ancestor was Bac Lieu, a high-ranking official during the French colonial era, and that he often discovers unknown artifacts while organizing his collections during visits to his hometown. Black and white photographs capture scenes from historical Hoa Quang (Chinese opera-style) Cai Luong performances. A palm-sized comic book adaptation of 'Luong Son Ba - Chuc Anh Dai' is also displayed, printed on thin, easily torn pelure paper. Old Cai Luong tickets are on display, evoking memories for enthusiasts. A poster introducing the Kim Khanh Awards in 1972 lists prominent figures like Thanh Lan, Bach Tuyet, Hung Cuong, and Che Linh. This annual event honored talents in film, music, drama, and Cai Luong, awarding titles such as 'film empress' and 'film emperor.' The exhibition is drawing many young visitors eager to learn about Cai Luong's golden age. The program also includes workshops and panel discussions on traditional music. Students are participating in singing lessons with current artists and games to identify historical figures and plays through costumes and props.