HCM City (VNA)🅺 - HCM City’s Tran HuuTrang “Cai luong” (reformed opera) theatre, one of theregion’s leading traditional art troupes, is preparing a series of new shows toentertain farmers during Tet (Lunar New Year), which begins January 28.

The two shows will focus on historical events.Veteran and young talents like Tu Suong, Vo Minh Lam and Le Thanh Thao willperform in Hoa Vuong Tinh Mong (Hero’s Love Story) and BaoTap Nguyen Sa (The Storm), both of which depict heroes’ sacrifices forthe country.   They will also stage Hon Ma Bao Oan (TheGhost) and Hiu Hiu Gio Bac (The Wind), comedy shows featuringthe year’s top social and cultural events.  The plays, directed by young artists Quoc Kietand Le Trung Thao, will include sound and light effects to lure young fans. Theatre director and People’s Artist Tran NgocGiau said that a group of 20 young artists will travel to perform in the ruraldistricts of Can Gio, Binh Chanh, Nha Be, Cu Chi and Hoc Mon. “We will offer free shows at an outdoor stagelocated in cultural houses for rural residents, who love cai luong buthave fewer entertainment choices than their urban counterparts,” he said. Ca Mau province’s Huong Tram Cai Luong Troupeplans to offer quality shows for local farmers. Dozens of artists will travelaround the province to perform for free or for only 10,000 to 25,000 VND (1.1USD). Talented artists such as Kim Hien and Minh Sangwill take part in extracts from popular operas like Huyen Thoai Nguoi Me (TheLegend of Mother) and Ben Dong Nhi Nguyet (Living on Nhi NguyetRiver), works which describe the love of parents for their children. They will alsoperform Ong Tao (Kitchen God), a comedy featuring dances andsongs based on traditional legends. On the 23rd of the last lunar month, Vietnamesefamilies will clean their kitchens and worship Ong Tao as he leaves for heaven to report about the family to theGod of Heaven. He will return to the kitchen on the 30th.   “Our play Ong Tao will reflect farmers’ daily lives, including work andfamily problems, and will have lessons and entertain the audience," NguyenQuoc Tin, head of the troupe, said. "We face many challenges in offering astable income to our performers and staging quality plays. However, we always offerfree performances every Tet to send our best wishes to our people," Tinsaid. He said that he hoped that local companies andorganisations would offer more financial support to traditional troupes. Last year during Tet his troupetravelled around Ca Mau and neighbouring provinces such as Hau Giang and DongThap and performed for more than 35,000 people.-VNA