HCM CITY —  A cải lương (reformed opera) play on national heroines, Trưng sisters, is being restaged to celebrate the National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1). 

The play, called Tiếng Trống Me Linh (The Sounds of Me Linh Drum) will feature young artists of the Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre, a leading traditional art troupe in HCM City. 

It will narrate the stories of Trưng Trắc and her younger sister Trưng Nhị, who led the first resistance movement against the Southern Han Chinese occupation in the first century, around 2,000 years ago.

The sisters led their troops on elephants to repel Chinese invasions. Their victory delivered liberation for Đại Viet (an old name for Viet Nam) after 247 years of Chinese domination

The play’s premiere, held on April 10, had Meritorious Artist Thanh Ngan playing older sister Trưng Trắc, and Kim Luan as the younger sister, Trưng Nhị. 

Young talented actor Văn Khởi played Trưng Trắc’s husband, General Thi Sach. 

The performance left a very strong impression on the audiences and theatre critics.  

“The actors have presented a cải lương play using modern performance techniques,” said director and People’s Artist Trần Ngọc Giau. 

“We have worked to refresh Tiếng Trống Me Linh, a famous cải lương play on Vietnamese history that was first staged in 1977,” said actress Kim Luan. 

“We hope to encourage young audiences to learn more about Vietnamese history and culture through our art.”

Kim Luan said she watched a video of the play’s original version starring the late talented actress Thanh Nga as Trưng Trắc. This enabled her to improve her own performance in the new version this year, she added 

“Our new version introduces the art in both old and new styles,” said the 25-year-old Luan.  

Tiếng Trống Me Linh will be staged every night from April 24 to May 1 at the Trần Hữu Trang Theatre, 136Đ Trần Hưng Đạo Street, District 1. Tickets are available at the box office. — VNS