Chi Pheo first appeared on the musical stage in Vietnam
Báo điện tử VOV•25/10/2024
VOV.VN - Recently, Thang Long Music and Dance Theater and producer Duong Cam have released the official trailer of the musical "Chi Pheo's Dream". This is a passionate project that was carried out after many years of nurturing, by a trio of geniuses: musician, producer Duong Cam, screenwriter Dinh Tien Dung and director, Meritorious Artist Phung Tien Minh.
With the concern and aspiration for a Broadway stage in Vietnam, Duong Cam has realized that after many years of nurturing. He said, this became easier when "three swords combined" with the participation of Dinh Tien Dung and Phung Tien Minh. According to Duong Cam, "Giac Mo Chi Pheo" is a musical with a strong international Broadway color. For the first time, a Broadway play inspired by Vietnamese literature has been performed, satisfying the Vietnamese people's desire for the Broadway dream of "musical made in Vietnam".
Duong Cam said that Vietnamese literary materials used in other creative works such as music, cinema, and painting have never been strange. Telling Vietnamese literary stories in Western theatrical language in Vietnam is also no longer rare.
But for the musical genre, literature is indeed a fertile "gold mine". In the world, famous musicals inspired and adapted from classic literary works are well received and have had a great influence on many audiences. Examples include: Les Misérables by writer Victor Hugo and the Broadway musical of the same name, Dreamgrils, Countess Mariza (Grafin Mariza), ...
And a Vietnamese musical, according to the production team, must be beautiful things, the identity of Vietnamese literature, culture, and people. Talking about the reason for making the musical "Giác mơ Chí Phèo", producer Duong Cam said: "Among many "dishes" of art and entertainment, I think musicals are the trend of enjoyment of the audience. Up to now, we have made musicals, but from the perspective of a musician, I think those musicals have not yet achieved the "Broadway standard" factor. From the actual needs and desires of the Vietnamese public to enjoy Vietnamese musicals according to international musical standards. We strive to turn "Giác mơ Chí Phèo" into a "made in Vietnam" musical brand. More than "Broadway standard", it is culture, an artistic product, and the identity of the Vietnamese people".
Dong Hung plays the role of Chi Pheo. In 90 minutes, the musical with music tells the story of Chi Pheo's fierce struggle with the tragedy of fate. Chi Pheo's origin and appearance closely follow the original literary work. However, "Chi Pheo's Dream" is not heavy on psychology and does not delve into describing the reality of life of the human class in feudal society, but focuses on the romantic element in the story of the couple Chi Pheo and Thi No. Duong Cam wants to recreate a literary spirit through a humanistic perspective, through music to express a "normal and kind" Chi Pheo. Honoring the value of sincere human love even though it is crushed by fate, in all circumstances, love is always salvation: "Everyone wants to be a normal person, everyone wants to be loved!". Duong Cam showed great harmony with his partner in the first collaboration. With the script of Professor Cu Trong Xoay (Dinh Tien Dung), Duong Cam seemed to be able to sublimate his musical creativity, he turned the musical material into something valuable. Duong Cam added that the 19 songs in the musical were completely new to him.
Hoang Thai Phuong, daughter of artist Thanh Thanh Hien, plays Thi No. Talking about the musical, Dinh Tien Dung expressed: “Adapting a classic work by writer Nam Cao has many advantages because the characters and plot are very clear. The story of Chi Pheo is very meaningful because it honors love and human values: thanks to love, a demon can become a human, thanks to love, a silly girl can also become a human. The fact that we keep mentioning it in the play “We want to be normal people” is that sometimes being a normal person is very difficult for many people. I want to adapt the work Chi Pheo into a musical with a Vietnamese brand, a way of expressing it close to the entertainment needs of the audience. We want to make it really new and really attractive so that everyone who goes to see it can have an interesting and wonderful artistic experience. This is definitely a musical that you will find very worth watching.”
Most of the artists performing in the play are young, fresh, with quality arias and surprising, groundbreaking performances. For example, the presence of a powerful, emotional voice like Dong Hung (playing the role of Chi Pheo) or the new discovery of singer Hoang Thai Phuong, daughter of artist Thanh Thanh Hien, in the role of Thi No. The musical "Giác Mơ Chí Phèo" is sure to bring the audience a quality, attractive and unforgettable artistic space on the Broadway stage. People's Artist Tan Minh hopes that "Giác Mơ Chí Phèo" will be an affirmation of the "made in Vietnam" musical brand not only with domestic audiences but also "spreading wings far and wide" about the dream of Vietnamese musicals reaching out to the world. According to information from the producer, the musical will officially premiere in November 2024 at the Ho Guom Theater (Hanoi).
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