giang
07-29-2007, 02:09 PM
HCM CITY — Cai luong (reformed drama) is under threat in its home land – the Cuu Long (Mekong). With audience numbers steadily dropping off, many performers of the art form are choosing to pursue more lucrative careers as bar singers or restaurant owners instead. This trend has left industry insiders wondering whether the cai luong tradition will soon die out in this area all together.
Deputy director of the Tay Do Cai Luong Troupe, Tran Van Thien, a veteran of the art form for more than 30 years, says that two decades ago when a troupe came to town, people would stand in long queues to buy tickets. Today, a troupe is lucky if it can attract 300 to 400 spectators, he says. While this number may still sound impressive, when you consider that tickets cost just VND3,000-10,000 (20-60 US cents), it does not add up to much of an income for the troupe.
"Many local cai luong troupes offer free shows, but even then, they cannot attract as many audience members as before," he says.
Over the past 10 years it has become impossible for professional cai luong troupes to earn a living in provincial centres, so they are forced to go further into the countryside to find an audience, Thien says.
There are only seven professional troupes left in the 13 provinces of the Cuu Long (Mekong) delta (where the art form originated), he says, and some are more successful than others.
The Tay Do Cai Luong Troupe still manages to draw several hundred people in its native Can Tho Province. However, the troupe counts several cai luong stars amongst its members, including Thao Van (winner of two gold medals at national theatre festivals) and Ngoc Nhung (winner of two gold medals at the Tran Huu Trang cai luong competition).
On the other hand, groups like the Cao Van Lau Cai Luong Troupe in Bac Lieu Province, the Ensemble in Dong Thap Province and the Huong Tram Troupe in Ca Mau Province, only manage to sell enough tickets during Tet (lunar new year) and other special occasions.
"Without support, in the vicinity of VND1 billion-VND1.5 billion from of the province’s budget, local cai luong troupes cannot survive," says an official from the Can Tho Culture and Information Department.
Artists earn their keep
In recent years, the number of restaurants in Bac Lieu Province that offer traditional singing performances has increased, says Le Thi Ai Nam, director of the Bac Lieu Information and Culture Department.
Many cai luong artists, such as stars Linh Tuan and Thanh Kim Hien, are behind this trend. Others include Cong Trang, Le My and Ngan Trinh in Bac Lieu Province, and Tuan Liem, Hong Chi and Minh Sang in Ca Mau Province. Those who cannot open their own restaurants, work as guest singers in bars to earn a living.
Many cai luong artists say that the VND1 million (US$62) per month they receive as professional cai luong performers is not enough for them to survive on, so they are forced to look for work elsewhere.
Need to modernise
"Cai luong has a strange attraction," says Doan Hoang Giang, chairman of the art council of Viet Nam Theatrical Artists’ Association. "It has appeared everywhere and allured so many hearts, not only in the south but also in the north of the country."
"Whenever I visit the south, I hear people singing vong co (a special style of singing using the whole breath without any breaks, which is used in cai luong)," he says. "So, why then are people in the very heartland of this art turning their backs on cai luong?"
According to Giang, one reason is that modern audiences can no longer relate to cai luong. The art form needs to be modernised if it is to stay relevant, he says. He suggests editing songs to make their words more direct and introducing less elaborate costumes.
He thinks that male artists should not wear as much make up as they traditionally did. Nor should they have plastic surgery, he says.
"Today’s people prefer artists with a modern appearance and more straight-forward stories," Giang says.
If young people cannot appreciate an art form, then it does not deserve to be called art, he says.
"Live performances of cai luong now have strong competition from cai luong on video and audio, television and other forms of entertainment," agrees Nguyen Minh , head of the Huong Tram Troupe. "At the same time, cai luong also lacks good stories," he says.
Cai luong faced the same crisis 50 years ago. Then, it was able to adapt and change with the times to stay relevant to its audience. Whether the art form will be able to do the same again today, remains to be seen. — VNS
Deputy director of the Tay Do Cai Luong Troupe, Tran Van Thien, a veteran of the art form for more than 30 years, says that two decades ago when a troupe came to town, people would stand in long queues to buy tickets. Today, a troupe is lucky if it can attract 300 to 400 spectators, he says. While this number may still sound impressive, when you consider that tickets cost just VND3,000-10,000 (20-60 US cents), it does not add up to much of an income for the troupe.
"Many local cai luong troupes offer free shows, but even then, they cannot attract as many audience members as before," he says.
Over the past 10 years it has become impossible for professional cai luong troupes to earn a living in provincial centres, so they are forced to go further into the countryside to find an audience, Thien says.
There are only seven professional troupes left in the 13 provinces of the Cuu Long (Mekong) delta (where the art form originated), he says, and some are more successful than others.
The Tay Do Cai Luong Troupe still manages to draw several hundred people in its native Can Tho Province. However, the troupe counts several cai luong stars amongst its members, including Thao Van (winner of two gold medals at national theatre festivals) and Ngoc Nhung (winner of two gold medals at the Tran Huu Trang cai luong competition).
On the other hand, groups like the Cao Van Lau Cai Luong Troupe in Bac Lieu Province, the Ensemble in Dong Thap Province and the Huong Tram Troupe in Ca Mau Province, only manage to sell enough tickets during Tet (lunar new year) and other special occasions.
"Without support, in the vicinity of VND1 billion-VND1.5 billion from of the province’s budget, local cai luong troupes cannot survive," says an official from the Can Tho Culture and Information Department.
Artists earn their keep
In recent years, the number of restaurants in Bac Lieu Province that offer traditional singing performances has increased, says Le Thi Ai Nam, director of the Bac Lieu Information and Culture Department.
Many cai luong artists, such as stars Linh Tuan and Thanh Kim Hien, are behind this trend. Others include Cong Trang, Le My and Ngan Trinh in Bac Lieu Province, and Tuan Liem, Hong Chi and Minh Sang in Ca Mau Province. Those who cannot open their own restaurants, work as guest singers in bars to earn a living.
Many cai luong artists say that the VND1 million (US$62) per month they receive as professional cai luong performers is not enough for them to survive on, so they are forced to look for work elsewhere.
Need to modernise
"Cai luong has a strange attraction," says Doan Hoang Giang, chairman of the art council of Viet Nam Theatrical Artists’ Association. "It has appeared everywhere and allured so many hearts, not only in the south but also in the north of the country."
"Whenever I visit the south, I hear people singing vong co (a special style of singing using the whole breath without any breaks, which is used in cai luong)," he says. "So, why then are people in the very heartland of this art turning their backs on cai luong?"
According to Giang, one reason is that modern audiences can no longer relate to cai luong. The art form needs to be modernised if it is to stay relevant, he says. He suggests editing songs to make their words more direct and introducing less elaborate costumes.
He thinks that male artists should not wear as much make up as they traditionally did. Nor should they have plastic surgery, he says.
"Today’s people prefer artists with a modern appearance and more straight-forward stories," Giang says.
If young people cannot appreciate an art form, then it does not deserve to be called art, he says.
"Live performances of cai luong now have strong competition from cai luong on video and audio, television and other forms of entertainment," agrees Nguyen Minh , head of the Huong Tram Troupe. "At the same time, cai luong also lacks good stories," he says.
Cai luong faced the same crisis 50 years ago. Then, it was able to adapt and change with the times to stay relevant to its audience. Whether the art form will be able to do the same again today, remains to be seen. — VNS