Tho Ha enlivened by “tuong” drums

Updated: 10:50, 13/02/2017

(BGO) – ““tuong”” (classical drama) is considered a “specialty” of Tho Ha village, Van Ha commune, Viet Yen district, northern Bac Giang province. For generations, local people residing along the northern bank of Cau river have treasured this traditional art.

A scene in the play “Dao Tam Xuan loan trao”.

Artists of countryside

Not everyone is lucky enough to enjoy a full ““tuong”” play in Tho Ha village. According to the traditional customs, the ““tuong”” troupe is allowed to perform only when the village holds parties or important events. When we arrived, the troupe was performing the play named “Dao Tam Xuan loan trao” in the courtyard of the communal house to serve the shooting for the programme “S-Vietnam”.

In the cold atmosphere of a year-end day, the ““tuong”” drum resounded to the cheer of children and the elderly in the courtyard. Before the performance, each artist held a small mirror to do make-up and prepare costumes at the foot of a tree. In the daily life, they are busy with making rice sheets and raising poultry but on the stage, they play historical characters professionally. The sound of drums and fanfare livened up the atmosphere. The stage was only a mat spread out on the brick base with sophisticatedly painted faces wearing colourful costumes.

Today, Trinh Dac Dan, 67, played a revered king. He said: “It is difficult to find ““tuong”” lovers nowadays, but it is more difficult to find ““tuong”” artists”. “Tuong” artists in Tho Ha are not trained at school but taught by predecessors so that they still keep the golden rules of performing handed down from the past generations. With many chapters and acts, Tho Ha “tuong” is played for many nights or even overnight. The village’s “tuong” guild has long been strong in the number of male artists while female artists come from nearby areas because they only perform when they are young and quit after getting married. The troupe often starts performing in spring and autumn. Last August, artists performed for two nights to serve the public.

Only when watching the performance, could we see the local people’s sentiment toward the art. Visitor Nguyen Van Khoa from Hanoi said “I have never seen any interesting play like that. It was very enchanting and dramatic. If only there were more regular performances to serve visitors”.

Tho Ha artist plays an imposing general

Vitality of “tuong” plays

Upon hearing the news, Mr Nguyen Ba Lam – the only meritorious “tuong” artist in the province - leaned against a stick to come to the communal house to watch how young artists act on stage. The images of “tuong” dancing amid the drum sound appeared in his dreams for many nights. At the age of 96, Mr Lam does not remember when this kind of art came to the village. For generations, local residents have handed down scripts, costumes, make-up skills and gestures to young artists.

While “tuong” art has been a thing of the past in many localities, it still plays an important role in the spiritual life of local people.

When he was young, Mr Lam played a number of characters, sang and performed well in the plays of Son Hau, Dao Phi Phung, Tong Dich Thanh, Tam nu do vuong, Chinh Dong Chinh Tay. He said: “I am so excited that I want to step on the stage”, then swung his arm and recited a piece of a play “Tu thuo Tay thanh biet phu/Qua ky Bac tam su”.

He explained that artists often use these sentences to exchange greetings on stage. For classical drama, each word and gesture must follow sets and artists must see the direction of their hand acts. The old artist said “Due to my modest height, I couldn’t play a strong general, except prince and small boy”.

While “tuong” art has been a thing of the past in many localities, it still plays an important role in the spiritual life of local people. Despite ups and downs, it is yet to fall into oblivion. In 1987, the village opened a “tuong” club led by old artists. Apart from performing in the village, the amateur artists also go on tour in Ha Noi and Bac Ninh.

Mr Trinh Duc Dan said that his greatest encouragement is winning popularity from spectators. Some people say “tuong” is less popular nowadays but for Tho Ha villagers, it is an appetizing dish. However, those having a passion for “tuong” in the village are still concerned about filling a gap in seeking a young generation to inherit the art.

Nguyen Huong