Vietnamese drama is stuck in the past say its critics

Senior artists and stage critics say existing Vietnamese dramas aren’t reflecting modern life.
“Stage art is a spiritual weapon, which reflects the urgent matters of society. But our artists have neglected this mission,” said senior artist Dao Quang.
In the 1980s, Hanoi’s stages hosted dramas reflecting the hottest issues of society.
At that time, “Nhan Danh Cong Ly” (In the name of justice), “Ha My Cua Toi” (My Ha My) and “Ong Khong Phai La Bo Toi” (You Are not My Father) by late scriptwriter Luu Quang Vu attracted large audiences.
Critics praised the work saying that while watching the dramas, they felt like they were watching real life and they were part of it.
Since then, the drama has become more remote for audience and has lost its attractiveness.
“There is no talent that can fill the vacancy left by Luu Quang Vu,” said People’s Artist The Anh, one of the first actors of the Vietnam Drama Theatre.
The Anh said in his time, both actors and audience were passionate about dramas but now the audience interest is diminishing. “Perhaps dramas are no longer life,” he said.
Director Anh Tu from the Hanoi-based Tuoi Tre Theatre said that Vietnamese theatres are lacking scripts about modern life. Scriptwriters have tried but failed to include contemporary messages in dramas.
He said that while he has been seeking good scripts about modern life he has not yet found any. “There are many issues related to new thoughts about marriage, life and young people but there is no drama reflecting them in depth” Tu said.
Actress Hong Van, the manager of a private theatre in HCM City, said HCM City dramas are closer to the modern life than Hanoi’s dramas so HCM City’s theatres attract larger audiences than Hanoi’s.
However, HCM City’s dramas are often criticised as having average artistic quality.
Hong Van explained that HCM City audiences love humour and they want to see authors’ messages transmitted through comedy. He says even serious dramas must have humour.
Meanwhile, artist Dao Quang says the drama stage has not changed for years while life is changing everyday.
“We still see both bad and the good on the stage. But people of today are more complicated,” he said.
“For today’s audience, our dramas are old stories which they know already. There is nothing interesting for them in these dramas so they leave theatres and don’t return,” said People’s Artist Trong Khoi.