Page 16 - YunnanTourismCultureTimes (117)

15 CITY LIFE | 城事

Vietnam: One fan, two voices

越南：半扇两重音

Under the spotlight, Nguyer Kieu Oanh, can see it clearly,” she explained gently
Artist of the Cai Luong Art Troupe of Vi- as she carefully shaped the eyebrows.
etnam National Traditional Theatre, held With the makeup complete, Ha couldn’t
a folding fan as she prepared to present help but marvel at how she now felt like a
classic excerpts during the China-Vietnam character stepping right into the story.
Culture Week. With a gentle turn of the fan, In another corner backstage, Chu
a delicate, melodic woman’s voice spoke: Quang Cuong, a performer specializing
“Let’s go to the temple fair together.” A in antagonist roles with the Cai Luong
moment later, she lifted the fan to cover half Art Troupe of the Vietnam National Tra-
her face—and her voice dropped into a low, ditional Theatre, was adjusting his cos-
masculine reply. Portraying both characters tume. He had just played an overbearing
herself, she brought to life the tender story character who, though not particularly
of an old husband carrying his young wife likable, left a strong impression on the
to the fair. audience through Chu’s skilled portrayal.
“This is our troupe’s first time per- Looking back on his own journey with Cai
forming at the festival in Xishuangbanna,” Luong, he recalled, “As a child, I often fol-
Nguyen Kieu Oanh shared during a break. lowed the elders to the village stage. Good
Cai Luong, originally a form of Vietnam- performances were rewarded with candy,
ese folk opera, is known for portraying and that’s how I slowly fell in love with it.”
the everyday joys and sorrows of ordinary From learning traditional stagecraft in the
people. This time, the group deliberately 1980s to systematic training at the Hanoi
chose a lighthearted story, hoping to share Academy of Theatre and Cinema, and now
laughter with audiences from across the as an experienced actor, he has always
region. From her first encounter with Cai hoped to see this art form flourish. “Only
Luong to now, she has given twenty years through more exchange and collaboration
to the stage. Every turn of the fan in her with artists from different countries can Cai
fingertips carries her devotion to the art. Luong stay vibrant,” Chu said.
Backstage, in front of a makeup Beside the stage, several young actors
mirror, Nguyen Kieu Oanh was happily were either quietly rehearsing their lines
applying the “young wife” stage makeup or tuning their instruments. Chu looked
to Vietnamese communication officer Ha forward to more young people learning
Thi Lan Phuong. “Look, the rouge should about Cai Luong and injecting new ener-
be a little stronger here so the audience gy into Vietnam’s Cai Luong community.

Thailand: Mythical birds take flight

泰国：一翼跨千山

Backstage, artists from the Thai Art crown alone is two kilograms, covered in
Troupe were carefully attaching wings delicate gold leaf to reflect both nobility
to the costume of the mythical bird Kin- and the Kinnari’s divine nature.” The
nari. Thai vlogger Jaruwan Udomsab five mythical birds portrayed in the per-
and Yuan Yihan, a dancer from the formance all draw from Thai mythology,
Xishuangbanna Dai Ethnic Culture each representing a different role within
Troupe, observed the process together. the legends.
Yuan gazed at the intricate makeup and As traditional Thai instruments such
costume and said, “I’ve always heard as the ranat ek (xylophone) began to play,
of Thailand’s sacred Kinnari, and in “The Flight of Kinnari” took to the stage.
our Dai tradition, the Kinnara is also an The “mythical birds” moved with confi-
auspicious symbol. Seeing the Kinnari dent grace, their wings vividly retelling a
costume today makes me feel how deep- tale of love and guardianship. Reflecting
ly connected our cultures are.” Jaruwan on why this piece was chosen, Ingkida
nodded in agreement, their eyes fixed Maritthong explained, “We learned that
on the performers. The silver-thread- the Kinnara legends in Yunnan’s Dai cul-
ed costume shimmered softly. As the ture share deep similarities, in meaning
wings moved, they seemed to bring the and imagery, with Thailand’s Kinnari.
legendary Kinnari to life—as if it were That common heritage is precious. More
taking flight toward the Dai people’s than just a performance, we wanted
own divine bird Kinnara. this dance drama to make the cultural
“To capture the Kinnari’s solemn grace resonance between Thailand and China
and agility, the entire costume weighs visible to everyone.” Her eyes shone with
seven kilograms,” explained Ingkida hope. “In the future, we’d love to bring
Maritthong (transliteration), an actress this work to more countries, so the wings
from Thailand’s Bunditpatanasilpa In- of the Kinnari can carry this ‘resonance’
stitute, pointing to the headdress. “This even farther.”