Vietnamese theatre

Vietnamese theatre comprises many forms, a few of which still remain popular with the masses today despite rapid westernization.

Introduction

Vietnamese theater is strongly influenced by Chinese opera and other forms, and includes genres like "Hát tuồng", "Hát chèo" and Cải lương.

Hát chèo

Widely believed to be the oldest extant form of Vietnamese opera is "hát chèo", which has existed since the 11th century in the Red River Delta. Stories typically revolve around popular legends and are accompanied by a repertoire of adaptable music. Flutes, stringed and percussion instruments are common. The audience in a chèo performance applauds using a drum; this is often in response to a stock buffoon character who comments on the events of the story, and of the day, leading to an anti-establishment reputation which earned chèo the ire of 15th century rulers of the Le dynasty, as well as other, later rulers. Modern chèo often relies on libretti for its stories.

Chèo features costumes appropriate to the specific storyline, and combines theatre, music and dance. It was sên as the "Opera of the masses" as compared to other musical forms enjoyed more by a select few, such as Ca trù.

Tuồng or Hát bội

"Hát tuồng" or "hát bội" was imported from China around the 13th century and was used for entertaining royalty for a time before being adapted for travelling troupes of actors. Stories in the opera tend to be ostensibly historical and frequently focus on the rules of social decorum. Like chèo and other forms of opera from around the world, tuồng employs the use of stock characters who are recognizable from their make-up and costumes, which are typically very elaborate and extravagant.

Cải lương (modern folk opera)

Compared to "tuồng" and "chèo", "cải lương" remains popular in modern Vietnam. Originating in the early 20th century, "cải lương" includes historical and contemporary themes. "Cải lương" has remained adaptable for modern innovations and now includes electric guitar and other new inventions. It is accompanied by nhạc tài tử, which is a complex and partially improvised form of chamber music.

"Cải lương" singing utilizes a great deal of vibrato; the words are extended when singing and the vibrato follows. A common melody used in "cải lương" is Vọng cổ.

Rối nước

Water puppetry, or "rối nước", is a distinctively Vietnamese art form which arose in the 12th century. In water puppetry, a split-bamboo screen obscures puppets which stand in water and are manipulated using long poles hidden beneath the water. Due to strict restrictions on learning the art of water puppetry, the form had nearly died out before the Maison des Cultures du Monde intervened in 1984 and helped reinvigorate the genre.

Currently, water puppetry is popular with tourists to Vietnam.

ee also

*Music of Vietnam
*Traditional Vietnamese dance
*Culture of Vietnam
*History of Vietnam

External links

* [http://vietmusic.pbwiki.com/ Encyclopedia of Vietnamese music]
* [http://www.vietnamtourism.com/e_pages/vietnam/culture/theatre/fr_theatre.htm VietnamTourism.com: Traditional Theatre]