Cheo
opera is an integral part of Vietnamese theater and is well-enjoyed by people
in both country and town, and by foreign spectators as well.
Cheo
which has its roots in ancient village festivals is a form of popular theatre
in Vietnam.
It
consists of folk songs with pantomime, instrumental music and dances, combined
with instructive or interpretive sketches dealing with stories from legends,
poetry, history or even daily life. Also brought into play are acrobatic scenes
and magic. Cheo tells tales of chiefs, heroes and lovely maidens and offers an
eclectic mix of romance, tragedy and comedy.
Traditionally
Cheo was composed orally by anonymous authors. Today's playwrights compose Cheo
operas along traditional lines: the characters in the plays sing time-tested
popular melodies with words suited to modern circumstances.
The
costumes, makeup, gestures and language create typical characters familiar to
every member of the audience. The props are simple. As a result, there is a
close interchange between the performers and the spectators.
A
Cheo play could be put on stage in a large theater, but it could also be
performed successfully on one or two bed mats spread in the middle of a
communal house with a cast of only three: a hero, a heroine and a clown.
The
sound of the Cheo drum has a magical power and upon hearing it, villagers
cannot resist coming to see the play. The clown in a Cheo play seems to be a
supporting role, but actually he or she is very important to the performance.
The clowns present a comic portrayal of social life, with ridiculous, satirical
words and gestures, they reduce the audience to tears of laughter.
The
national Cheo repertoire includes among others Truong Vien, Kim Nhan, Luu Binh
- Duong Le, and Quan Am Thi Kinh, which are considered treasures of the
traditional stage.
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