New musical put literary masterpiece on stage

HẢI PHÒNG A famous literary masterpiece by Nguyên Hồng in 1937, Bỉ Vỏ (The Woman Thief) has been adapted into a musical production.

Produced by the Hải Phòng Singing and Dancing Ensemble, the musical is one of several art projects created for the stage for Hải Phòng television to broadcast on its channel. The project is funded by Hải Phòng Choreographer and Meritorious Artist Tuyết Minh, who is scriptwriter, general director and lyricist of the musical.

Musical Bỉ Vỏ is based on the novel of the same name by late author Nguyên Hồng, who played a leading role in the country’s contemporary literature scene. Photo courtesy of Hải Phòng Singing and Dancing Ensemble

Minh said that immediately after being offered the role of script writer, People’s Artist Khánh Hòa joined the project to work on the dance, using literary and historical documents as references also shared with the scriptwriter.

“The musical should express not only the true spirit and idea of the original literary work, but also must be presented in an attractive way to attract the audience,” the choreographer said.

According to the artist, the production will open up a positive market for artistic activities of the public sector.

Composer Lưu Quang Minh, a native of Hải Phòng, takes charge of composing and arranging the music.

“Is very challenging and pressured. It must present the miserable emotions of the characters and at the same time should be enjoyable for audience to be entertained by the original Western-styled musical,” the composer said.

Musical Bỉ Vỏ is based on the novel of the same title by late author Nguyên Hồng, who played a lead role in the country’s contemporary literature scene. When the novel released in 1937, it was a publishing phenomenon.

The novel features the tragic life of Tám Bính, a rural girl living under a semi-feudal colony who is forced to be a gang leader in Hải Phòng. It also features the semi-feudal society of Việt Nam, which at the time included the two legal systems, one under the French and another under the local order.

The work presents the Vietnamese people's self-respect and desire for an honest life despite the fact that they have to face with many hardships and challenges. It also conveys a message about love, family responsibility and fidelity.

A scene from the musical Bỉ Vỏ which will be staged on Saturday evening (June 29) at the Hải Phòng Theatre. Photo courtesy of Hải Phòng Singing and Dancing Ensemble

The musical will consist of three acts, Trùm Cuối (The Last Boss), Cuộc Rượt Đuổi Của Số Phận (The Chase of Fate) and Con Đường Bụi Mờ (The Dusty Road).

Like the novel, the audience will be taken on a train back to Hải Phòng port in the 1930s – a bustling place of trade and also the melting pot for all classes in society. At that time, many humble and impoverished people were forced to leave their home villages to earn a living in the port on a meagre wage. With no choices left, in order to survive, many of them turned to gangs, however becoming a gang member did not make them into bad people.

The musical Bỉ Vỏ will be presented to public on Saturday evening (June 29) at the Hải Phòng Theatre. It will also be broadcast live in the programme Television Theatre of the Hải Phòng Television. VNS