![]() ![]() Despite potential health problems, they love these drinks, no matter how much they cost. ![]() Ngọc Diệp, a final-year student at the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said it was great to keep up with the times but traditional arts, especially water puppetry, should not be ignored.Īt milk tea shops in the city, many young people queue for up to 20 minutes and are willing to spend VNĐ40,000 (US$1.70) to VNĐ80,000 (US$3.50 for a drink. Hải said the pandemic had affected the operation of theatres as the number of foreign visitors had fallen sharply and most local tourists were parents and their children. And very few students were going to the theatre to enjoy performances, even though tickets were only VNĐ50,000 (US$2). VNS Photo Phương Phạmĭespite the positive contribution to the preservation of Việt Nam’s intangible cultural values, water puppetry in HCM City is gradually disappearing. The story about ‘‘driving away the fox to protect the ducks’’ intrigues preschool students watching a water puppetry show. "When the pandemic situation is stable, we will reopen to operate according to schedule," Hải added. Hải said they only accept performances under contract but will strictly comply with the Ministry of Health’s guidance to wear masks, carry out frequent disinfection, maintain a safe distance, refrain from gatherings and make health declarations. However, due to the development of the pandemic in recent weeks, the theatre is temporarily closed, according to Thái Ngọc Hải, the head of the water puppetry team of Phương Nam Theatre. Today, in HCM City, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Phương Nam Theatre at the HCM City Museum of History, where I saw the show, is the only theatre offering water puppetry performances, beginning at 10am and 3pm every Saturday and Sunday at 2 Nguyễn Bình Khiêm Street in District 1. ![]() Instead of a rice paddy, a two-square-metre pool of water was used as the stage "floor". Water puppetry later became popular in cities such as Hà Nội and in other areas in northern Việt Nam. That’s why the original water puppet festivals were held in rice paddies, with a pagoda built on top to hide the puppeteers standing in the water. When the rice fields flooded, the villagers would entertain each other using this form of puppet play. They discovered that the water was an excellent medium for puppetry and that it could conceal the puppeteers’ rods and strings, as well as provide exciting effects like waves and splashes. It taught me a lot about the special cultural value of this traditional Vietnamese art, which began in the 11th century in the villages of the Red River Delta in northern Việt Nam. I had always thought that such performances were just about a group of puppets dancing on water. But after the show ended, I realised I now had a much deeper understanding of the history of water puppetry. It was the first water puppetry show that I attended last month. This lively scene was all part of the charming atmosphere of a Vietnamese water puppetry show, magically created by puppeteers standing waist-deep in water hidden behind a split bamboo screen, moving their creations to the music of traditional Vietnamese instruments like a bamboo flute. On the stage, which resembled a pagoda, were multi-coloured lanterns, spotlights and pink lotus flowers. Then, suddenly, a mischievous fox appeared and grabbed two farmers' ducks. Two kylins, swimming frantically, vied to catch a colourful ball. VNS Photo Phương PhạmĪs courtly music played, a golden dragon emerged from the water, spurting flaming gas from its mouth. Preschool students at Era Angels Kindergarten School in HCM City welcome a water puppetry show recently before the new wave of COVID-19 spread through the country. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |