Cải Lương (Reformed theater)

Cải Lương (Reformed theater)

Cải Lương (Reformed theater) is a kind of Vietnamese folk opera. The history of the becoming of Cải Lương is still a matter of debate, but most scholars agreed that Cải Lương started in the early 20th century. Cải Lương fuses tradition with modernity (traditional folk songs, classical music, modern drama, hát tuồng, etc.,), thus, it is considered a modern form of opera and an originally Vietnamese form (although it does borrow elements from Chinese, Japanese, or French cultures). The content of a Cải Lương play usually praises Vietnamese moral values.
Cải Lương is said to grow popular after the Đờn Ca Tài Tử movement (revival of Vietnamese music traditions) and gained recognition through colonial expos during the early 1900s. The most flourishing period of Cải Lương ranged from 1930s to late 1980s.

References:
Wikipedia. 2022. "Cải lương." Last modified May 27, 2022 (29 May 2022).
Hebert, David and McColluim, Johnathan, eds. 2022. Ethnomusicology and Cultural Diplomacy. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
Anh, Hoang. 2020. "Cải lương ra đời khi nào?." VTC News. Last modified September 28, 2020 (29 May 2022).

Nguyễn Đỗ Nguyễn