‘Dream of Chi Pheo’ with the aspiration of taking Vietnamese musical theatre to the world

Honouring love

The play was inspired by the short story “Chi Pheo” by writer Nam Cao, but the team delves deeply into the romantic love story that overcomes adversity between Chi Pheo and Thi No. Immersing themselves in the musical narrative, audiences are invited to explore the rich inner world of each character, gaining a deeper understanding and empathy for their simple and heartfelt desires for a small home full of love.

“The Dream of Chi Pheo” conveys a message that honours sincere love. Despite being battered by fate and enduring countless hardships, love remains a redemptive force. The scenes depicting the inner turmoil between Chi Pheo and his shadow, or the dreamlike moments of love and passion between Chi Pheo and Thi No, are brought to life with profound performances by the cast, creating standout highlights of the show. Thanks to pure and genuine love, a peasant who had been corrupted and likened to "the demon of Vu Dai Village" becomes more compassionate, evoking pity rather than anger.

The 19 songs in the play were all composed by the executive producer, musician Duong Cam. They are performed dynamically in the Broadway musical style, blending a variety of genres such as pop, rock, ballad, jazz, and opera. The stage director also emphasised incorporating quintessentially Vietnamese cultural elements, such as using a father-and-child duo of xam singing (ballads once sung by wandering blind musicians) performers as narrators. The show begins with the xam song “Nguoc doi” (Against the Tide) and concludes with a tender and emotional lullaby, evoking poignant moments of reflection for the audience.

Vietnamese musical theatre meets international standards

Emerging in the mid-19th century in the US and the UK, Broadway has since spread widely across the globe. This modern musical art form inherits the distinctive values of classical European opera, blending them with popular music, dance, and interactive acting styles, which have earned it widespread public acclaim. In many countries, thanks to proper attention and investment, numerous musicals have successfully contributed to establishing a cultural identity for their nations. This is the aspiration that “The Dream of Chi Pheo” team aims to achieve.

Musician Duong Cam shared: “We strive to transform ‘The Dream of Chi Pheo’ into a brand for musicals made in Vietnam. It reflects our love for national culture and our ambition to bring Vietnamese musical play to international stages”. Before its official premiere, the play was introduced at the 2024 National Music and Dance Festival, where it achieved remarkable success, winning eight awards, including the Best Play and Best Composer for Duong Cam.

Following the success of “The Dream of Chi Pheo”, audiences hope to see the continued growth of the musical theatre genre in Vietnam. People's Artist Tan Minh expressed his aspiration that “The Dream of Chíi Pheo” will solidify the "made in Vietnam" musical brand for domestic audiences and as a cultural export reaching international stages.

To avoid heavy or negative emotions, the scriptwriter expanded the focus on the love story between Chi Pheo and Thi No. In this adaptation, the characters are connected to the contemporary world, and the story concludes on a positive note, offering a sense of hope and renewal.