Chèo play «Nàng Thiệt Thê»

   A story centuries old with a very modern sting: a wife walks out on her poor scholar husband, worn down by hardship — and by the time he rises to rank and honours, some choices can no longer be undone. «Nàng Thiệt Thê», one of the classic plays about Chu Mãi Thần, is staged for one evening in Hanoi's Ba Dinh district.

   Chèo is the traditional musical theatre of northern Vietnam: the story is sung to a live orchestra, and tragedy constantly trades places with earthy folk humour. This staging keeps that balance — satirical scenes running into a bitter finale about loyalty and the price of one's choices. It is performed by Đoàn Nghệ thuật Chèo Trung Ương, the Central Chèo Troupe, under the artistic direction of People's Artist Lê Tuấn Cường.

   Come if you want Vietnamese traditional theatre played for a local audience rather than a tourist revue — a repertory piece, not a variety show.

   Seats come in four classes by location in the hall, with seat selection on a map at purchase. The performance is in Vietnamese; the plot is short and easy to read up on beforehand.

   Tickets and seating plan.

   One evening is enough to hear why this story has been retold in Vietnam for centuries — worth taking it.