Comedy play «3D Cung Tâm Kế»

   A strange gust of wind sweeps through a shabby boarding house and drops every tenant into an imperial palace with a brand new rank. That is how one of the best loved comedy cycles of the Ho Chi Minh City stage opens its third chapter, and if you have followed those tenants before, this is the evening that answers what the earlier parts left hanging.

   «3D Cung Tâm Kế» is part three of the «Xóm Trọ 3D» series, written by Dinh Manh Phuc (Đinh Mạnh Phúc) and directed by Hong Van (Hồng Vân), a People's Artist of Vietnam who also performs in it. Hikey is behind the set, Cong Minh (Công Minh) designed the costumes, Hai Au (Hải Âu) staged the movement, Hoang Khang (Hoàng Khang) selected the music.

   Lord Bao Quan (Bảo Quan) keeps three wives — La, Quy and Y Lan — yet spoils only the youngest, and jealousy turns the mansion into a battlefield. Meanwhile the head steward Bach Hac (Bạch Hạc), the maid Nhu Y (Như Ý) and the eunuch Bao Bao (Bảo Bảo) all have their eye on the guard Ly Tai (Lý Tài). The secret identity of a girl named Y Linh comes to light, and the law of karma finally explains why ma Lam (má Lâm) forgives every betrayal of Nhat Le (Nhật Lệ) and why her feud with Hai Du (Hai Dú) can never be settled.

   The cast brings together faces familiar from Vietnamese television comedy: Oc Thanh Van (Ốc Thanh Vân), Hoa Hiep (Hoà Hiệp), Lam Vi Da (Lâm Vĩ Dạ), Thanh Duy, Lac Hoang Long (Lạc Hoàng Long), Tuan Dung (Tuấn Dũng), Tuan Anh (Tuấn Anh), Bui Cong Danh (Bùi Công Danh), Le Loc (Lê Lộc), Hoang Yen (Hoàng Yến) and students of the theatre school.

   Come if you enjoy broad costume comedy, if you want a loud Saturday evening with friends, or if you have been following the «Xóm Trọ 3D» story since the first parts and want the loose ends of part two tied up.

   The hall sits inside Nhà văn hóa Sinh viên, the student cultural centre on Điện Biên Phủ, so look for that building rather than for a separate theatre house.

   Two practical notes. Seats are not picked during checkout: after payment you contact the theatre to agree on a row. And the play runs in Vietnamese, with no subtitles or translation announced, so the wordplay will land best if you follow the language.

   For a night of palace scheming turned into farce, this is the stage to be on Saturday.