The Poisoned Cup - Vietnam's first spoken drama to be restaged.

On October 22, 1921, "The Poisoned Cup" premiered at the Hanoi Grand Theatre. This was the first play written by a Vietnamese author, marking the official birth and development of Vietnamese spoken drama. The play's author, Vu Dinh Long, is considered the father of the genre.

Previously in Vietnam, only the Southern forms of Tuong, Cheo, and Cai Luong (formed on the basis of Don Ca Tai Tu) existed. While these forms all originated from folk life, spoken drama had a Western influence. Nevertheless, the play "The Poisoned Cup" by author Vu Dinh Long still bears a strong imprint of Vietnamese culture.

The play's story revolves around the family of Mr. Thong Thu, a well-off civil servant. Faced with the temptations of colonial urban society, the family members indulged in decadent lifestyles, focusing on personal pleasures while neglecting moral values ​​and family responsibilities. The main character himself was a lover of music and frequently visited brothels.

When his family life began to crumble and he was burdened with debt, Mr. Thong Thu finally came to his senses, but it was too late. Wanting to escape his destitution, he decided to drink poison to commit suicide. Fortunately, an event occurred that saved Mr. Thong Thu's life, helping him to realize his mistake and giving him a chance to rebuild his life.

The 2021 re-staging performance features Meritorious Artist Bui Nhu Lai as director, scriptwriter Do Tri Hung as editor, and the participation of many veteran actors such as People's Artist Le Khanh, People's Artist Viet Thang, People's Artist Trung Hieu, Meritorious Artist Trinh Mai Nguyen, Meritorious Artist Xuan Bac, Meritorious Artist Hoai Thu... It is expected that "The Poisoned Cup" will be restaged during the week celebrating 100 years of Vietnamese spoken drama, performing at the Vietnam National Drama Theatre on October 18th and at the Hanoi Opera House on October 21st.

Huyen Chau