Oc Thanh Van: Spending two months eating and sleeping on the stage for the play Nguyet Ha.
To celebrate 20 years in the theater, Oc Thanh Van invested heavily in the play 'Nguyet Ha'. She spent two months rehearsing, while her husband, Tri Rua, provided financial support and took care of the family.
Passion for a commemorative work
On the evening of November 17th, the playMoonlightThe show had a successful premiere at the Hong Van Theater, receiving enthusiastic applause from the audience. This is a special project invested in and produced by artist Oc Thanh Van, marking her 20-year association with the theater.
Based on a script by the late author Le Duy Hanh and directed by People's Artist Hong Van, the work is not just an ordinary performance but also an entry for the 6th International Experimental Theatre Festival - 2025. Oc Thanh Van shared that her biggest goal is not the award, but rather to attract more audiences to the theatre, especially the younger generation.
A two-month journey of sweating it out in the training room.
ToMoonlightTo present the performance to the audience in the most polished way possible, Oc Thanh Van and the entire team spent two months practicing continuously. The actress said she practically "ate and slept on stage" during this time to fully immerse herself in the character.
"From the moment I started rehearsing, it took a full two months. I practiced continuously, sweating, shedding tears, eating and sleeping with the character every single minute. I lived with this character, so all the emotions felt very natural," she confided.
The play is highly experimental, incorporating many novel elements such as bilingual acting (Vietnamese - English), live singing, dance, and visual effects. The scenes transition seamlessly, requiring intense concentration from both actors and audience.
Strong support from her husband, Tri Rua.
To fully dedicate herself to the project, Oc Thanh Van received great support from her husband, Tri Rua. He not only provided moral support but also served as the "main investor."
"Initially, I used my own money, then I had to ask my husband for some. Luckily, Tri Rua is very supportive. I've been so busy lately, eating and sleeping on stage, so I've left many things at the company and taking care of the children to my husband," the actress shared. She also jokingly said that after the project is completed, she will focus on "livestreaming to earn money to make up for it a little for Tri Rua."
The chemistry with the young cast is excellent.
Besides her role as a producer, Oc Thanh Van is also like an older sister and a mother figure to the young actors in the crew. She praised Khoi Nguyen (son of People's Artist Hong Van) for his role as Romeo and expressed special gratitude to her co-star Bui Cong Danh (who played her husband in the play).
"There would be no Nguyet Ha if I didn't have such a wonderful co-star. Bui Cong Danh worked incredibly hard, pouring countless hours of sweat and tears into this character," she emphasized. The actress also acknowledged the efforts of the young actors in overcoming the pressure to perform a difficult play with many complex skills.
Looking back over the past 20 years, Oc Thanh Van affirms her love and commitment to Hong Van's theater. For her, it is her second home, and she will continue to dedicate herself wholeheartedly to it.
