The operetta ‘Ms. Sita’, which has received nationwide acclaim since 1983, was recently renewed and developed it to become a project for artistic value preservation of Vietnam by the Hanoi Operetta Theatre.

Sita and Po Liem.

The play focuses on the life of two characters - Po Liem and Sita - and their struggle to find the true value of love.

The stage is beautifully set up, like a paradise. The wild forest, the mysterious royal palace, the actors and actresses, all become legendary. Sita, played by actress Thu Huyen, leaves a deep impression on the audience. Her sweet singing penetrates into the hearts of the audience, telling them about Sita’s faithful love for her husband, Po Liem.

The subtle art of operetta not only describes the characters’ inner feelings, but also portrays them through each detail with convincing body language. Sita’s inner feeling is portrayed brilliantly, so pure and holy. When Sita steps onto the burning stage, the lighting system flares up amid her singing to say farewell - so desperate and deeply moving - which really awakens Po Liem’s heart.

Po Liem, played by actor Quang Duong, is a character with different dramatic expressions. He has a passionate love, but at the same time he is crazily doubtful and jealous, and extremely pained.

To express those moods, he expertly employs persuasive posturing and vocal tones. Po Liem loves Sita in such a way he monopolizes her. This leads Po Liem to be contradictory in his actions: he loves his wife with his whole heart, but when feeling doubtful, he becomes ruthlessly cold. He has to pay for his ruthlessness when Sita dies in his arms.

General Hanuman is a bridge of love that links Po Liem to Sita. With an honest heart, Hanuman represents justice, kindness and generosity. This role makes the play become humanized and he brings confidence in life.

Meanwhile Demon Riep represents spirits of evil, who damages Sita’s pure and faithful love for Po Liem. With special make-up, his singing and dancing, this demon presents to the audience his malicious intentions.

The renewed play has been shortened from six hours to two hours, helping to speed the rhythm but retain the content of an old operetta. Director Doan Hoang Giang said: “With the hope to make the old operetta ‘Ms. Sita’ become closer to present contemporary art, we renewed the song lyrics and modernize the stage. The changes we made shorten the play but still retain its basic content”.

The operetta “Ms. Sita” will be one of the traditional artistic performances performed on the occasion of the great millennial celebration of Thang Long – Hanoi in 2010.

VietNamNet/VPN