He rested. But his wife, after many years of living together, still sat there like she used to wait for him coming home after each performance night and after every trip he was away …

I and other artists of the 2-84 troupe were very fortunate to learn from the director and People’s Artist Huynh Nga and to participate in his huge artistic works. If Ms. Luu’s Life is one of the classic plays of the reformed theater art, then the talent and stature of the person who created it based on the script written by author Tran Huu Trang, had demonstrated an exquisite, professional, and elegant aptitude of director Huynh Nga. He was not a show-off type person nor being found in the midst of the crowd. He was humble, sincere and generous. His passing left us a quiet sadness …

People’s Artist Bach Tuyet and People’s Artist Minh Vuong in Ms. Luu’s Life – a highly acclaimed play staged by the director – People’s Artist Huynh Nga

On the rehearsal floor of Ms. Luu’s Life, in the scene when the Thang council (People’s Artist Diep Lang) questioned Ms. Luu, the cane was an indispensable prop to exhibit his snobbish attitude. He came to me and whispered “In this scene, I want you to let the Thang council whine and torment you, Bach Tuyet keep silent, and stay motionless as much as possible. It’s like you don’t even breathe until the pounding of the cane on the floor. Can you do it?” I nodded.

During the review session, I followed his direction. All injustice, frustration, shame and guilt are being suppressed in silence – foreshadowing an upcoming storm. I “locked” them all in my gaze, gait, and in the way I passed the cane to the Thang council so that after the dialogue “nineteen, twenty years, not only his father’s bones were rotten but also were his son’s …”, and right after the pounding sound on the floor, my Luu burst out like a waterfall. The scream came out from the wife who betrayed her husband, from the mother who abandoned her son, from the helpless woman, and from the person who lost her country.

What an extraordinary way of directing which only genius directors can architect the highlights of the play! At the suggestion of director Huynh Nga and from the coaching of my teacher – People’s Artist Phung Ha, in the scene of handing the cane, I nailed my feet to the floor, I only used one or two upper body techniques, I focused the rest on the wordless sound. It was not a cry nor a scream, it was the sound of silence, resentment, aggression within a luxurious guise that imprisoned a vulnerable person.

I respect him for such a wonderful “calculated” acting, and I owe him for the works that he did in the realm of art. He, with calmness and patience, had nurtured so many actors to become stars. At the glorious moments, how many people would look back at the stage wings to catch him with curly gray hair, squinting eyes, and a frown on his face.

People’s Artist Bach Tuyet bid farewell to People’s Artist Huynh Nga on 22/2

On the evening of February 22, I came to pay my final respect to him. The darkness covered the entrance to the funeral home. There was only the light projecting on the calm, witty face with a bit of arrogance of the talented director. He used to sit quietly in the front row patiently waiting for young actors and musicians to arrive for rehearsals. He didn’t scold them for being late, but rather taught them wholeheartedly with a bit of nagging. I love him, I think of myself and for virtuous reformed theater art, only performers are conceited …

He rested. But his wife, after many years of living together, still sat there like she used to wait for him coming home after every performance night, after every trip he was away … I held her hands, bid farewell to him, who left behind many acclaimed plays and beautiful roles …

People’s Artist Bach Tuyet – Phu Nu Online (23/02/2020)