To improve, to reform

cải lương giống lúa

to improve a rice strain

cải lương đàn gia súc

to improve a herd of domestic animals

Reformist

tư tưởng cải lương

reformist ideology

những tổ chức cải lương

reformist organizations

Reform

cải lương hương chính

rural reform (thời phong kiến và thuộc Pháp)

Reformed theatre%%Born after the First World War (1914-1918), Cải Lương (Reformed Theatre) based itself on popular airs and pieces of music composed by groups of artists in western Cochinchina. During the first ten years (1920-1930), the key airs of Cải Lương had been created since 1918 by Sáu Lầu (Author of the Dạ Cổ Hoài Lang song). There were many Cai Luong teams with many actors and actresses among who some remain famous till our days, such as Năm Phỉ, Ba Vân, Phùng Há, Tám Danh, Năm Châu.... Cải Lương often takes inspiration from the ancient legends or the sensational and romantic novels. In comparison with Chèo and Tuồng, Cải Lương is a new type of theatre. If Tuồng is characterised by royal court and Chèo is popular in the countryside, Cải Lương has urban feature. Cải Lương originated in the Mekong River delta. The principal supporting song in Cải Lương is the Vọng cổ (literally, nostalgia for the past). The play owes much of its success to the sweet voices of the cast, much appreciated by the audience.

melodrama