“Hidden Storm” is a play about the image of a People’s Public Security Officer, winning the silver medal at the 2020 People’s Public Security Soldier’s Image Theater Festival.
The play was based on the novel of the same name by Lieutenant Colonel and writer Dao Trung Hieu which was an adaptation of a script by writer Chu Lai (adapted as a Cai Luong play by Ngoc Chi). Hidden Storm was staged by People’s Artist Hoang Quynh Mai. It was also the first time the Vietnam Cai Luong Theater performed a play based on the image of a public security officer.
“Hidden Storm” tells a story about a special task force tasked with monitoring and investigating an infamous drug trafficking network. Those assigned to participate in the task are frequently faced with life threatening situations and material temptations. Among them is Thuy, a female public security officer tasked with approaching Dr. Hung, the beloved and pampered brother of an infamous drug criminal. Initially, Thuy strives to complete the task assigned to her; as the case develops however she falls in love with Hung.
Tuan, Thuy’s teammate, who has an unrequited love for Thuy and is assigned to support and protect her throughout the case, has to hold himself back seeing her falls in love with another man. For the sake of the mission, however, the two of them have to overcome their own feelings and learn to respect and admire each other as colleagues. They are, above all, brave soldiers in the fight against crime. In the end, Tuan sacrifices heroically for the mission and for protecting Thuy, the one he loves and also a comrade of his.
“Hidden Storm” also depicts a few corrupted police officers who turn their back on the ideals, betraying their colleagues, represented by Tuat, deputy head of the drug prevention department. The also depicts officers who once held high positions, but have been corrupted because of greed, as demonstrated via the character of the provincial vice chairman.
It can be said that “Hidden Storm” refers to the public security force not only for their victories, but also for their personalities which are in the depths of their hearts and souls. Public security officers live with the struggles, joys, pain, difficulties, and happiness like other people in the course of performing difficult tasks. They truly face a “Hidden Storm”, just as the name of the play suggests.
For topics on crime prevention and criminal public security, cinema and modern plays may be a more suitable tool to demonstrate compared to traditional theater performing arts, including Cai Luong. However, with “Hidden Storm”, director, People’s Artist Hoang Quynh Mai has successfully brought upon a story on public security – a topic generally considered “dry” – on the Cai Luong stage and created a lyrical, uplifting, and equally romantic work.
At the 2020 People’s Public Security Soldier’s Image Theater Festival, the “Hidden Storm” from Vietnam Cai Luong Theater received compliments from colleagues and good feedback from the audience. Hopefully, on the next performing night of January 25, 2021, the play that won the Silver Award on the subject of the People’s Public Security will receive love from the audience of the capital city.
Lan Huong