Aaron Toronto, the director of the acclaimed film The Brilliant Darkness, astonished the audience with his portrayal of Chi Pheo in a 70-minute radio play staged at the Ho Chi Minh City Intermediate School of Dance.

The play, directed by Vu Phuc An, gained attention for casting Aaron Toronto, an American and celebrated film director, in the lead role of Chi Pheo. The original actor who had been cast was called for military service, prompting the director to turn to Toronto.

"The decision to have a foreign artist play Chi Pheo offers a fresh perspective on this iconic character. Naturally, a non-native cannot fully capture every nuance as a Vietnamese actor might, but I believe he conveyed the spirit we wanted. This is a radio play, and our goal was to focus entirely on sound," director Vu Phuc An told VietNamNet.

Aaron Toronto was initially surprised when invited to play Chi Pheo but agreed after a few deep discussions and discovering a shared artistic approach with the production team.

To capture the authentic voice of a drunken Chi Pheo, Aaron Toronto drank real alcohol before performing.

Having lived in Vietnam for over 20 years, Aaron devoted significant time to studying the culture and language to prepare for the role. He encountered challenges, particularly with the northern Vietnamese dialect, old vocabulary, and idioms rooted in the 1940s era.

"An artist’s role is to empathize," Aaron shared. "Chi Pheo’s story captivated me with its humanity, teaching compassion and understanding. We must look beyond appearances to truly see a person."

The cast also included Meritorious Artist Pham Huy Thuc as Ba Kien, broadcaster Cam Linh as Thi No's aunt, lecturer Nguyen Quoc Viet as Ly Cuong, and student Nguyen Hong Van as Thi No.

Meritorious Artist Pham Huy Thuc noted, "On the stage of a radio play, sets, costumes, and physical gestures are secondary. The actor must fully channel emotion through the voice alone, conveying every feeling, nuance, and word to resonate with the audience."

The production of Chi Pheo was envisioned over three years and officially began in October 2024. As a radio play, it relies on live voice performances, sound effects, and foley artistry recreated on stage.

The musical accompaniment was handled by Meritorious Artist Dinh Linh, who played traditional Vietnamese instruments such as the tiêu, sáo, and percussion.

Artist Minh Loan contributed by playing the đàn tranh, enriching the atmosphere with sounds reminiscent of an old northern Vietnamese village.

Initially hesitant to join due to his retirement, Dinh Linh ultimately agreed after being drawn to the project’s unique concept.

Students from the Communications Department at FPT University in Ho Chi Minh City performed the foley work, recreating everyday sounds like wind, footsteps, and clinking dishes using simple objects.

Meritorious Artist and director Nguyen Tuong Phuong, who grew up listening to radio plays, expressed his deep emotion, saying the production rekindled cherished childhood memories.

He also praised Aaron Toronto’s dedication to understanding and portraying Vietnamese culture with authenticity.

Dr. and director Hoang Duan highly commended the play’s narrative structure, particularly the way the voiceovers helped audiences distinguish between actor and character.

"The entire team was meticulous, from acting to lighting to technical details, reflecting professionalism and thorough preparation," he commented.

Gia Bao - Tuan Chieu