Chèo Theatrical Art - Xúy Vân feigns madness

“Xúy Vân feigns madness” is one of the famous scene from Kim Nham, a popular Chèo play - Kim Nham.

Kim Nham is a native of Xuân Trường District, Nam Định Province, an area well-known for producing outstanding scholars and talented statement. Kim Nham marries Xúy Vân and then goes to the capital study and become a mandarin. Left at home, Xúy Vân is hired by a perfidious woman. To remove herself from unbearable circumstances, Xúy Vân pretends madness. She takes up with Tran Phuong, an illiterate but rich merchant, who soon tires of her and sends her off.
On her travels, Xúy Vân meets Kim Nham again. He pities her gives her a ball of cooked rice. When she bites into the rice ball, she finds a tael of gold. Ashamed of her infidelity to such a good man, she throws herself into river. This play has many lively, dramatic scenes, such as “The Perfidious Woman Laying out Her Wares,” “Xúy Vân feigns madness,” and Magician Exorcising Evil Spirits.”