Prompter Thanh Lun (Dwarf Thanh) reads a script, preparing for his work.

Putting in a word or two at the right time is something that Thanh Lun does for a living.

Thanh Lun (or Dwarf Thanh) stepped into the art of cai luong (Southern traditional opera) with the stage name Viet Thanh, but his physical stature prevented him from becoming a leading actor, so he had to remain content with doing small supporting roles or being a clown for the Hoa Phuong, Thanh Nga and Minh To troupes.

The turning point in his life came, as it often does in his line of work, when he had to become a last minute replacement for an absent actor for the Minh To Troupe. He was “discovered” that day with the ability to learn scripts by heart and to possess a sharp wit as well. Thanh has since become a veteran, well-known prompter on Ho Chi Minh City stages.

It was in 1992, that Thanh cooperated with Vu Linh, a noted cai luong star in Ho Chi Minh City, for the first time. The 90s were the heydays for Vu Linh, and Thanh was his closest companion for several years for hundreds of shows and recordings.

And it was not just Vu Linh, other stars like Minh Vuong, Le Thuy, Diep Lang, Thanh Sang, Minh Phung and Kim Tu Long also considered Thanh their most reliable prompter.

Thanh has had the opportunity to work with generations of cai luong artists in Ho Chi Minh City and is an inseparable part of an historic period of development of this art form since the early nineties.

He now works with famous artist-comedian Hoai Linh and Kich Sai Gon (Saigon’s Play) Theater, and freelances for other artists and in other fields like cinema and plays.

C’est la vie

Before Thanh Lun’s emergence, there were two experienced, famous prompters, Thanh Tuyen and Thanh Phuong, who have passed away. Thanh’s seniors also include Phuong Tan and Thanh Phuong, but they have left the profession and turned to film set designers. Thanh is the only veteran prompter around.

In his field, Thanh is famous for his methodical, thorough approach. He attends all the rehearsals, and remembers exactly where each actor is supposed to be. He also marks up adjustments and clarifications made as the actor prepares for a role.

For Thanh, handling the actor’s intentions is crucial to doing his job well. He not only uses what is written in the prompt-book but also adds what is said extempore during a highly inspired performance.

“The impromptu changes are very interesting at times, so I have to write them down immediately for the next prompt. It seems a waste not to use it again! I am fortunate that I have the flexibility to learn things by heart and also different nuances in the dialog delivery that helps me respond differently and appropriately to different actors.”

While it is not hard to switch from prompting in cai luong performances to spoken plays, there are challenges specific to each form.

“Adjusting your volume is one obstacle. If your voice is too loud, the audience will hear it. If your voice is too low, the actors cannot hear it, especially when there is loud musical accompaniment. Tuning one’s voice up or down correctly is a very important skill. It affects your health a lot. After a day of work, I just go home to relax, have no energy to go out.”

Simple wish

In recent years, Thanh has expanded his prompting career in the film industry. Becoming a human “teleprompter” has both advantages and shortcomings. The hardest part is prompting during direct recording, and Thanh has found a way to deal with it. He has learnt to gesticulate and inform the actors what to do, or mouth the words, also using a small board, standing opposite to the actor.

“Cai luong actor Kim Tu Long and comedian Hoai Linh are the best in reading my mouth movements. It is hard work, but I am not tired, I just feel happy when doing this job,” says a smiling Thanh.

Apart from passive prompting, Thanh also contributes many thoughtful ideas to the play or to actors, wiping away the invisible distance between a star and an unknown prompter. Thanh is liked for his talent and frankness by those who work with him.

Thanh has a happy personal life as well. He lives in Tan Quy District with his wife, a tailor, and a six-year-old son His one main worry was that his modest income put owning a house in the district beyond his reach.

Comedian Hoai Linh has come to the rescue. He helped Thanh pay the remaining installments on his house by organizing his hit play Sieu mau si tinh (Lovebird-supermodel) as a benefit show last month.

Touched by the care and affection shown to him by his colleagues in the industry, Thanh pursues his career with a passion that is rooted in contentment.

Reported by Hoang Kim