Theatre personality Hong Van, the director of social satire Ky Nghe Lay Tay (Foreigner Marrying Industry), has won the 2009 Comedian of the Year award.

Hong Van (centre) in the play Ky Nghe Lay Tay. Drama director and comedian Van uses humour to highlight serious social problems.

Theatre personality Hong Van, the director of social satire Ky Nghe Lay Tay (Foreigner Marrying Industry), has won the 2009 Comedian of the Year award.

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The HCM City-based drama director and comedian was one of three artists to be honoured by the awards organised by the weekly satirical magazine Tuoi Tre Cuoi.

Van, 43, was recognised for her successful highlighting of social problems in the above-mentioned play staged by the Phu Nhuan Drama Troupe.

The other two awardees were young comedian Kieu Oanh and scriptwriter Le Chi Trung.

Ky Nghe Lay Tay is based on a novel written by Vu Trong Phung, one of the country’s most popular writers in the 1930s.

Focusing on modern girls and their perspectives on life, love and family, Van’s work has been warmly received by both the public and the critics.

Van uses humour in the scenes as well as the dialogues to convey the suffering that lurks behind laughter.

Through quality plays like Ky Nghe Lay Tay, she shows that comedies can address contemporary social issues and make the public think seriously about them.

“I hope my work brings useful things to audiences, particularly the youth, after the laughter,” says Van, who began her career as a theatre actress in 1991.

Ky Nghe Lay Tay first was staged by Van’s troupe early last year, and is winning popular acclaim now.

The work has attracted dozens of young artists like Binh Minh, Thuy Nga and Lan Phuong. Van also acts in the play.

Scriptwriter Trung, one of Van’s staff members, was chosen for the prize for the humour that he packed in the script.

Young comedian Oanh shared the Most Favourite Comedian of the Year award for her roles in three comedies staged by the HCM City Theatre.

Oanh performed in Hanh Phuc Bat Ngoø (A Sudden Happiness), Than Tuong, Tuong Than (The Idol, The Image) and Nu Ty Phu Tim Cha (The Billionaire Looks for Her Father).

Directed by Hoang Duan, all the works feature social problems, and one of the main messages for the audience is: “Money doesn’t make people happy.”

The annual awards ceremony honours the work and performance of comedians.

The list of nominees is compiled by the magazine’s editorial staff and readers, who also vote for their favourite stars.

Source: Vietnam New