During a book signing and discussion for "Golden Cradle, Stormy Winds" on 6/9 in Ho Chi Minh City, Huu Chau recounted a memorable experience from the classic children's play. After over 20 years, the artist still remembers the incident at the Ben Thanh Theater in District 1. During the scene where Cam tries on the slipper, Thanh Loc stepped on a 10-cm nail while walking barefoot from the wings, piercing his foot.

Loc chose to endure the pain and continue performing to avoid bleeding on the stage. After the performance, he limped backstage, went to the hospital for treatment and a tetanus shot.

For Huu Chau, "Tam Cam" is a career milestone. The play was one of the first in the "Once Upon a Time" series, debuting in June 2000. According to Huynh Anh Tuan, director of Idecaf, the play was an unprecedented hit, selling tens of thousands of tickets. Thanh Loc and Huu Chau (as the stepmother) captivated audiences with their humorous and transformative portrayals of the villains.

Thanh Loc (left) and Huu Chau in "Tam Cam." Photo: Idecaf

Idecaf later produced another version of "Tam Cam" for adult audiences, with both artists reprising their roles. "I'm happy that the image of Cam and her mother is still loved by the audience," Huu Chau said.

At the event, Huu Chau shared his stage experiences and lessons, inspiring young actors. He emphasized the need for meticulous preparation when playing female roles to ensure audience acceptance.

For example, when playing Giang Huong in "The Ghosts of the Theater," he spent hours applying makeup to create a slimmer face and enhance his eyes and lips for a more feminine look. For the role of Le Lieu in the film "Lo To," he chose dark clothing and maintained a slightly tilted posture to appear smaller on camera.

In his book, Huu Chau recounts his career journey, beginning with his childhood connection to the Thanh Minh - Thanh Nga cai luong (reformed opera) troupe founded by Bau Nam Nghia, experiencing both prosperous and turbulent times, until the passing of his aunt, artist Thanh Nga, whom he called "Ma Ba," in 1978.

Gradually, he overcame difficulties, pursued his passion, and continued his family's legacy of artistic love, making his mark in both cai luong and theater. The artist reveals experiences "from the stage to life" filled with laughter and tears in his memoir.

Huu Chau explained that the motivation for writing the book stemmed from memories of his grandmother, Bau Tho, and artist Thanh Nga. "I just 'cheated' a bit, borrowing my family's captivating stories to tell my own life story," he said.

Despite his family background, Huu Chau said acting skills don't come naturally. As a child, he would observe from the wings, learning from senior artists, and continued to gain experience performing alongside Thanh Loc and Hong Dao.

After 40 years in the profession, Huu Chau believes that "if experience isn't passed down, it will be lost." "This is a unique profession. Sometimes, when students can't perform a sad scene, I have to evoke feelings of sadness and frustration in them to make them cry," he shared.

Cover of the memoir "Golden Cradle, Stormy Winds." Photo: Phan Book

At the event, many fans expressed their admiration for Huu Chau, considering him a part of their youth. My Hanh, 66, said she has followed Huu Chau for over 30 years. Even though she now resides in France, she still seeks out his films.

Huynh Nhu, 18, said the artist is a part of her childhood and inspired her to apply to the Ho Chi Minh City University of Theater and Cinema. She resonated with his advice at the event: "You need to understand who you are and what you should do on stage and on set, so that others can see your value."

Huu Chau, 59, is one of the golden generation of Ho Chi Minh City theater artists from the 1990s. He has performed with Idecaf since the late 1990s, when Huynh Anh Tuan founded the company, operating from rented space at the Institute of Cultural Exchange with France.

He has acted in various productions, from children's plays (the "Once Upon a Time" series) to adult plays ("Tam Cam," "Cau Dong," "Da Co Hoai Lang"), historical dramas ("Bi Mat Vuon Le Chi," "Ngan Nam Tinh Su"). Since 2023, he has been part of Thien Dang, a new theater in the city. He has also appeared in films like "Lo To" (2017), "Cua Lai Vo Bau" (2019), "Cong Tu Bac Lieu" (2024), "Lat Mat 8" (2025), and various television series.

Thu Giang - Mai Nhat