By Jennifer Beasley.
This one-night Asian Comedy Feast delivered in spades.
It’s a pity this event was only for one night as it was an absolute cracker. However, you still get a chance to see the individual artist’s shows if you are quick, although a few have already finished their run.
Held at the Main Room at the Melbourne Town Hall, this two-hour show played to a packed house of 500 people.
With nineteen comedians, including the host Takashi Wakasugi (Comedy Samuri) from Japan, this gala showcased the best of Asian comedy from India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong to name a few.
Some of the standout acts included the outstanding wit of Ting Lim (What I really Think), Jin Hao Li (Swimming In A Submarine) with his dadaist comedy style, Charlene Kaye (Tiger Daughter) who really shone and her mimicry of other artists was so funny, He Huang (White Man’s Burden) fantastic observational humour, and Harry Jun (Friendship Safari) a real firecracker of a comedian who is on track for a stellar career.
Then there was Jacky Ng’s (Boys School Boy) quips on the Singapore Army’s aversion to rain, Rahul Subramanian (Who Are You?) explaining that with so many Indian artists they are all backstage building the MICF android app, and Douglas Lim (Made in Malaysia) wondering why westerners complicate teaching counting to children with nursery rhymes.
The other acts included Anirban Dasgupta (Cry Daddy), Azeem Banatwalla (Generational), Fadzri Rashid (Lost Singaporean), Grace Zhang (Saying Grace), Rizal Van Geyzel (Arrested), Sam See (Government Approved Vote), Sean Diao (I’m Much Funnier since my Dad is Dead), Sumukhi Suresh (Hoemonal), William Wang (Journey to the West) and the fabulous Urooj Ashfaqu (It’s Funny To Me).
It was a brilliant night and only the second time this Gala has been held. Many thanks to the MICF Board, who worked tirelessly to make this all happen: Bill Shannon (Chairman), Charlie Spendlove, Deb Herman, Mark Anderson, Mark Coad, Sammy J McMillan and Sashi Perera.
Get in quick to see any (or all!) of these artists as MICF wraps in two weeks. Brilliant fun.
