Jenny Tian knows how to use multimedia. She is highly active on TikTok and Instagram, giving regular intercultural observations on life in Melbourne and, over the past year or so, London, from a Chinese perspective. Since this writer spent nearly 10 years in China, her comments strike home as witty, funny – and most of all accurate.
She also has her own YouTube channel, and is a regular on Channel 10’s Taskmaster. So does she live up to the hype? The answer would largely be ‘yes’.
Tian exudes confidence: confidence of herself, her material, and her control of stage and audience, yet she never shows overconfidence. She readily makes fun of Australians, Londoners, herself and her own Chinese heritage, but does it in such a matter-of-fact and enthusiastic way that she easily draws you in.Â
Her material in this show covers many topics, such as the prophetic merits of Home Alone 2 (“it’s the best one if you haven’t seen the first one”), the imaginative relationship between charity workers and maglev trains, her exploits in London and her complicated cultural relationship with her mother (her father is just “there somewhere”). All of these topics are punctuated with funny and sometimes absurdist analogies and references.
Having seen many of her skits online, this reviewer noticed that she sometimes repeats context, but not content, which is a very valuable trait for a comedian to have.Â
So what’s Tian’s next career step? Movies seem obvious. But perhaps her own Monty Python-style TV show, filled with absurdist humour, no punchlines and no segues (she’s already said “I don’t do segues”), would suit her style well.Â
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See her before Hollywood finds her. And remember to buy a badge after the show.
Jenny Tian: Jenny’s Travels will be performed at the Supper Room at the Melbourne Town Hall until 20 April 2025 as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF 2025).
