Mic in hand, Chris Nguyen stood before a captive audience, holding the room in what could only be described as a hostage situation – deadpan faces with emotionally repressed laughter.
Chris Nguyen, emerging Australian comedian, known for his sharp wit, had the crowd in his grasp during his show, It’s Pronounced Nguyen. Many of us (myself included) walked in expecting the usual fare of dark, edgy, and perhaps slightly inappropriate humour – the kind of trauma-dumping, boundary-pushing comedy that’s all too common these days. But instead, Chris delivered something more subtle and refreshingly laid-back. As he put it himself, his performance was “more of a TED talk” – a clever, dry, and witty stand-up that made me compare his humour to dad jokes.
The crowd was noticeably diverse, with a good portion there to support a fellow Asian comedian. His brief introduction included a playful jab about Asians being “the worst audience” – with many there only to support an Asian face. A comment I could not help but agree with, based on the muted reactions at the beginning. Yet, as the night wore on, the atmosphere was humour being sent into the void.
A night with a couple of chuckles, Chris was an introductory to live comedy to many of the audience. And if you enjoy that dry dad joke with a slight twist, you will enjoy spending the hour with Chris. Spontaneous and quick on his feet, Chris still managed to uplift the energy from the repressed audience, integrating the room into his comedy, having a knack for drawing out laughs in the subtlest ways.
True crime was one of the standout themes where his deadpan humour rifled through the audience. From joking about how he would hate to be killed by a serial killer because he’d be dead, to comparing it as the same to the audience. But hey, nothing would be worse than being killed by a copy-cat serial killer, right?
Night out in a white shirt? Wine, spaghetti or blood? Chris casually suggests that you should just burn that white shirt – because, really, who needs bleach when you can frame your partner for your crimes? His nonchalant approach to ensuing that his partner would never feel neglected highlighted some laughter. Who said romance was dead?
Australia in a housing crisis? No problem. Chris had the perfect solution: role-playing in the bedroom. Keeps the romance alive and keeps the dream alive – be the landlord. With his blend of a darker humour, he was able to turn even the most serious of issues into something of comedy.
The show would have been even more enjoyable with a bit more crowd participation – yes, even if it’s just going along with Chris’ quirky tales. Agree, disagree, I beg to differ it would have created laughter for all. Like Chris said, “so just pretend I’m one of your parents when I say this, I’m proud of you and I love you” So, unless you want to experience a copy-cat Stockholm syndrome situation, don’t let Chris turn the night into an intervention. Fight back a little and engage with him by throwing some banter his way. Trust me, it’ll be more enjoyable for all when you do. Yet, I still have one puzzling question for Chris, so why is it pronounced Nguyen?
With his smart, deadpan delivery and sarcastic tone, Chris offers a fresh and enjoyable take on comedy. Using interracial and singles men jokes, he creates a fusion menu for many tastes. However, if you don’t like fusion, perhaps this isn’t your flavour. Just remember, the show is always sold-out when you stare only at the act.
Chris Nguyen’s It’s Pronounced Nguyen is now playing as part of Melbourne Fringe at Theory Bar until October 11th. If you’re in the area, this is one show worth checking out.
For more information and ticketing, visit:
https://melbournefringe.com.au/event/its-pronounced-nguyen
https://www.instagram.com/chrisnguyencomedy