Kuah Jenhan has an extraordinary gift.
I remember the last time the Malaysian Chinese comedian visited Melbourne for his 2024 show ‘Noted With Thanks’, I was blown away by Jenhan’s exquisite and poignant storytelling. Believe it or not, Jenhan has improved tenfold with his new show ‘Like This, Like Dad (still)’.
As soon as the venue lights dimmed, we see what appears to be a boombox (basically an old school radio player, complete with a tape deck) playing a radio show in Malaysia that’s taking song requests and dedications. Straight away, everyone in the room knew that we were in for a very special hour of comedy.
Always dressed in a super stylish shirt (no really, I wonder if he brought enough shirts to wear a different one for each show), nice frames, and a disarming friendly smile, Kuah Jenhan materialises to his keen Melbourne audience and tells the story of how he came to be (via a little bit of theft), the amusing details of familial love in a Malaysian Chinese family through grief and hope, and of course, the life of his father, who like most Asian parents, showed love through actions rather than words.
I must confess; I don’t really think I enjoy stand-up comedy as much as I’d like. I usually gravitate towards musical comedy and cabaret. Although, I am a big fan of storytelling, whether it be through film, books, theatre, or even video games. I really love a good a narrative and Kuah Jenhan’s storytelling here is exceptional.
Jenhan held the Melbourne venue in the palm of his hand. Everyone in room was attentive and eager to hear every single word of his stories. Some relatable, some ridiculous, but every story of Like This, Like Dad (still) flew out of Jenhan’s mouth like verbal gold. It’s hard to believe that Jenhan initially wrote this show over ten years ago as a coping mechanism for his grief. He’s perfected it since then, but I’m certain it’s as charming and raw as it was always meant to be.
Highlights of the evening include the topics of sibling rivalry, owning a pet, and how Jenhan’s parents met. This show made me realise, I don’t actually know the real story of how my own parents met. The story changes every time! Not only does Like This, Like Dad (still) make me want to interrogate my mum on how she really met my father, but this brilliant show is very relatable. Trust me, you don’t have to be Asian to enjoy it.
In 2019, I lost my own father to a rare and rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder, Multiple system atrophy (MSA), and just because you know it’s fatal and can anticipate its eventual conclusion, doesn’t make the grief any easier to approach. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a creative outlet to express themselves either. Yet through grief, overflowing love and great humour, Kuah Jenhan has written his most powerful and best work yet. A hilarious masterpiece.
Through this heartfelt, wholesome and genuinely funny show, not only does Kuah Jenhan thoroughly deliver one of the best shows of the festival (my personal favourite to date), but in telling his incredible stories, Jenhan passionately and lovingly keeps his father’s legacy alive, with a lot of laughter along the way that would definitely make his dad proud.
Kuah Jenhan’s Like This, Like Dad (still) is currently playing at The Victoria Hotel – Boardroom as part of the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival until April 19.
For more information and ticketing, visit:
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/like-this-like-dad
https://www.kuahjenhan.com
https://www.instagram.com/kuahjenhan
Photography supplied.