Over the years, Andrew Netto, Kuah Jenhan, Phoon Chi Ho, Rizal van Geyzal, and Kavin Jay have featured in multiple sold-out performances, TV shows, commercials, and at least one Netflix special, while inspiring a new wave of comics and open micers that have taken over every show on the KL comedy roster.
And next month, this ragtag force of funny folk will share the stage at the Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPAC) for a side-splitting weekend in their new show “Still Up, Still Coming”, presented by Phoon’s company Laugh Labs Entertainment.
With five larger-than-life personalities to contend with, FMT engaged these fellas in a rapidfire roundtable discussion.
Congratulations on the show and for sticking it out for 16 years! What specifically do you love about stand-up comedy?
Netto: Thank you. Seeing people laugh, with me or at me, is priceless.
Kuah: I love sharing stories in a way that is fun and engaging.
Phoon: When Malaysian audiences laugh in unity when we raise a certain topic. We agree on the same problems, but all we can do is laugh.
Rizal: I can be unapologetically myself for a living.
Kavin: The fact that I don’t have a dress code because I can never find clothes in my size.
Who are your greatest influences?
Netto: Douglas Lim is one of the most brilliant comics I have ever worked with, plus he can sing lah. How I wish I could sing! Russell Peters was the first stand-up comedian I ever watched, and I was blessed to have shared the stage with him in 2012.
Kuah: Mike Birbiglia, Seth Meyers – both are very clever with narrative. John Mulaney for polishness; Adam Sandler for the unexpected.
Phoon: George Carlin, Demitri Martin, Mitch Hedberg. They have really smart jokes that I can only dream of writing and performing to audiences who probably won’t know how to appreciate them.
Rizal: Jit Murad got people to laugh by telling the truth. Tamer Kattan, an American who now lives in Europe – every comedian who travels and performs out of their comfort zone inspires me.
Kavin: Robin Williams and Samy Vellu. One was full of wonderful stories that entertained so many people. The other was Robin Williams.
How are you guys different from one another in terms of comedy content?
Netto: My acts are very observationally based. I speak a lot about my family, who are my No. 1 source of comedy.
Kuah: I like living my life, dissecting my experiences and understanding my feelings, so most of my material is centred around me. Whereas the others are simply funny and less prone to overthinking.
Phoon: Although our topics are varied, we share the same honesty and courage in spitting out truths.
Rizal: Yes, we’re all representatives of different cultural backgrounds, yet we share the same problems.
Kavin: We are vastly different by the amount of facial hair we can grow. If you line us up in the right order, you get the evolution of the beard.
What is your strongest memory of one of your performances?
Netto: Aged 19 and doing my first corporate event, I was brought on stage in front of people from 14 nationalities – 12 of which didn’t speak English.
Kuah: November 2019, the final show after 10 years together with the MACC (Malaysian Association of Chinese Comedians). We took a bow as pyrotechnics rained. It was my birthday. I remember feeling so grateful and hopeful – and then “that thing” happened to the world in 2020.
Phoon: A university invited me to give a speech to their new students, so I did, only to find out midway that by telling me to “give a speech”, they actually meant “perform stand-up”.
Rizal: April 2019, I hosted (British stand-up comic) Stephen K Amos at Crackhouse and had to kick out an unruly customer. The audience were happy to see her out.
Kavin: I once performed with my fly open in front of 5,000 people. No one noticed. I was sad.
Speaking of Crackhouse, in light of events in August, how does the local stand-up scene ‘heal’? Rizal, you start.
Rizal: By getting people to watch more unapologetic, unadulterated, uncensored live comedy.
Netto: The Crackhouse incident is an isolated one. What happened to Rizal and Crackhouse was unfair. I would say we healed very quickly. There are even more rooms and more shows now.
Kavin: There is nothing to heal lah – everyone who was upset has never been to a comedy show and likely never will.
Kuah: As a comedian I will keep performing and exercising my passion for the arts. We stand up for what’s right and true – it is, after all, literally in the name: stand-up.
Phoon: As long as we are true to our profession and passion, people will continue supporting comedy.
So, what can audiences expect from this new show with that mildly suggestive title, ‘Still Up, Still Coming’?
Rizal: Oi. Get your head out of the gutter.
Kuah: That’s just you lah. I’m just happy we didn’t go with Chi Ho’s earlier suggestion, which was “BJs Only” – Best Jokes.
Netto: With each of us having more than 10 years of experience, you will be treated to a masterclass in stand-up.
Phoon: One Netflix star, one who opened for Russell Peters, several award-winning comedians who have performed internationally… it’s a real bang for your buck.
Kavin: Audiences need to watch this because we need the money. Please lah, buy tickets.
Andrew Netto, Kavin Jay, Kuah Jenhan and Phoon Chi Ho will perform on Friday, Nov 4, while Rizal Van Geyzal will take Kavin’s spot on Saturday, Nov 5.
Showtimes are 9pm at Stage 1 Theatre, PJPAC @ 1 Utama Shopping Centre. For tickets and further information, click here.
Also check out Laugh Labs Entertainment on Instagram.