KUALA LUMPUR: Eager to bring some joy to the people amid current economic uncertainty, the Malaysia-Taiwan Crosstalk Show will be returning for five days courtesy of the MCA Federal Territory committee.
The shows are to be held at five locations in Selangor and Johor in early July, with free admission for all.
Similar to Western stand-up comedy, Crosstalk – also known as Xiangsheng or comic dialogue – is a traditional Chinese comedic performance art in which performers partake in comedic banter that is rich in puns and allusions to bring smiles to the audience.
Where crosstalk differs is in its delivery as performers deliver lines in a rapid-fire fashion that may even include singing, rapping and musical instruments.
It is typically a dialogue between two performers or a monologue, and can sometimes be a group act by multiple performers discussing or describing current issues in a lighter vein.
MCA Federal Territory committee deputy chairman Tan Kok Eng called the shows a way to help the public better understand local national and cultural issues through the common language of comedy.
"Instead of giving a typical political speech which can be hard to understand for some people, Crosstalk’s comedic twist will help the audience understand the current situation through the power of laughter," he told a press conference here on Monday (June 24).
Malaysia Crosstalk Association president Kelvin Leong described the show as a way to bring life and happiness back to the community amid current economic woes.
"We just want to make everyone happy again as laughter is the best medicine.
"These crosstalk performances will be the largest held in Malaysia in the past 10 years with famous performers from both Taiwan and Malaysia," he said.
Among the performers are Taiwanese icon Chu De-Kang, who is well-known for his roles in many famous Taiwanese dramas including The New World in 2015 and recent historical drama Shang Hun.
The first performance is planned for Wisma MCA on Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur at 7.30pm on July 2, with MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong gracing the event.
The second will be held at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology’s (TARUMT) Kuala Lumpur Campus, Jalan Genting Kelang in Setapak at 7.30pm on July 3.
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman’s (Utar) Sungai Long Campus along Jalan Sungai Long in Cheras will host the third performance at 7.30pm on July 4.
The remaining two performances will be held in Johor, with the first being at Yong Peng Chinese High School in Ayer Hitam at 8pm on July 5 and the second at SJKC Yu Ming 2 in Pekan Nanas at 8pm on July 6.
Those eager to reserve seats for any of the performances may do so via the link https://forms.gle/C3hTVq2KSXveVkoA6.
The public may also obtain tickets from various MCA district associations in the Federal Territory as well as selected media groups such as The Star and 8TV, among others.
Walk-in admission at all venues will also be available with no audience limit currently set for any of the performances.
