Staged before a large floating moon, Falling From a Moon is a surreal blend of great jokes, even better wordplay, and—strangely—a healthy dose of childhood nostalgia. Jin Hao’s show is designed around a few recurring themes, including the moon, nostalgia, and first loves, which makes for a surprisingly comedic combination.
It feels thoughtful and witty, and is full of clever callbacks, including the motif of the moon, which returns repeatedly throughout the set and only gets funnier each time. Presented in a self-confident and lilting cadence, the show has a riveting rhythm that has you sitting at the edge of your seat, waiting for the next punchline to reveal itself.
It is Jin Hao’s unique delivery and personality that make his surreal humour especially effective. The music and set design contribute to this feeling of immersion: for an hour, you are completely at the behest of his stories as the moon lights up in different colours. In particular, he excels at defamiliarising mundane and inconvenient moments into gripping and hilarious anecdotes.
The language is undeniably funny, yet intentionally poetic and incredibly lyrical. Every word feels so deliberately chosen such that nothing—not even a sound effect—feels wasted. Even the occasional instances of crowd work are sharp and seamlessly integrated into the show. The comedic rhythm almost never falters, and the momentum is carried through til the end of the night.
Opening with a Chinese myth, then an absurd joke about sheep, before veering into childhood memories, the show occasionally feels like a grab bag of odd jokes, even if they are all delightfully funny. At the show’s best, Jin Hao successfully toes the line between autobiographical comedy and poignant storytelling. Moving seamlessly between stories of the past and the present, the show possesses enough youthful charm to transport you back to your own childhood, even if you were never (like Jin Hao once was) 17 years old in Singapore.
In the end, the set also serves as a touching love letter to his time in Singapore, China, and—albeit with a little less love—London. It is both comedically and emotionally satisfying. Thanks, Mr. Nostalgic.
Li Jin Hao: Falling From a Moon is running until 30 August at Above at Pleasance Courtyard. Buy tickets here.
Image Credit to Rebecca Need Menear.
