Review: Jenny Tian: Chinese Australian

Jenny Tian is that rarity at the Edinburgh Fringe: a comedian who had a good pandemic. As a raise-of-hands in this packed room reveals, most of the audience are here because of her online content, which blew up during lockdown. A few know her from appearing on Australia’s version of Taskmaster. “And how many from stand-up?” she asks, eventually. None at all. That’s showbiz, 2024. 

Not that Tian is a stranger to the stage, having played numerous sizeable venues back in Australia. That’s one theme of this ebullient if insubstantial hour, her quest to perform with one particular comic who inspired her comedy career. Otherwise, it feels very much aimed at those online followers, particularly from back home – Tian actively flags up one Oz-specific reference that the rest of us won’t understand, early on, but others whizz baffling by. 

There are times when the show feels like an ad for Tian’s online content, in truth, as she rattles through her subscriber numbers, and the brands she’s worked with (often with a self-deprecating twist, in fairness). Which is fine, if you’re already a fan, and there are hints of a deeper, more interesting show itching to get out; lots of followers invariably means lots of trolls. But bypassers enticed in by that big queue may just be left a little cold.