Review of his stand-up special
‘The main difference between white people and Chinese people…’ says Phil Wang straight out of the gate, not pausing even to say ‘hello’ before launching into his opening bit.
But don’t go expecting any hack material or edgy race-based content from this mild-mannered comedian, with a penchant for self-effacingly referring to himself in the third person. His observations are based purely on attitudes to leftover rice.
In a similar vein, he later dares tackle the N-word in rap lyrics and the concerns most non-black people have in singing along. His solution takes potential offence and makes it cosy, typical of a comedian so physically soft he confesses to injuring himself on bread.
Although nonchalantly delivered and far from provocative, the material is not tepid He has especially interesting and distinctive comments on growing up in Borneo, where even the adults believe in ghosts.
He obviously doesn’t go into as much detail as his recent book does on this topic, but the upbringing provides an outsider’s viewpoint even to material that doesn’t need it, such as his observations on British people saying ‘touch wood’.
That’s combined with a droll sense of humour presumably instilled from his later years in Bath and at Cambridge University. He sensibly sneers at travellers who want to shun ‘the touristy stuff’, then takes the cynicism to extremes when challenging his sister’s decision not to eat octopus as they are too intelligent.
Some of Wang’s material is a little more pedestrian, such as his dick-measuring routine, based on the flimsiest of premises, but he lends a touch of class to even this. Likewise, complaints about having to do everything himself when flying seem lightweight but end with a more distinctive payoff, calmly dismissing a task he doesn’t want to take on. It’s the closest the composed comic ever gets to snapping.
With a knack for making a lot out of a little, Wang is an understatedly stylish comic. The candlelit atmosphere of the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe in London, where this special was filmed, suits him well.
• Phil Wang: Wang In There Baby is on Netflix from today.
Published: 3 Sep 2024
Surely every stand-up has, at one time or another,…
1/12/2022
Phil Wang: The Real Hero In All This
Phil Wang has now reached the point where he has spent…
14/04/2022
As unexpected guests go, Michael McIntyre is quite…
5/10/2021
Phil Wang: Philly Philly Wang Wang on Netflix
Phil Wang should have had his moment in the Netflix…
10/08/2021
Picnic At The Castle with Phil Wang and others
Goodness knows that there aren’t exactly many…
21/09/2020
Phil Wang: Philly Philly Wang Wang
On the strength of a very successful year, Phil…
7/08/2019
Comedy Central might have had trouble attracting punters…
6/10/2018
We have lift off, Wang-wise. For a little while now…
9/08/2017
I hope no one sees the name of Phil Wang’s third…
14/08/2015
One girl’s name, three very silly boys. Daphne are…
7/08/2015
The Invisible Dot Cabaret at the Manchester International Festival
As part of its collaboration with the Manchester International…
16/07/2015
Phil Wang is quietly assured, and always has been.…
4/08/2014
Phil Wang promises us intellectually justified dick…
12/08/2013
Chortle Student Comedy Award Final 2010
Maybe it’s because the standard at the top end of…
18/08/2010
We do not currently hold contact details for Phil Wang's agent. If you are a comic or agent wanting your details to appear here, for a one-off fee of £59, email steve@chortle.co.uk.
We see you are using AdBlocker software. Chortle relies on advertisers to fund this website so it’s free for you, so we would ask that you disable it for this site. Our ads are non-intrusive and relevant. Help keep Chortle viable.
