After successfully wrapping up shows in Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth, Sydney, and Brisbane, Joe Wong finally arrived in Auckland on Sunday, June 25, 2023, performing at the SkyCity Theatre!
As the final stop of the Australia & New Zealand Tour, Joe Wong delivered round after round of nonstop jokes, leaving the audience laughing uncontrollably throughout the night.
Back in 2010, his performance at the White House amazed Americans and made the world aware of a Chinese comedian bold enough to joke about the U.S. Vice President. His line to Joe Biden -- “I read your autobiography; the book is much better than the real you” -- has since become iconic.
This is a man who is confident, witty, and daring -- someone who presents his personal insights in a foreign land, using a foreign language, crossing cultural barriers, and challenging the mainstream entertainment scene. Now, he has come -- touring Australia and New Zealand -- and everywhere he goes, the audiences are roaring and shows are sold out. On his posters, he wears a sincere smile, inviting everyone to laugh to their heart’s content.
Joe Wong is incredibly sincere. During over an hour of performance, he shared countless personal stories. Beyond the hardships of his youth and the ridicule he faced from others, even his experiences while studying in the U.S. -- which he now presents entirely as jokes -- must have been “laughing through the tears” at the time.
His tour enriched our lives and inspired many in the Chinese community to explore the art of stand-up comedy. As Li Dan often says, “Anyone can perform a five-minute stand-up.” Five minutes may pass quickly, but if those minutes bring joy and convey humor, they become eternal.
Life needs comedy because comedy empowers people and heals inner wounds. Stand-up’s value lies in its ability to be accepted, loved, and participated in in many ways -- this is perhaps the very essence of Joe Wong’s successful Australia & New Zealand tour.
Thank you, Joe Wong, for bringing us this brilliant performance!