Minnan-themed comedy show from Fujian entertains audience in Kinmen

A comedy show celebrating Minnan culture by performers from Fujian province was staged in Kinmen on Saturday, entertaining the audience with stand-up comedy, sketches, Xiangsheng (crosstalk), and other art forms.

Performed at the arts and culture center of Kinmen's cultural affairs bureau, the show was jointly organized by the associations for cultural and tourism promotion and the performing arts industry of Fujian.

As a vital link between Fujian and Kinmen, Minnan culture, along with its dialect and everyday life, served as the central theme of most performances, humorously reflecting Minnan customs and traditions, from weddings to folk religion.

Wei He, the show's host and a comedy industry insider based in Xiamen, Fujian, said this was the first visit to Kinmen for most of the performers.

"We were initially worried about whether our performing style would be well received by the local audience, but once the show began, we realized those worries were unnecessary, as the audience responded with great enthusiasm," she said.

Previously promoted on the social network, the Saturday show drew residents of all ages, from children to the elderly, as well as many students from nearby Quemoy University.

Tsan-yen, a university student, came to see the show at the invitation of several friends. He had never seen an in-person stand-up comedy show.

The 20-year-old said he was impressed by the Xiangsheng act about Minnan family letters, in which one performer imitated a Douyin livestream sales pitch in a funny way.

"I also watch Douyin in daily life, so it kind of resonated with me," he said.

To better connect with the audience, the performers incorporated a variety of Kinmen elements into the show, including Kinmen tribute candy and kaoliang liquor. The show also featured traditional Minnan arts performed in the dialect, making them easily accessible to local viewers.

Hu Liwei, a marionette performer from Fujian's Quanzhou, presented a puppetry piece based on the classical act "The Little Monk's Descent into the Mountain" in the Minnan dialect.

"Here in Kinmen, the audience didn't need subtitles to follow the lyrics and lines, so the atmosphere was very lively, even beyond our expectations," he said.

Hu, 34, began to learn marionette art over 10 years ago. The Quanzhou marionette, a national intangible cultural heritage item, is believed to have become popular in the region at least 1,000 years ago and embodies many Minnan folk religions and customs.

"There are many more interesting elements in Quanzhou marionette art, and we hope to have the chance to present more of them to audiences here next time," he said.