KUALA LUMPUR – Last weekend saw the first-ever production of The WOW Show Live, a comedy variety showcase from a woman’s perspective, featuring Malaysian icons of music, comedy, and radio – legendary singer Ning Baizura, irreverent comedian Joanne Kam, and the sardonically witty Shazmin Shamsuddin.
Taking place over two nights (Friday and Saturday) at PJPAC in 1 Utama, the show had a mix of stand-up comedy from Joanne herself and fellow comedian Shamaine Othman, comedy sketches featuring the trio, as well as a robust supporting cast, before bringing the house down with Ning performing new remixes of some of her hit songs, including the debut of a new single after a decade.
Backing them up were local entertainment mainstays Papi Zak, Kael (Mike Lean), Sheikh Irfan Mansor, and Izzaldin K.
While Ning and Joanne are no strangers to big crowds, this show marked Shazmin’s debut as a performer on the big stage, and she likened it to a “baptism of fire.” Fortunately, the role played to her strengths as an MC and moderator, honed over decades in radio and now podcasts.
For the fashion-conscious, the three ladies were resplendent in outfits designed specifically for the show by Ashley Wong of Kapas and Rizman Ruzaini, styled by Chris Chia.
After the intro, a panel discussion featuring psychologist (and frequent WOW Show guest) Shireen Olikh set the table with its rather frank discussion on sex, relationships, love, mental health, and other hot topics. The first night featured sex-positive advocate Jasmine King, who expounded on sexual empowerment and the importance of pleasure.
In addition to the comedy routines from Joanne and Shamaine, there were also skits parodying dating shows and a CNN newscast, all of which were filled with the kind of naughty words and innuendos that would be eye-raising if repeated here.
There is always something cathartic about a group of people laughing together at the same thing, which is only amplified when it’s at something taboo or uncomfortable that we might joke about among friends but never in public. After all, no one wants to get cancelled in this day and age of social media.
Speaking of which, The WOW Show Live ended with a mini-concert from Ning – who is preparing for a big concert next year to celebrate her 50th birthday – where she showed off the soulful and emotional ‘To Know Me,’ her first new song in over a decade, which she penned during a particularly difficult recent social media harassment directed at her.
In between songs, the Malaysian music icon had a heartfelt chat with the crowd on recent history and shared a message of love and compassion in these tough times.
Ultimately, despite all the different tones, with in-your-face humour about bodily fluids and sexual activities, the frank talk on mental health, and emotional ballads, it’s all in keeping with the idea that being human encompasses all those things – gross, funny, happy, sad, and most importantly, empathetic.
The WOW Show is one of PODaBOOM’s growing stable of podcasts, a vibrant lifestyle series that brings women together for insightful discussions on a diverse range of women-centric topics. With a welcoming platform for exchanging views, ideas, and experiences, The WOW Show is your weekly destination for enriching conversations and community. – August 14, 2024