After sharing a coffee with the couple a few weeks ago, it was exhilarating to see Chris Nguyen and Robyn Reynolds find their groove in Romantic Comedy at Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2026 on Saturday night. The couple’s ‘black cat and golden retriever energy’ brought a fresh dynamic to the comedy stage, where their opposites fused together for a glimpse into their romantic, comedic world. 

In Romantic Comedy, the audience gets to know the newlyweds through a combination of solo and joint performances. When Robyn, 2025 MICF Best Newcomer nominee, took the stage, she truly took the stage and made it her own. Her vibrant red hair was just as vibrant as her energy, earning laughter from everyone as she made her own tough experiences being in a male-dominated industry a bizarre moment to giggle about. Though the show took place in the Trades Hall Archive Room as opposed to a large theatre, she used this to her advantage, making the experience feel intimate as though you were watching your friend joke about her chaotic experiences, and the audience felt like a whole as laughs burst over her hilarious remarks. 

When Chris came to shine, he did so in the opposite way to Robyn; a quiet charisma that still took control over the room. His kicks were slowly paced, but not in the way that you get bored and want the speaker to cut to the chase—more so in the way that you’re leaning into anticipation because you know what Chris is about to say will make you cackle... and it very well does. His sarcasm and wit were electric, and his crowd interaction let his charisma shine. 

The performance was special in the way that it was driven by their authenticity. As Chris mentioned in our interview a few weeks prior, he “can hide behind jokes, [while Robyn] really speaks about her experiences”. During our meetup this energy was very evident, so seeing it move to the stage where neither performer put on a mask was a beautiful insight into the pairs’ dynamic, but also a signifier that they brought their authentic selves out to perform. They were true to themselves, and that’s how the audience fell in love with them. 

Though individually Chris and Robyn gave a stellar performance, together their energy at times seemed to clash, leaving jokes and moments to feel somewhat awkward, or as if we were missing out on an inside joke. In their joint work, the pacing felt somewhat offbeat—this is not to say that they did not work well together; watching the newlywed couple on stage was a joyous experience, and it was hard not to fall in love with them and their dynamic. Nevertheless, some skits did feel unnecessarily dragged on and began to lose momentum.   

However, the future looks bright for the pair.  

With time, their work has scope to grow into something even more exciting, and I’m keen to see what both Robyn and Chris continue to have in store for us. Chris’s wit and Robyn’s captivating energy are definitely something to be admired.