REVIEW: James Roque – Paper, Scissors, Roque (NZ International Comedy 2015)

May 7, 2015

Roquing it [by Matt Baker] The New Zealand International Comedy Festival asks performers to come up with a title well before most of them have come up with their actual show, and for comedian James Roque the situation is no different. The tie in to his eponymous pun is loose, but Roque sticks with the rule of comedy, offering three tips […]

REVIEW: Ed Byrne – Roaring Forties (NZ Comedy Festival 2015)

May 7, 2015

Shredded it Bro! [by Sharu Delilkan and Tim Booth] There’s no doubt that Ed Byrne has definitely roared into his forties. His entrance onto stage began with a hiss and a roar and what followed is testament that he has totally embraced entering his fourth decade on this planet. Unlike other comedians who take a few minutes to warm up […]

REVIEW: Nish Kumar – NZ Debut (NZ International Comedy 2015)

May 6, 2015

Wishin’, prayin’ Nish is stayin’ [by Matt Baker] Nish Kumar has been performing comedy for 10 years, and it shows – in the best possible way. From board game politics to the liberalism of society, Kumar is an incredibly intelligent comedian whose observational comedy is rich with political and social relevance, while all the time avoiding condemnation and delivering in hilarity. […]

REVIEW: Paco Erhard Worst. German. Ever. (NZ International Comedy 2015)

May 6, 2015

Not the World’s Worst German [by Sharu Delilkan] The ‘Worst. German. Ever.‘ luckily is not the worst comedy I have seen so far during the festival, but to be honest he wasn’t the best. Having seen excerpts of Paco Erhard on Comedy Central we were looking forward to tonight – especially some self-depreciating German jokes and observational comedy on the […]

REVIEW: A Doll’s House (Auckland Theatre Company)

May 5, 2015

Refurbished for the 21st Century [by Matt Baker] Henrik Ibsen may have been aware of the controversy that A Doll’s House would raise when he wrote it, but he certainly didn’t intend the specificity of it to be projected onto its female lead. Regardless, adaptations have continued to miss the collective relevance to its central character’s journey, reappropriating it with connotations […]

REVIEW: Singin’ in the Rain (The Civic)

May 3, 2015

Cloudy, with a chance of Glorious Feeling [by James Wenley] “Raining live onstage!” shouts the poster. Play back Singin’ in the Rain’s most famous scene for a moment, Gene Kelly tap-splashing as only a man possessed by love (and a real life raging fever) can do.  If there ever was a good argument for adapting the MGM film musical for the […]

REVIEW: Waiting For My Real Life (Colin Hay) (NZ International Comedy Festival 2015)

May 3, 2015

Real life entertainment [by Matt Baker] I was dubious, when I first heard, as to why Colin Hay was performing as part of the New Zealand International Comedy Festival. As Madonna proved last month, being a performer, regardless of the endurance of your critical and commercial success, does not necessarily equate to any skill in delivering comedy. However, be it his […]

REVIEW: Joseph Moore 1989 (NZ International Comedy Festival 2015)

May 1, 2015

Chinese Year of the Dragon, New Zealand Future of Comedy [by Matt Baker] Last year, comedian Joseph Moore wanted to be a billionaire. The year prior, he was a Billy T nominee. 24 years before that, he was born. And how lucky we all are that he was. Moore is a brilliant young comedian. He’s funny, slightly awkward, and has a […]

1 80 81 82 83 84 137