[Fantastic Foursome] Set in a holiday home where two couples double-book for a honeymoon and an anniversary, the drawing room comedy becomes the primary target for parody in Chris Parker and Thomas Sainsbury’s Camping. It’s like a raunchier version of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf with the serious drama cut out. Even the characters feel like grotesque Kiwi versions of […]
[Awkward Absurdity] Before we begin, as the pre-show announcement by Ricky Gervais is played, Hamish Parkinson seizes the opportunity to apply comedy in the most unexpected ways. It’s a perfect example of his willingness to push boundaries and conventions that makes his shows unpredictable and exciting to watch. Moon Baby is arguably a natural progression from Parkinson’s previous one-man comedy […]
[Comic Communion] It’s the first time the Irish brothers Famous Seamus and Seantastic, the Lords of Strut, have performed in New Zealand. We apparently look like an audience that have no idea what to expect. We really don’t. They have no idea either. We are warned by a Sean, playing a priest, that this isn’t the type of show to […]
[Forced Humour] Casual Star Wars fans might know Admiral Ackbar as the alien who turns to the camera during the Battle of Endor in Return of the Jedi to utter those immortal lines: “It’s a trap!”* This has helped Ackbar find latter-day day fame as an internet meme. I could also tell you the Mon Calamarian fought with Anakin Skywalker […]
[On a LOL] If you like jokes about ending monotonous conversations at parties, dating short men, and future scenarios in which gender fluidity is a fashion choice, you’ll get a lot out mileage out of this. Melanie Bracewell and Angella Dravid are your classic double act. One tall and loud, one short and quiet. While Bracewell regales you with stories […]
Weird and Unusual Plants do the Best Business [by James Wenley] In the previous seasons of Live Live Cinema, the soundtracks to cult B Movies Dementia 13 and Carnival of Souls were recreated live by a handful of actors, musicians lead by the masterful Leon Radojkovic and a dedicated foley artist. It would be relatively easy enough to replicate the formula for […]
Close, but no cigar [by Sharu Delilkan & Tim Booth] As we file into our respective seats we notice one half of the duo (known as the EastEnd Cabaret) standing at the top of the seating block. So it’s no surprise that we are thrust into full audience participation mode as soon as the lights go down. However I very […]
Beware of this heart of (comedy) gold [by Matt Baker] Following the success of A Play About Space and A Show About Superheroes, Wellington-based award-winning theatre collective My Accomplice brings their latest show (about spies), Spyfinger!, to Auckland, following their Wellington season for the New Zealand International Comedy Festival. With incredibly (and necessary) detailed direction by collaborator Uther Dean; Alex Greig, […]
No Doubt [by Matt Baker] Religion is a goldmine for comedians. It’s also an easy target, which some exploit to disseminate their philosophical views, and while that’s perfectly valid in the comedy medium, it’s not the aim for Eli Matthewson. Instead, the concept of faith, or, more specifically, losing it, is a chance for Matthewson to simply expose not only some […]
Working his way up [by Matt Baker] What does it mean to be a National Treasure? What is the criterion for nomination let alone winning? And who is so humbly honouring themselves? Comedian, actor, and head-writer for Jono and Ben, Nic Sampson, addresses all this and more in his New Zealand Comedy Festival show, National Treasure. With the help of Sam […]
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