REVIEW: Waiting For My Real Life (Colin Hay) (NZ International Comedy Festival 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 Scottish roots, Australian upbringing, or worldly wisdom, Hay is not only a great musician, but also a genuinely funny performer.

Hay not only continues to maintain the essence of his introspective storytelling that made him an internationally appreciable musician, but also continues to advance this narrative in his music, bringing years of extraordinary life experience and crafting it into universally recognisable material for his audiences.

There is also a solid comedic component to the show, as Hay takes us through his early days in Scotland, to performing in front of a 100,000 people and televised live to five million more, all with a nonchalance and charm that belies his fame. Self-awareness and deprecation are the keys to Hay as a comedic performer; he knows where he came from, where he is, and where he’s going, and is the first to talk about it in good humour.

While not exactly what you would expect from a comedy festival bill, Waiting For My Real Life provides witness to a globally renowned performer in juxtaposition to the comedy scene niche, an excellent complimentary show to other acts in Auckland. Of his solo career, Hays has said that “It’s slow and steady. It’s been word-of-mouth. People see the show, like it, and tell their friends. It feels very organic.” A true statement to his remarkable renaissance, as, while an admitted fan of Hay, his music and current show, Waiting For My Real Life, is equally accessible to those unfamiliar with his work. “I’ve found if people discover you they discover everything about you.” Take the time to discover Hay. You won’t regret it.

SET LIST:

• Beautiful World
• Family Man
• Maggie
• A Simple Song
• Who Can It Be Now
• Did You Just Take The Long Way Home
• If I Had Been A Better Man
• Scattered In The Sand
• I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You
• Mr. Grogan
• Down Under
• Overkill
• Waiting For My Real Life To Begin

Waiting For My Real Life played as part of the NZ International Comedy Festival at Sky City until May 2. For details see  Comedy Festival.

SEE ALSO: Theatreview.org.nz review by Dionne Joseph