Jenny Nimon The Blair Witch Projector, a new show from 2019 Billy T Award nominee and 2018 Best Newcomer, James Mustapic, is a wry and witty reflection on his past comedy. He claims to be leaving his video-based humour behind in the pursuit of “real comedy”, only to be haunted by the ghost in his projector who is intent on making him relive his repressed memories and ruining his show.
Jenny Nimon Wellington Raw Comedy Quest 2019: Heat 3, held this time at Cavern Club, showcased a wide range of style and skill. The two-part show had a total of eleven contestants—each performing a set of up to six minutes—and was headlined by award winning comedian, Jon Bennett. MC Stephanie Laing, started off the show with some slightly stiff audience interaction and a few jokes, but relaxed as the show went on, supporting the contestants with wit and pace.
Kate Norquay Josh Davies grew up with no sight in his left eye and only 15 percent vision in his right eye. Now he’s making comedy about it. Josh Davies, Look! I’m Blind is a stand up comedy show about the awkward, frustrating and confusing aspects of being blind, most of which are caused not by the blindness itself, but by everyone else's reaction to it.
Kate Norquay HarleQueen is a one-woman comedy show written and performed by Abby Howells, and directed by Anya Tate-Manning. HarleQueen is a celebration of female fools, taking us on a journey through the history of female comedy. Abby intermingles the stories of famous female comedians like Joan Rivers and Mabel Normand with her own discovery of her love for comedy.
Lizzie Murray Feminist fruit comedy punk band The Rotten Cores are back from their award winning Fringe season. In Discharge is Rotten to the Core, directed by Christine Brooks, friendships, old and new, are put the test during an intense band practice. The show is a fresh, vibrant, laugh out loud musical with lots of artificial colours and naturally funny flavours.
Lizzie Murray Lana, 20-something, Rotorua. A Sagittarius-cat owner-stand up comic with a “it was mutual” breakup haircut seeks romance, midnight snacks and ex boyfriends’ weddings. In her first solo NZ Comedy Festival entry, Lana dishes on her disastrous attempts at dating and faking having everything together.
by Laura Ferguson Confession time: my knowledge of Don Giovanni, is limited to the fact that it is, in fact, an opera. Probably one by Mozart or Beethoven. The former turned out to be correct.
Performer Stuart Coats and director Lyndee-Jane Rutherford have wrestled Mozart’s epic tale of debauchery and regret into a one-man, one-hour jaunt of Don Giovanni. Beautifully synchronised with the amazing pianist Thomas Nikora, Coats energetically flings himself into the story of Don Giovanni, who, after a lifetime of dueling and sleeping with anyone who will have him, is dragged into hell for refusing to repent . by Laura Ferguson George Fenn’s G+Force begins with onomatopoeic sounds, forming an ASMR-like experience. Gluts and stuttering send a tingle down my spine. I’m already jittery and bright-eyed, eagerly awaiting the start of my first Fringe show of 2018, and the effect of this perceptual phenomena easily transmutes into the relaxing buzz of endorphins once the show begins.
by Laura Ferguson Joan, “A play about a wonderful mum and an ungrateful son,” teasingly dances in front of me as I contemplate who Joan will turn out to be. An Irish immigrant who travels to New Zealand to be with her husband, bringing their twins with her, I imagine this woman to be enterprising and pioneering.
by Laura Ferguson It’s finally Friday. Walking into Fat Comedy amidst raucous drumming from Peru football supporters mixing erratically against the synth-heavy 80’s tones of Eva Beva, I sigh in relief to enter the quirky comedy space. Raising the heavy curtain, my jittery, overworked-self glances curiously into the darkened room. Fat Angel has combined forces with their quizmaster, Bas Jeffrey and comedian, Alexander Sparrow, to provide after-work comedy on Friday nights and Fat Angel’s jesting blessing is one I will happily receive.
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