Alia Marshall
If the chilly winter blues or break up season are hitting you hard this year, then Janaye Henry has just the thing with her 2023 Comedy Festival show Crush Season. Nominated for the Billy T award and having curated the first wāhine māori comedy line up show, Shoes Off (At the Door); Henry is back with another show all about the trials and tribulations of love - or wuv, but that’s a spoiler I won’t elaborate on. On this dreary evening my friend and I are looking for some laughs to stave off the cold, and boy did we find them.
We file into the Stage doors at BATS to find a large sheet strung up to the rafters, covered in pink shimmery material that conjures images of mermaids and unicorns. I’m suddenly 10 years old again, furiously scribbling down my latest crush in my purple shimmery diary. Henry herself is greeting each audience member and mingling with us as we arrive, directing our attention to the well stocked snacks table. This is such a nice touch, I feel so warm and comfortable before even taking my seat. The stage and intimate nature of how Henry chooses to start makes it feel more like we’re settling in for a really big sleepover.
After introducing herself and going over some housekeeping rules, Henry immediately jumps into the romcom. The books she’s trying to carry fall from her arms and she takes her time waiting for one of us to come help her, my friend bravely decides to help and suddenly finds himself locking eyes with “Aotearoa’s Flirtiest Babe”. I love the simplicity of this gag as a way to open the show, despite the fact that many of us weren’t sure (or were too scared) to help her get the books, she made it clear that this is her show, and one of us better come help.
Where the show falls slightly short for me is the pacing. Henry is very quick and that works in her favour for most of the set, but I find myself craving more time to pause to really think about and enjoy the joke. I know it’s part of her ‘will-you-take-a-breath’ style which serves some parts of the show, but it felt as though we lost some really good punchlines because we were still trying to catch our breath from the last one. The content is already there and already killer, we just need an extra moment to really savour it.
Moments where she’s being herself and chatting to the audience really shine for me. I’m lucky enough to be there on the same night as her parents as she strolls down lover’s memory lane. Henry has had a litany of bizarre dating experiences, you really don’t want to miss them. Some (ambiguous) highlights include an embarrassing dad story, a māori dating show gone wrong, and her eventual queer awakening - that make the stories about men she dated even funnier.
Crush Season will have you leaving with a big - crush on Henry. She’s charming, quick, and never one to shy away from the gory details. Plus, when’s the last time you went to a show with a snack table? With some extra development, I think she’d be getting at least a few proposals after each run. This show is a celebration of the lovers, wuvers, and the absurd world that is dating in the 21st century.
Crush Season is on the Stage at BATS until Saturday 13th of May.
After introducing herself and going over some housekeeping rules, Henry immediately jumps into the romcom. The books she’s trying to carry fall from her arms and she takes her time waiting for one of us to come help her, my friend bravely decides to help and suddenly finds himself locking eyes with “Aotearoa’s Flirtiest Babe”. I love the simplicity of this gag as a way to open the show, despite the fact that many of us weren’t sure (or were too scared) to help her get the books, she made it clear that this is her show, and one of us better come help.
Where the show falls slightly short for me is the pacing. Henry is very quick and that works in her favour for most of the set, but I find myself craving more time to pause to really think about and enjoy the joke. I know it’s part of her ‘will-you-take-a-breath’ style which serves some parts of the show, but it felt as though we lost some really good punchlines because we were still trying to catch our breath from the last one. The content is already there and already killer, we just need an extra moment to really savour it.
Moments where she’s being herself and chatting to the audience really shine for me. I’m lucky enough to be there on the same night as her parents as she strolls down lover’s memory lane. Henry has had a litany of bizarre dating experiences, you really don’t want to miss them. Some (ambiguous) highlights include an embarrassing dad story, a māori dating show gone wrong, and her eventual queer awakening - that make the stories about men she dated even funnier.
Crush Season will have you leaving with a big - crush on Henry. She’s charming, quick, and never one to shy away from the gory details. Plus, when’s the last time you went to a show with a snack table? With some extra development, I think she’d be getting at least a few proposals after each run. This show is a celebration of the lovers, wuvers, and the absurd world that is dating in the 21st century.
Crush Season is on the Stage at BATS until Saturday 13th of May.