Alia Marshall
Award winning comedy duo Ginge and Minge (Nina Hogg and Megan Connolly) are back with their smash hit show Fame or Die, the first and only (as far as I know) game show hosted by the devil that sees comedy duos compete for one last shot at fame. As the other half of the title suggests, the stakes are pretty high. Packed full of chaotic characters, absurd musical numbers, and a lot of gay stuff, this show is a hoot that’s not to be missed.
I’m the first to walk into Tapere Iti and I take my seat at the front, as always, to admire the set. Like what can be seen in their marketing material, there’s a big collaged sign at the back reading ‘Fame or Die’, along with a couple of coat racks - no doubt for quick costume changes. The show begins by outlining the rules of this game show and introducing us to our titular characters: Ginge and Minge, and the next hour sees them giving their all in an attempt to achieve fame and avoid the fiery pit of hell that awaits them. Do they make it? Well, you’re gonna have to go and find out. No spoilers here whānau.
The pair works together seamlessly. Actually, I don’t even want to call them a pair, they’re more of an organism. Moving together throughout, splitting off at moments to quickly reunite again, if I close my eyes, I can almost see an invisible string holding them together. I feel so grateful whenever I get to see best friends perform together, getting to witness the way friends support one another onstage feels really special. A big theme of this show is this friendship, and I find myself wanting to call my bestie afterwards so we can come up with skits in the lounge or do accents until one of us feels homicidal.
The addition of a Blue Man Group sketch was excellent, and felt like a little Easter egg for me since I studied with Hogg and vividly remember her presentation about the blue boys. Some other highlights include Actors on Actors, Two women in their late 60s try to outdo each other in a Johnsonville Mall, Self Defense Class, and of course, the sponsored funeral. Each sketch feels as though there’s certain points to hit, but the rest is improvised, which I think is perfect for these two improvisers who shine most when they’re working on the fly. Moments where one makes a joke that the other wasn’t prepared for are especially good. I don’t know if it’s a me thing, but I love it when I see an actor do everything they can not to break - it should be considered an Olympic sport.
The energy of these two is infectious, even as they sprint downstage to change costumes they manage to keep our focus. However, at times the energy hits its peak, and once it plataus it has nowhere else to go but up, which I think could be to do with the structure. Moments of profuse sobbing or yelling at one another are part and parcel with sketch comedy, but I think these bigger scenes could have been placed closer to the very end to ensure we don’t hit the ceiling too early, which would also make the slower moments stand out slightly more. That being said, the chaos is a key element to this duo’s dynamic, as I left I overheard a snippet of a conversation where someone said ‘it’s the perfect level of chaotic goblin energy’, and I can’t help but agree. Despite some moments where I personally felt the dial could be turned down a notch to heighten other moments, my fellow audience members were craving more. Ah, how I love subjectivity.
The show wraps up with a beautiful song about the undying power of friendship. ‘You’ll Always be Famous to Me’ is an ode to the celebrity status we hold in our best friend’s lives, and it’s a touching way to end a show built on the pillars of such a strong friendship. Whether they achieve fame, whether they die, they’re always going to be stars in each other's eyes.
Fame or Die is a celebration of the sillies, a show that had my face aching as I wandered home, and a reminder to call your best friend. Go for the chaos, stay for the friendship.
Fame or Die was on the Tapere Iti stage in Te Auaha and closed Friday 10th of May.
The pair works together seamlessly. Actually, I don’t even want to call them a pair, they’re more of an organism. Moving together throughout, splitting off at moments to quickly reunite again, if I close my eyes, I can almost see an invisible string holding them together. I feel so grateful whenever I get to see best friends perform together, getting to witness the way friends support one another onstage feels really special. A big theme of this show is this friendship, and I find myself wanting to call my bestie afterwards so we can come up with skits in the lounge or do accents until one of us feels homicidal.
The addition of a Blue Man Group sketch was excellent, and felt like a little Easter egg for me since I studied with Hogg and vividly remember her presentation about the blue boys. Some other highlights include Actors on Actors, Two women in their late 60s try to outdo each other in a Johnsonville Mall, Self Defense Class, and of course, the sponsored funeral. Each sketch feels as though there’s certain points to hit, but the rest is improvised, which I think is perfect for these two improvisers who shine most when they’re working on the fly. Moments where one makes a joke that the other wasn’t prepared for are especially good. I don’t know if it’s a me thing, but I love it when I see an actor do everything they can not to break - it should be considered an Olympic sport.
The energy of these two is infectious, even as they sprint downstage to change costumes they manage to keep our focus. However, at times the energy hits its peak, and once it plataus it has nowhere else to go but up, which I think could be to do with the structure. Moments of profuse sobbing or yelling at one another are part and parcel with sketch comedy, but I think these bigger scenes could have been placed closer to the very end to ensure we don’t hit the ceiling too early, which would also make the slower moments stand out slightly more. That being said, the chaos is a key element to this duo’s dynamic, as I left I overheard a snippet of a conversation where someone said ‘it’s the perfect level of chaotic goblin energy’, and I can’t help but agree. Despite some moments where I personally felt the dial could be turned down a notch to heighten other moments, my fellow audience members were craving more. Ah, how I love subjectivity.
The show wraps up with a beautiful song about the undying power of friendship. ‘You’ll Always be Famous to Me’ is an ode to the celebrity status we hold in our best friend’s lives, and it’s a touching way to end a show built on the pillars of such a strong friendship. Whether they achieve fame, whether they die, they’re always going to be stars in each other's eyes.
Fame or Die is a celebration of the sillies, a show that had my face aching as I wandered home, and a reminder to call your best friend. Go for the chaos, stay for the friendship.
Fame or Die was on the Tapere Iti stage in Te Auaha and closed Friday 10th of May.