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  Art Murmurs - Wellington Reviews

Reviews

God Damn Fancy Man

16/5/2019

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by Laura Ferguson

Picture
​There is something phenomenal about James Nokise. I have seen his work many times in my three years in Wellington and now he has well-deserved success overseas, I try and catch him every time he’s back in town. And yet, he still wows me with fresh takes on society, pithy turns of phrase, and an ability to engage the audience so completely despite raising issues that many deem uncomfortable. God Damn Fancy Man is no exception.
With his effortless blend of social responsibility and humour Nokise speaks to us, leaning in and querying the tenseness in the room. He has opened with observations on New Zealand’s relationship with Te Reo and there is a sense of discomfort in the room. Nokise laughs at us and eases us simultaneously, the guilt of not having more than sparse knowledge of something so important to our heritage loosens and we laugh along with him.

As Nokise discusses the haka, Māori Language Week and the constant detractors of Te Reo’s importance we laugh at the accuracy with which he skewers our culture. Nokise cleverly maneuvers the argument through witty lines and anecdotes, his own experiences wafting through the show and formulating a touchstone that we rest on lest that discomfort get the better of us.

Nokise’s new show God Damn Fancy Man is a magical crossing of hilarious and thought-provoking. I tilted my head to the side in contemplation, I clapped at an incisively clever comment that was so true it almost hurt. But most of all I laughed and left with that excited feeling I get when I hear new material from a loved artist. I’ll look forward to Nokise’s next sojourn in Wellington I always look forward to seeing that goddamn, fancy man.

God Damn Fancy Man is playing at Te Auaha until Saturday 18th. You can find tickets here.
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