Sean Burnett Dugdale-Martin
Itay Dom is in a lane of his own. Because he vomited while driving and swerved off the road. Half-Baked Ideas is a stoner-comedy for straight people that cultivates a vibe of being a little bit baked. Itay’s apparent aloof nature and seeming lack of preparation is intoxicating in the sense that you end up giggling uncontrollably at the most mundane “I think I need glasses”. In the downstairs gallery of Te Auaha, with a giant glass door just to the left of the stage, our comedian was consistently distracted by people outside the room looking in as well as never knowing how much longer he had in his set. I love this guy. Nobody ever give this guy a clock!
As we wait in the audience for the show to start and the intro music to blare, he kind of just walks out. He’s carrying a box of forrero rocher and a small bouquet of roses. It’s silent. He leans into the mic: “damn, that was awkward as fuck.” and so we give it another go. He walks back behind the curtain and calls out “okay, clap” and so we giggle, hoot and holler as he makes his proper (second) entrance.
Even as I am quoting Itay I need to specify that all this is alleged. During his set he calls out that there are reviewers in the crowd and although he’s not sure where they are he assures them (me) that everything he says is off the record. He also throws away a line about not being able to wait for his “crisp three stars”.
Itay Dom seems like the funniest guy at the party if he weren’t definitely stoned and overwhelmed at parties. I had seen clips of him on Guy Mont’s Spelling Bee and he was consistent live, with his curve-ball deadpan, as much as he was on the telly. It did take us a bit of getting used to, though, there were many jokes which got an “aww” from the audience since they were a little self-depreciative.
Nearly halfway through the set Itay told us what he really thought “I hate the aww’s” and I can see where he’s coming from. This isn’t a pity party just because he’s making fun of himself or making jokes about dire situations. That stuff is part of life, just as much as anything else, and should be enjoyed as much. “Next time you feel like going ‘aww’, clap instead” he instructs us. It immediately backfires. The audience plays the devil and claps as Itay tries to set up jokes. The ice: well and truly broken.
Itay’s low-energy simmer Half Baked Ideas is the comedians first foray into an hour-long set and even though it took a little warming up from the crowd it was something side-splitting (in a downplayed awkward way). If this is where he’s starting, then I can’t wait to see how it shapes up for the comedy fest. It finished its run at NZ Fringe but you’ll see it around on Itay’s quest for the Billy T Award. More info on the season that was here.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Even as I am quoting Itay I need to specify that all this is alleged. During his set he calls out that there are reviewers in the crowd and although he’s not sure where they are he assures them (me) that everything he says is off the record. He also throws away a line about not being able to wait for his “crisp three stars”.
Itay Dom seems like the funniest guy at the party if he weren’t definitely stoned and overwhelmed at parties. I had seen clips of him on Guy Mont’s Spelling Bee and he was consistent live, with his curve-ball deadpan, as much as he was on the telly. It did take us a bit of getting used to, though, there were many jokes which got an “aww” from the audience since they were a little self-depreciative.
Nearly halfway through the set Itay told us what he really thought “I hate the aww’s” and I can see where he’s coming from. This isn’t a pity party just because he’s making fun of himself or making jokes about dire situations. That stuff is part of life, just as much as anything else, and should be enjoyed as much. “Next time you feel like going ‘aww’, clap instead” he instructs us. It immediately backfires. The audience plays the devil and claps as Itay tries to set up jokes. The ice: well and truly broken.
Itay’s low-energy simmer Half Baked Ideas is the comedians first foray into an hour-long set and even though it took a little warming up from the crowd it was something side-splitting (in a downplayed awkward way). If this is where he’s starting, then I can’t wait to see how it shapes up for the comedy fest. It finished its run at NZ Fringe but you’ll see it around on Itay’s quest for the Billy T Award. More info on the season that was here.
⭐⭐⭐⭐