Sean Burnett Dugdale-Martin
The Cavern Club is bustling on a Friday night as punters pack-in for a Jak Darling performance. Hot off the heels of a Fringe Fest win, Jak Darling seems to be gathering speed as a popular Pōneke performer. A set of drawers, a clothes rack, a ukulele and other props set the very small stage space and have us guessing about what’s to come. Will Jak be our Darling tonight? The answer: a resounding yes!
Darling enters in a glorious blue dress and we are off. One of the first jokes out of the gate follows immediately from Darling shouting out to their sex nurses who are in the crowd. Darling asks us to give them a round of applause, as we enthusiastically do, and then quips: “Oh, they’re not shy about it, they’re used to a clap!” I don’t usually share jokes from comedy sets but the impromptu nature of this one had me feeling safe to share this absolute gem.
The premise of the show is Darling searching for a muse. Someone or something to inspire them. An easy vessel of an idea which leads directly into comedic retellings, poems, jokes, a puppet sequence, and even some touching moments of retrospection. Darling has got to be one of the funniest people in the city. So charismatically owning their space and flowing seamlessly between glamorous and gross.
Darling is a responsive performer. I feel like one has to be in such an intimate setting (just over a meter between the feet of the front row and the back wall of the stage-space). Darling’s persona comes across extremely comfortable with their guests, often breaking into laughter alongside us when we crack up. They hold the space well during the time that they have an audience member up, and they’re not afraid to ask the people in the back to be quiet! We’re in Darling’s Den, guys, and you will behave.
Jaw-dropping and hilarious Jak Darling delivers an impressive showcase of their comedic devices. I find it odd that Comedy Fest puts classic mic-and-stool standups over at BATS (in a theatre) and yet the more theatrical shows like this one in venues like Cavern Club… unless I am totally wrong and ComFest has nothing to do with this decision! Pardon me! It appears Darling can excel in any environment and audiences will continue to pack-in! I’ll see you all at the next one!
Unfortunately the Comedy Fest has wrapped up it’s run but you can find more info on the show that was here.
The premise of the show is Darling searching for a muse. Someone or something to inspire them. An easy vessel of an idea which leads directly into comedic retellings, poems, jokes, a puppet sequence, and even some touching moments of retrospection. Darling has got to be one of the funniest people in the city. So charismatically owning their space and flowing seamlessly between glamorous and gross.
Darling is a responsive performer. I feel like one has to be in such an intimate setting (just over a meter between the feet of the front row and the back wall of the stage-space). Darling’s persona comes across extremely comfortable with their guests, often breaking into laughter alongside us when we crack up. They hold the space well during the time that they have an audience member up, and they’re not afraid to ask the people in the back to be quiet! We’re in Darling’s Den, guys, and you will behave.
Jaw-dropping and hilarious Jak Darling delivers an impressive showcase of their comedic devices. I find it odd that Comedy Fest puts classic mic-and-stool standups over at BATS (in a theatre) and yet the more theatrical shows like this one in venues like Cavern Club… unless I am totally wrong and ComFest has nothing to do with this decision! Pardon me! It appears Darling can excel in any environment and audiences will continue to pack-in! I’ll see you all at the next one!
Unfortunately the Comedy Fest has wrapped up it’s run but you can find more info on the show that was here.