Austin Harrison
WOW, You’ve Changed is a double-bill stand-up comedy show by two of Wellington’s newer but most active comedians, Katy Burrows and Indie Vine. The concept is utterly charming. Two people don’t see each other for 10 years, and become friends. In the intervening decade one survived drug addiction and the other came out and transitioned. The show celebrates their journeys apart as they find themselves back together...making comedy.
It’s a small crowd in the co-working space for opening night and the vibes are very chill. “This is a practice run” quips Burrows in the intro and it very much has that energy. The relaxed nature of the setting and manner of performers I think actually serves the show well. It feels authentic. We aren’t getting a big “showtime” glitzy opening which sets an unrealistic bar. We’re here for a nice little time with two mates sharing stories and laughs about their lives.
Burrows leads the bill and I’m impressed with her performance. I’ve seen her perform in line-ups and even featured in one or two alongside her, and it’s clear that she has worked her material hard for this show. Her jokes are well-crafted, her storytelling is efficient and she’s got some punchlines that have me properly cackling. From musings on her identity as a drug addict, to reflections on hospo work and the odd anecdote on motherhood, her content is varied and interesting. Every part of her set is presented with an authenticity which I find completely engaging.
Vine takes up the mantle for the second half of the show, with a series of stories and quips which fall into a much tighter thematic basket. Largely her content is about the trans experience and adjusting to life after transition. Some of the professional-life differences she reflects on are particularly funny and her observations are regularly as insightful as they are entertaining.
Vine’s content is great, and the punchlines are well thought-through but I do think double-billing alongside Burrows shows that some of her “set ups” could do with some tightening. Where Burrows craft and efficiency are on show, Vine’s jokes at times feel a touch meandering or lost on their way to the killer gag. I hope this is something she’ll keep working at, and that the two can learn from each other as they progress in their comedy journeys.
I do have a couple of notes of constructive feedback which I share in good faith hoping Burrows and Vine will keep growing and contributing to Wellington’s comedy scene. You both have so much to offer, and we’re all the better for you being here.
One is on microphones. This is a small space with a small audience, and I can’t help feeling that the mics were more of a crutch than a tool in this setting. Not-withstanding the fact that one of the mics didn’t work anyway, sometimes more intimate shows benefit from a more intimate approach. Put the mic down, even take a seat and share your stories with us. This is much more challenging than it sounds. A lot of comics find their mic to be their shield, and without one they can feel naked. But the connection you gain by talking to us like we’re in your living room can be so rewarding, and I highly recommend giving it a go - especially when the stories you’re sharing are personal.
A final qualm I find myself having lives outside of the show itself and in a broader context. This is Vine’s second show of the Fringe, and she featured earlier as a part of Transformative Experiences. It’s awesome to see emerging comics going hard and doing multiple shows in the festival, but unfortunately the vast majority of the content delivered across the two shows was identical.
In general line-ups and gigs etc it’s very standard to repeat material, and heck if you’ve got one or two killer gags you want to make the most of them no harm, no foul. But in this instance I fear there will be audience members who saw and enjoyed Transformative Experiences who will come to this show excited to see more of Vine’s stuff and will be disappointed by a repeat performance in a different show. This was certainly my experience, so I include this in my review as fair warning.
Overall, WOW, You’ve Changed is a cohesive double-bill with plenty of laughs and talent on show. Burrows and Vine are both delightful performers with interesting stories to tell. I recommend it, and can’t wait to see what these funny peeps do next.
WOW, You’ve Changed is running until March 8th at Two/Fifty Seven Willis Street as part of the New Zealand Fringe Festival. Tickets are available via the Fringe Website.