Review: At the Wake by Victor Rodger
At the Wake by Victor Rodger, starring Lisa Harrow Circa Theatre Opening night 6:30pm, 21 March 2018
At the Wake by Victor Rodger, starring Lisa Harrow Circa Theatre Opening night 6:30pm, 21 March 2018
As a first time reviewer I was both excited, and slightly nervous when I left work on Tuesday evening heading for Circa to see Joan, by Tom Scott. I wanted very much to like what I was about to review (does anyone go to the theatre not hoping to enjoy themselves?).
Whenever I write reviews of comedy shows I don’t feel it’s important to mention that someone is a female comedian (if they are); I guess that’s because I don’t feel it’s important to mention that the 75% of comedians I see are male
We are pairing up with Wellington food icons, Wellingnoms, so you can get all the best images from their Instagram account and all the best words from here. Exciting times.
What an utter fucking delight. Such a joyous wonderful, feel-good, bizarre funny show. This is a show I’ve been struggling to think of how to review. Because to reveal too much would be to spoil it.
I was nervous about this show. I’d heard that Tony’s performance in the gala had gone to places that I’d probably not be a fan of and so I approached it with some trepidation. I left with a feeling of delight and joy.
Gordon Southern is a polished, slick comic. His show, Long Story Short, is a rollicking hour of puns, raps, gags, stories, frenetic energy, sound and light and one of the most delightfully likeable comics I’ve seen.
There’s awkward comedy where we cringe because of the awfulness. Think Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm or Ricky Gervais in his entire life
Some friends and I were discussing what we would expect to see from Paco Erhard’s show “5 Step Guide to being German”.
I saw Brendon Green in the 2014 Comedy Festival in Some More Mr Nice Guy, and it was one of the most well written shows I had ever seen. Brendon danced us backwards and forwards, weaving call-backs and flash-forwards with a deftness far exceeding his age as a comic.
The Rev is a band I have wanted to see for, I dunno, 10 years now?
Whew. This is going to be tricky. And possibly a bit of a wanky review. So for that I apologise.
Angela Barnes has, in her promo material, the sentence “The best mainstream female comedian I’ve seen since Sarah Millican” and the word mainstream makes me pause.
James Acaster is going to be a very expensive comic to see next time he comes back to New Zealand. I fully expect him to be at the Opera House charging like $50 to see him. And he’d be worth it. Because this was one of the best comedy festival shows I’ve had the fortune of seeing.
When we settle ourselves in for Rose’s show there’s an organist playing, it’s the soundtrack of just about every funeral you’ve ever been to and is a nice touch to what is an entertaining, funny, yet somewhat frustrating hour of comedy.
Jeremy Elwood is basically Mr New Zealand comedy at this point in his career. He is so polished, so professional that investing in his show is practically a sure thing, and Three Night Stand doesn’t disappoint.
Laura Daniel is probably the most likable comic I’ve seen on stage in some time. It’s a personality characteristic that is often neglected by comics, but for Laura I’m pretty sure it’s natural and just down to a charismatic, charming and funny persona.
“Don’t let his internet celebrity deceive” says part of Neel’s promo material, and I have to confess I didn’t actually know who Neel was before I went and saw his show.