Old Mout Cider Comedy Gala 2015
The Old Mout Cider Comedy Gala 2015 showcased 21 comedians performing at this years New Zealand International Comedy Festival.
The Civic Theatre is suitably grand for this comedy marathon. Host Ed Byrne did a great job during the three hours, both with his on stage material about proposals, camping and pregnancy (no necessarily in that order) and his off stage announcements.
There were performances from local favourites like last year’s Billy T Award Winner Guy Montgomery, whose more surreal routine and wonderfully understated delivery, were a hit with the audience. Guy Williams used tech and an audience member to life hack the Gala. Dai Henwood campaigned for a certain hair accessory to make a come back. Steve Wrigley, who now resides in New York, brought the house down with his despair at the abundance of Feijoas, and Urzila Carlson discussed the hipsters ‘mankle’.
Jarred Fell impressed the crowd with his magical act which saw him steal more than just laughs, but also from a hapless audience member.
Festival favourtie Wilson Dixon returned to poke fun at our ponytail tugging PM and sing us a love song.
UK comedians were back in full foce with Carl Donnelly talking about the complications of transporting bodily fluids by motorbike, and Andrew Watts give men some much need dating advice. Tom Binns returns for another year, but his time he’s resurrected hospital DJ Ivan Brackenbury to help sooth the sick.
Canadian DeAnne Smith joked on gender assumptions and lesbian flirting, and Craig Campbell wonderfully highlighted the difficulties in language faced by a Canadian living in the UK.
Des Bishop was one of my highlights. The New York/Irish comedian spoke about the stigma of certain male grooming products, and cleverly intertwines his material for punchlines that truly creep up on you.
My standout, and one to watch for this year, was Malaysian comic Ronny Chieng who stormed the stage with energy and a fresh take on the ‘have I left the iron on’ question. A fun and original comedian who made the most mundane topic of phone operating systems hilarious. I can’t wait to see more from him.
You can watch the Old Mout Comedy Gala on TV3 at 8.30pm Sun 26 April.
Reviewed by Ingrid Grenar