Comedy Gala – NZ International Comedy Festival

REVIEWED BY INGRID GRENAR & IAN WRIGHT

We have lift off. The 21st NZ International Comedy Festival officially launched last night with 21 comedians at the annual Comedy Gala.

Auckland’s Civic Theatre was packed out and ready to laugh its self silly. The master of ceremonies Jeremy Corbett kept the pace of the night going throughout. His routines covered marriage and parenthood while also giving us all a great insight into the mechanics of a drunk body.

This is a marathon of a comedy show with each comedian getting only four minutes to strut their stuff.

This is our chance to see what’s on offer. A comedy ‘speed date’ as Jeremy called it. But unlike speed dating there was more than just one funny guy.

Homegrown favourites like Dai Henwood, Guy Williams, Urzila Carlson, Jeremy Elwood, Ewen Gilmour and Ben Hurley were suitably supported by the audience.  These Kiwi comics know their audience and the audience loves them! Boy With Tape On His Face won the crowds affections yet again following his huge success on London’s West End.

Highlights from the internationals included; Jarred Christmas, Stephen K Amos, Steve Hughes, Idiots of Ants and Chris Martin. It was a pleasure to finally see Tom Green on stage who performed four minutes of genius comedy. The brilliant Arj Barker stole the show at the end of the first half. Who said toilet humour was dead!

Some new faces for us were the wonderful James Acaster from the UK and Kiwi James Nokise who really left us wanting more. Heath Franklin’s Chopper probably did the best exit of a comedy set that I’ve ever seen!

All the performers were excellent and you can see for yourself at 8.35pm on TV3 Sunday 28 April.

NZ International comedy Festival runs until 19 May.

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