CLAYTON CARRICK-LESLIE: BRING IT (NZ)

Fringe Bar, Cnr Cuba & Vivian, Wellington

27/04/2010 - 01/05/2010

Comedy Underground, 305 Queen St, Auckland

11/05/2010 - 15/05/2010

NZ International Comedy Festival 2010

Production Details


UP AND COMER GOES FOR THE BILLY T  
2010 Billy T Award nominee, Clayton Carrick-Leslie, returns to the New Zealand International Comedy Festival in 2010 with his one-hour solo show, Bring It.
Last year, Carrick-Leslie’s debut solo stand-up show My World sold out Auckland’s Classic Studio for the majority of its run. This year, he’s more ambitious – hosting a five-night season at Auckland’s 120-seater Limelight Laugh Lounge, and again at Wellington’s Fringe Bar on Cuba mall.
The year gone by has been a transformative one for Carrick-Leslie, consolidating him very much within the professional scene. Aside from recurrently featuring in pro weekend showcases at the Classic in Auckland, Carrick-Leslie concluded 2009 with appearances on TV3’s hit new comic panel show 7 Days, and TV2’s two-hour stand-up showcase, The Great Christmas Comedy Gala. A nomination for Best Gag in December at the NZ Comedy Guild Awards provided Carrick-Leslie with an industry nod of approval following a highly successful year
Bring It is not a typical stand-up show in that it frequently bursts into the theatrical and musical. This year, impressions and characterisations get more airtime, as do musical divergences including a poem and a rap. The style-shift is for a reason – Carrick-Leslie travelled to Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2008 and was surprised at the influence it had on him, “Edinburgh shattered my preconceptions of stand-up comedy. I thought I had to leave behind all of my teenage interests of acting, singing, dancing, and tinkering on the piano to pursue comedy. The Fringe taught me that I can do anything I want.” Expect to see a performance this year, not just a stand-up show.
And the name? “2010 is my crack at the most sought-after award in NZ comedy” says Carrick-Leslie, “I intend to bring it very hard and very fast, and I don’t want my audience to know what hit them”.
Check out Bring It. This boy is a real contender to bring home the hallowed yellow towel.
Wellington
Dates:  Tues 27 April – Sat 1 May, 8:30pm
Venue: Fringe Bar, Cnr Vivian and Cuba Streets
Tickets:  Adults $18 / Conc. $14 / Groups 10+ $14
Booking:  0800 TICKETEK (842 5385) www.ticketek.co.nz / www.comedy.co.nz
Show Duration: 1 hour
Auckland
Dates:  Tues 11 – Sat 15 May, 7pm
Venue:  Comedy Underground, 1 Wellesley St West, City
Tickets:  Adults $20 / Conc. $15 / Groups 10+ $15
Booking:  0800 TICKETEK (842 5385) www.ticketek.co.nz / www.comedy.co.nz
Show Duration: 1 hour

Generous and multi-talented

Review by Sian Robertson 12th May 2010

Clayton Carrick-Leslie is charmingly self-deprecating as he shares with us the trials and tribulations of primary school, and confides in us about his fear of supermarkets.

He easily has the audience on his side when he talks about wankers at parties and does some very clever impersonations of prime ministers past and present. Even when he has a somewhat unfair go at feminists and South Africans, I can’t help but agree with him.

Carrick-Leslie is quick off the mark, with witty observations about popular TV culture, frequent throw-away comments about his recent break-up that have the audience cackling and sympathising with him, and an extended study of speech impediments of various kinds, including paying fond tribute to his mother’s knack of unfortunate phraseology.

The highlight of the show is his slick impersonations. He also uses sound to great effect (a loop pedal, beatboxing, a saxophone solo) and does an excellent rap about the American Presidency and (my personal favourite) an insightful impression of Michael Jackson.

Carrick-Leslie is energetic without being overbearing. He’s also a generous and multi-talented entertainer who wears his heart on his sleeve and is easy to like. The one hour show went by in a flash.
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Gymnastic mind, chiselled perceptions, energetic physicality, astute characterisations and considerable musical talents

Review by Lyne Pringle 28th Apr 2010

Clayton Carrick-Leslie is mercurial as he slips deftly from topic to topic in a well-delivered set.

From a tirade against Auckland wanker one-upman-ship, to his mother’s speech peculiarities, to cops, to NZ versions of reality TV shows, to the wrinkly brigade coming to terms with email, he rattles along at a cracking pace that keeps us engaged and laughing. 

The pace and delivery are excellent; a small but appreciative crowd relishes the material.

There is a stand-out and very clever rap combining some heroes of US culture that brings the house down; it provides an opportunity to showcase the considerable musical talents of this performer!

I enjoy the surprising and impressive gymnastics of this guy’s mind and his chiselled perceptions of popular culture, his energetic physicality as well as his astute characterisations.

His finish is fantastic: a song in rhyming couplets, a tossed-off yet excellent saxophone solo and awesome use of a loop pedal. He leaves us applauding with gusto his considerable talents.
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