Heidi O’Loughlin in Life Without Michael: One Year On (NZ)

Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland

02/05/2010 - 15/05/2010

NZ International Comedy Festival 2010

Production Details


PARTY FOR THE KING OF POP AT THE NZ INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL  
Heidi is a twenty-something still living at home who has dedicated the better part of her life to being a devoted Michael Jackson fan. Still devastated by the death of her hero, almost one year on she is hosting a party or extended wake – and you’re all invited!
Prepare to laugh, cry, and feel a little sick as one of the hottest young comedy talents, Heidi O’Loughlin, cranks up the cassette player and butters the fairy bread for what is sure to be the wildest party of the century!
Heidi performed her first comedy set at the age of fifteen as part of the Class Comedians programme in the 2004 NZ International Comedy Festival, and performs regularly at The Classic Comedy and Bar. In 2008 she won ‘Spirit of the Festival’ at the NZ International Comedy Festival Awards and the ‘Green Room Award’ at the NZ Comedy Guild Awards. She is a student at the University of Auckland and was a founder and executive of the university’s comedy society, and co-editor of the comedy section in Craccum magazine.
Heidi is also the slightly shorter half of the hit comedy duo ‘Heidi and Rose’ who stormed the festival last year with their debut show A Guide to the Uncool (nominated ‘Best Newcomer’ 2009 NZ International Comedy Festival and ‘Best Show Concept’ 2009 NZ Comedy Guild Awards). Rose Matafeo, Heidi’s vertically superior friend, is remaining close-by and will be directing Life Without Michael for what will surely be an afternoon of hilarity!
“Heidi and Rose were on fire. There’s a reason why these two wunderkinds have been the talk of the town during the festival… Entirely unpretentious, delivered with hot shazam by two chicks with moxy.” –Coup de Main Magazine
“quirky, twee and superbly hilarious” – Lumière Reader
So if there’s a place in your heart and you know that it is love, then the answer is pretty Black or White: This is the event for you. 3 shows only! …Will You Be There?

Dates: Sat 1, Sat 8 – Sat 15 May, 5pm
Venue: The Basement, Lower Greys Ave, City
Tickets: Adults $14.00 / Conc $10.00 & Groups 10+ $10.00
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK (842 5385) www.ticketek.co.nz , or at the door
Show duration: 1 hour

1hr - Saturdays only

Subtle and often ironic sense of humour and timing

Review by Rachael McKinnon 02nd May 2010

Life Without Michael: One Year On is full of surprises so be prepared for a show which turns its back on convention.

This is Heidi’s first solo show in the New Zealand International Comedy Festival following on from last year’s hit Heidi and Rose’s Guide to the Uncool with fellow débutante Rose Matafeo and it is not belied by its marketing. Heidi calls it a “super awesome party /extended wake” for the dearly departed Michael Jackson and not one word of that is a lie.

If you’re a fan of nostalgia and a good harmony then this might just be the ideal way for you to spend your late-afternoon for one of the next two Saturdays.

It will probably help if you’re a fan of the collective works of Michael Jackson because you’ll have at least one, if not a medley, of his chart-toppers swirling in your head when you leave. It almost makes the rain bearable.

Although it is a super-awesome party, it’s probably one exclusive to the adults as it can contain some fairly rawly expressed emotions as we all remember the King of Pop. But, Heidi’s subtle and often ironic sense of humour and timing makes this a thoroughly entertaining hour from the comedy industry’s pretty young thing.
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