The 5 STAR COMEDY PREVIEW 2010

22/04/2010 - 22/04/2010

NZ International Comedy Festival 2010

Production Details

A taste of things to come

Once upon a time you could count the international comedians in the annual 5 Star Comedy Preview on one hand. It was tidy. It added up.

But due to the increasing popularity and expansion of the annual NZ International Comedy Festival the show’s producers are now recommending the use of two hands.

Already 7 world class acts have been confirmed for the 2hr preview show at SKYCITY Theatre on April 22 and there is a chance that 1 or 2 more may be added.

And audiences can look forward to fresh flavours with all but one of the acts been new to the 5 Star Preview which provides a taste of things to come in the 3 weeks festival ahead.

The 2010 show includes appearances by Brit’s Terry Alderton, the man with the record for the most encores at the London Comedy Store and 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Comedy Award nominee, Tom Wrigglesworth. They will be joined by occult comedian Andrew O’Neill, the slightly posh Miles Jupp and mind boggling mentalist, Chris Cox, who insists he really can’t read your mind.

Irishman, Jarlath Regan who appeared in the TV2 Christmas Comedy Gala returns for the first time at the NZ Comedy Festival.

And Carey Marx, who proved to be a hot ticket in 2009 winning the award for Best International Show in the NZ Comedy Festival, returns due to public demand to reprise his countdown of the ten most taboo words and subjects on the comedy stage.

The 5 STAR COMEDY PREVIEW will be hosted by Wil Anderson from Australia.

After eight sell out years (2002 to 2009), the 5 Star Comedy Preview has proven to be a very hot ticket as well as real crowd pleaser and an ideal way to sample some of the laughs that will be the highlight of the 3 week festival in Auckland, Wellington and beyond.

Book early to avoid disappointment.

Dates: Thursday, 22 April at 8pm
Venue: Live at the SKYCITY Theatre

Tickets: Adult $45.00 / Groups 10+ $42.00

Bookings: Ticketek on 0800Ticketek or online @ www.ticketek.co.nz

Show Duration: 2 hours

Review by Joanna Davies 23rd Apr 2010

It seems each year’s International Comedy Festival steps up from the previous year, and 2010 looks set to be no exception.

The 5 Star Comedy Preview kicked things off for the year with a barrage of laughs from a very-happy-to-be-there audience.

With just 5 performers over 2+ hours and the inimitable Wil Anderson keeping things (and the audience) rolling, it’s a much less crammed show than the Crunchie Comedy Gala. There’s more time for stories to unfold and, much to the dismay of some, plenty of opportunities to pick on audience members.

The show was like a biscuit sampler box – we got enough of a taste of each act to know whether their one-man show would be worth spending the cash to see. And with every sampler box, there’s always disappointment.

Last night that came in the form of three comedians. Tom Wrigglesworth, Miles Jupp and Jarlath Regan. They were no-shows. Rude? Not really. They’d been waylaid by the Volcano That Cannot Be Spelled and are due to arrive in Auckland today.

Fortunately Jason Cook stood in for all of them (quite a feat), and anyone who was there for Tom, Miles or Jarlath didn’t feel deprived. If you run into Jason on the street, be sure to ask about the Scotsman with the fear of bats. Or just check out his show.

Chris Cox was next. He wowed us with his lack of mind-reading skills and terrified the audience by randomly selecting people to participate – with the help of a ferret. For once, you were safe if you were in the first three rows.

Then Terry Alderton took to the stage. Initially the crowd was stunned by his manic stream-of-consciousness, almost schizophrenic performance, combined with phenomenal voice talent and vocal sound. When he was done, people were ready to give him a standing ovation.

After intermission we were treated to Andrew O’Neill’s gift for words. He explained why there are no Goths in Australia, and what his personal challenges are for the year, then wooed us with a love poem.

Carey Marx was the last act of the night. He bemoaned the ridiculous effect that too many safety warnings has on natural selection and introduced us to his personal religious beliefs. It sounds heavy – it wasn’t.

Through it all Wil Anderson kept the audience clutching their sides with his theory on the one thing that all humankind has in common, the lengths he’d go to to get out of marriage, parenthood and the armed forces, and his conversation with Customs at Auckland airport.

Judging by the 5 Star Preview, the 2010 International Laugh Festival could be the best 3-week ab workout you’ll get. Check it out – and make sure you start with an empty bladder.
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The 5 STAR COMEDY PREVIEW 2010

Make sure you start with an empty bladder

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