Wilson Dixon Rides Again
05/05/2007 - 12/05/2007
NZ International Comedy Festival 2007-09, 2013
Production Details
WILSON DIXON first rode in to town at last year’s Comedy Festival before performing a SOLD OUT 2 week season at The CLASSIC STUDIO.
In 2007 WILSON RIDES AGAIN with a brand new show for just 7 shows, again at The CLASSIC STUDIO. It’s a hot ticket so book early.
Hailing from Cripple Creek, Colorado, high up in the Rocky Mountains – a region not noted for its country music – Wilson Dixon is an enigmatic irregular on the American Country and Western circuit. With a laconic style and a glacially laid back delivery, Wilson sings simple, beautiful, and hilarious songs about his life, his loves, the land and his oddball family.
Possessing a unique view of the world, born from isolation and home schooling, and an unconventional wisdom, Wilson imparts gentle advice and makes insightful observations about our busy modern lives, all the while plucking his old guitar with thoughtful fingers. Wilson appears on stage in a manner exactly how he is – a rangy cowboy with dust on his shirt, dirt on his boots, songs in his head and love in his heart. Time with Wilson Dixon is time well spent…and also unlike any other time you have spent before.
“A cult is born!” From the ingenious mind of Jesse Griffin of The 4 Noels comes WILSON DIXON – favourite son of Cripple Creek, Colorado who proves that country music and redneck banter can be music to the ears. “Brilliantly oddball” said chortle.co.uk and fast becoming a favourite at Comedy & Fringe festivals from Edinburgh to Adelaide.
Dates: Sat 5 & Mon 7 – Sat 12 May, 8.15pm
Venue: The Classic Studio, Level 1, 321 Queen St, Auckland City
Tickets: Adults $20 Conc. $16 Groups 10+ $16
Bookings: Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (0800 842 5385)
Show Duration: 1 hour
Jesse Griffin as Wilson Dixon
Theatre , Comedy , Music ,
The master of oddball humour
Review by Kate Ward-Smythe 07th May 2007
Wilson Dixon (AKA Jesse Griffin of the acclaimed comedy group, ‘The 4 Noels’) is a singing cowboy character from Cripple Creek, who is a little odd, a little offbeat, and very entertaining.
The Classic Studio is the perfect venue for this show, as it allows the audience to get up close and personal with Wilson as he performs on the epic 1.2m triangular stagette.
Griffin is a superb and gifted actor. He dealt with a few technical issues at the top of the show so seamlessly and so totally in character, I was left wondering if it was all part of the act.
The evening washes over the audience with a mix of song and strum – lord knows how Griffin manages to keep up that background finger work on the frets without getting RSI, but it’s atmospheric and soothing presence is the perfect accompaniment for his banter between songs.
In between talking about the weather, life and his family, Wilson eases in some nice satire, as he compares the American and kiwi cultures using Afghans and biscuits, then Hamilton and the mid-west.
From his strong opening number (‘Life is Like’) through to his closing Song Cycle, which includes the well-crafted ‘Man With No Name’, his songs are tuneful and well performed. But Griffin’s true genius is in the lyrics, as exemplified in his final song, ‘American Dream’, as well as lighter numbers such as ‘The Boss’.
Personally, sometimes I thought Griffin was so low key; he was in danger of losing his audience’s full attention for the whole hour. However, our group, which included 4 teenage men, aged 13, 14, 16 and 16, offers these perspectives:
– "Loved it all"
– "First time I’ve ever seen comedy like that – It was so good"
– "I loved his use of the guitar and his chord progressions – really good picking. That stuff is hard and he made it look deceptively easy"
– "I liked his observational humour. He was ultra literal plus his lyrics were off beat. Like he’d rhythm but then throw in something weird."
As I said in my Gala review: Jesse Griffin is the master of oddball humour, so if you are looking for something different this festival, mosey on up the Classic Studio stairs to see Wilson Dixon Rides Again.
Copyright © in the review belongs to the reviewer
Comments