Cal Wilson is All Ears, Auckland, 10/5/12

An interesting premise, coupled with some very good reviews (here and here if you want to read real ones) saw us head along to the Basement Theatre tonight to see Cal Wilson perform her first Comedy Festival show in almost 10 years. Despite a small, initially reluctant crowd her bubbly enthusiasm and effortless story-telling provided for a great hour of comedy.

The concept for the show is quite a simple, but also original one; rather than relying on jokes she asks us if we would prefer to hear real stories, before getting members of the audience to share some of theirs for the rest of the crowd. Sprinkled in amongst the audience input, Cal of course has tales of her own to tell but it is her interaction with the group, in an intimate setting where this show comes into its own. Conversing with folk as if they have been friends for years, Cal shows genuine interest and joy in the tales told and, given her unbridled enthusiasm, we all do to.

This isn't the kind of show that will have you doubled over in laughter, gasping for air (depends on the stories I suppose), it is instead something quite different, quite imaginative. It is a risky idea that could go bad in the wrong hands - in Cal Wilson's though, you can't imagine it ever will.

Cal Wilson is All Ears at the Basement Theatre until Saturday May 12th. A friendly 7pm timeslot and some excellent storytelling await.

Jason Byrne, Auckland, 5/5/12

Following his chaotic brilliance at the Gala, it was with great anticipation that I sat and waited for Jason Byrne's show top kick off at the most excellent Rangatira at Q, and I have to say he fell just short of that anticipation in an extended hour of still very good comedy. The biggest surprise, going on the aforementioned Gala performance and other televised bits I have seen, was how much conventional stand up there was. I was expecting bit after bit of audience members being pulled, pushed and generally manipulated into all sorts of things.

Not a bad point on the show, just an observation; I actually thought Jason was at his best chatting with mic in hand, especially when he showed a good level of local 'knowledge'(a well-researched international is always a plus in my book) mocking our rivalry with Australia, their national airline and such. He was equally enjoyable when mocking his own, another trait I like in comedians.

Call me a prude, but there were bits about sex that dragged longer than they needed to, and his percussion on audience members 'nether regions' seemed meaner than it did funny, riotous laughs from those around me, however, showed he hit the mark more than missed (pardon the pun).

Flat patches aside, Jason Byrne as the 'People's Puppeteer' gave me more than just a chuckle, and seeing him unplanned on something of a whim was definitely a good end to a great night at the NZ International Comedy Festival.

Milton Jones, Auckland, 5/5/12

"My sister was told to stop eating wheat. She ignored that advice and was run over by the combine harvester." That is what we at the Classic were faced with last night - line after line of non-sequiter and pun, delivered in the most charming and original way. You'd think an hour of it would be too much; for me it was barely 10 minutes before I descended into the hardest, and longest-lasting laughs I have experienced in my life.

The concept is painfully simple, but in Milton Jones' hands also outrageously funny. From the point you give in to the whimsy, and trust me you will, the laughs keep coming and just when you think you have it all worked out, he ducks in another direction; you do best to just hang on for the hilarious ride.

The show starts with Milton's grandpa (one of many apparently) strolling out to the mike, complete with walker, flat-cap and coat, and from there you are not safe. The jokes are fired so quickly that you do well to keep up, and sometimes you don't - at one point Grandpa starts his routine again and trust me if you are still resisting at this point, good on you because it won't last much longer.

After Grandpa's do-over, Milton joins us and the hour flies by, absurdity and silliness abound. There's a good sprinkling of audience-banter and an OHP (yes, you read that right) to go along with the corny, but it is Milton's pitch-perfect timing where the brilliance lies. Sometimes you know the punchline before it hits, and sometimes you don't, either way it is best to just sit back and enjoy the madness.

I have seen quite a bit of comedy in my time, and while I am a terrible reviewer because I tend to gush about most of what I see, in this case though, it is definitely justified. Do your self a favour and go and see Milton Jones, one of the true masters of the art. He plays the Classic until Saturday the 12th of May.

My Top 5 from the Comedy Gala

I am probably cheating here by reporting on the televised version of the NZ Comedy Gala (see here if you want a real review of the live show) but here are my top 5 from what I saw last night.

Proving that he is much more than just Murray from Flight of the Conchords (as all us NZers are well aware), Rhys Darby did a wonderful job recounting festivals of old, (including his impression of a robot that gets me every time) before a large dose of the excellent physical comedy he has long been known for.

The Boy with Tape on His Face gave us a superbly heartfelt routine complete with audience participation and ballet, some of the most imaginative comedy I have seen. A smoke machine, clown horn, bell and tutu, need I say more.

Heavy-Metaller turned comic Steve Hughes provided me with almost the best laughs of my 2 hours in front of the box, his droll observations on a wide range of topics perfectly timed and delivered.

Ambling, no in fact doddling, out to the mic, Milton Jones did what I love best, delivering pun after pun in the most absurd yet engaging way. I am very much looking forward to seeing him this weekend, not sure how I will survive a whole hour.

The highlight for me though, and who I can award the made-me-cry medal to, is Ireland's Jason Byrne. His mad attempt at magic, involving not 1 but 3 unsuspecting "volunteers” was as painfully funny as it was frenzied. Definitely a must see if you can get to it.

So there you have it, my whirlwind tour of the best of the Gala. In amongst the others not a lot of misses to be honest, get out and see as much of the Festival as you can.