The 5 Star Comedy Preview: Comedy Festival Review

The 5 Star Comedy Preview

It's that time of year again - the time, the reserved audiences get pushed a little further out of their comfort zone than perhaps they'd like.

The New Zealand International Comedy Festival's kicking off properly this weekend with three weeks of chortle, mirth and merriment.

And if the 5 Star Comedy Preview's anything to go by, it should be a great year for international comics hitting these shores.

From a very competent hosting gig by the UK's  Dan Willis (it's never an easy task taking on the hosting - you can get scant time to shine) through to a musical end, this eight act show was a good taster of what's ahead for the next three weeks.

With the scope of talent on show here, it's hard for any of the acts to get more than a few minutes of comedy going with the crowd - but, despite some jetlag, they all gave it their best shot.

UK comedian Chris Martin riffed on his famous namesake before worrying us with his views on lift etiquette and working a dishwasher. He certainly got the crowd with him to start - always a good sign.

Canadian Craig Campbell, who's a cross between Jesus, Billy Connolly and a man-sized lion, had to tackle problems with the stage lights going on and off during his act as well as trying to recount his mugging in Brussels with host Dan Willis. He showed off some physical comedy as well and certainly got the audience onside.

Which may be a bit more of an ask with Aussie Brendon Burns. Treading a fine line between confrontational and offensive to some, Burns may be an interesting ask in the festival. His stage rage over Michael Barrymore certainly left some in fits and others stunned at what they'd seen as they headed into the break - an interesting paradigm for a comedian but certainly proof that edgy comedy is continuing.

The second half saw South African Stuart Taylor riffing on what makes recession entertainment in his own house as well as the obligatory reference to Browns' Bay on Auckland's North Shore. Amiable and amusing, Taylor is one of the turns at this year's variety show, The Big Show.

American comic Bill Dawes and his overly rubbery face got some laughs when it really shouldn't have and by continuing to push a few stereotype buttons and some interesting local references, his live wire act could maybe make some reconsider working out at Les Mills.

Milton Jones was perhaps one of the highlights of the show, dispersing such surreal non sequiturs and puns in the manner of Emo Phillips and looking a little dishevelled as he walked out on stage - but man, he had the crowd eating out of his hand thanks to some perfectly fine tuned comic timing.

Dead Cat Bounce with their Spinal Tap-esque looks (bet they get sick of that reference) and songs about "What sounds do farm animals make?" And a Song written for Westlife "but they didn't want it" are proof the musical satire hasn't yet gone away.

All of the acts are doing their own solo shows too during the run of the festival. So, my advice until the end of May is to head to as many shows as you can - and while there may be some misses among the myriad of acts, make sure you've got your laughing gear on - because the acts deserve that from you at the very least.