Milton Jones: Comedy Festival Review

I've seen Milton Jones three times now in the past 4 days - twice as part of other shows and now as a solo act.

Despite some of the material being replayed (as it obviously would) I've not suffered a lessening reaction - in fact, it's been the complete opposite - even more mirth at his surreal one liners and overtly corny puns.

The show begins with Milton Jones' grandad being welcomed to the stage and he dodders out and begins to perform an act; it's madness in a flat cap and overcoat.

And it's bloody funny to be frank. It's also unfair of me to reveal some of the gags and non sequiturs he comes out with (the majority of which I'm smirking at as I write this.)

Suffice it to say that time with Milton is like walking through a maze with ever shifting dimensions; just when you think you're about to turn left and get to the point, the white rabbit rushes into the maze, pulls the rug from under you and then jumps on your head. If you think that analogy came from nowhere, then you've got some idea of what Milton's MO is.

After his grandpa's done the set twice (trust me, you'll never look at the phrase "I'm going to start again" in the same way), Milton himself is brought on and the mirth and laughter doesn't let up as he delivers hit after surreal hit in a flowing stream of surreal stupendousness.

You don't quite know where Milton's going when he starts to speak - you think you have an inkling of where he's headed and then he wrong foots you or delivers such a terribly corny line, you can't help but give in and just revel in the zaniness of a perfectly timed punchline. For example, one line is that you should never buy pizza from sports shops. While you're scratching your head, Milton reels you in by pulling a dartboard out. In Milton's wacky world of weird, it all makes sense. And after a little exposure to him, it makes sense to you as well.

Even though the audience is occasionally non-plussed, there's some good natured banter back and forth - as well as a little audience involvement, there's also Milton's pictures on a technologically advanced OHP. It was at this point that I really lost any last minor resistance to his gags - and lines like "My favourite memory of Houdini...pause...no, it's gone" just proved hit after hit. Quite simply, resistance is futile.

So, I'll admit I relented and gave you a couple of his gags, but given the amount that he uses throughout his set, you're not spoiled....trust me, there's plenty more where that came from in this pure quality set. And it's sheer genius.


With his puzzled face, wavy hair and calm exterior, Milton Jones is a comedy festival must see - it's a polished and unusual set which locks horns with the absurd and tosses it your way. Don't miss Milton - he's one of the UK's premiere entertainers, an archduke of the absurd and a prince of the peculiar. He's also  perfectly timed punchline perfection which will have you chortling as you wander off into the night.

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.

Fanfiction Comedy: Comedy Festival Review

FanFiction Comedy

It was the cult sleeper hit of last year's NZ International comedy Festival and now it's back - having had a successful run in Aussie just prior to coming home to these shores.

Fanfiction, in case you're not aware of the general phenomenon, is where fans of shows take it upon themselves to pen works of fiction involving their fave TV or film characters. It's a field full of love, warmth and affection - much like the NZ stage version hosted with genial warmth by Rose Matafeo.

Fanfiction Comedy's already a success - what with it being a podcast and so forth, so it's no surprise that opening night of the show at the comedy festival this year was packed out.

Essentially, U Live host Rose Matafeo takes to the stage to introduce a group of about six writers (and fellow comedy festival performers) who recite their latest piece of Fanfiction prose, before it's thrown over to a panel for a bit of a discussion of whether it was liked or not. If you're lucky they'll even recruit one of the international comics to be part of it.

Opening night saw the likes of Tom Furniss, Nic Sampson, Heidi O'Loughlin, Edith Poor, Joseph Moore, Stephen Boyce and guest FanFictioneer Greg Benhrendt take to the stage to share a little part of themselves with us.

Fanfiction comedy has the convivial feel of a meeting of addicts who, would in the past have been confined to the forums of the internet for their discussions - but it's not creepy, weird or at all mocking.



In fact, it's the complete opposite - it's a warmly engaging, mutually appreciative and extremely amusingly creative night out.  There's just something about an obsessive love crossed with creativity which breeds for a thoroughly genial atmosphere, replete with laughs, knowing references and an appreciation of the zeitgeist as well as what's been shared on Facebook and tumblrs.

Rose manages to move the discussion along amiably thanks to a great rapport with the judging panel of two (Steven Boyce and Joseph Harper) - but I still reckon an element of audience participation may add more to the experience; whether it's voting on the best or a bit of feedback/ ideas being proffered, there's certainly the feeling that this pop culture loving forum will have its contributors within the audience as well.

All in all, FanFiction won't be the same show each week - with writers penning new material every week, it's a uniquely geeky experience every time - and one that you should put aside any inhibitions toward, embrace the inner nerd and revel in the show.


Rose Matafeo is also doing a solo show at the NZ Comedy Festival called Scout's Honour - and she's been nominated for the Billy T Award too. You'll also find the other acts in the FanFiction team on during the festival in their own shows too.

The Comedy Gala 2012: Comedy Festival review

Perhaps one of the most solidly funny and consistently entertaining galas of the festivals, this collection of 20 plus comedians was a great start to the New Zealand International Comedy Festival.

Perfectly hosted by Greg Behrendt, who professed his love for Pineapple Lumps, the show moved along with a stonkingly good pace in front of a circus big top set.

It's hard to pick out anyone who was stand out because to be honest, pretty much everyone was on the money on opening night. From locals like Dai Henwood to The Boy With Tape on his Face, to the likes of Idiot of Ants and a brilliantly deadpan Milton Jones, the crowd was in sidesplitting mood from the get go.

Judging by the proliferation of local talent on the list, we've got some stonkers out this year - Urzila Carlson is clearly destined for stunning greatness based on the few minutes she gave; likewise a superb Jarred Fell, rocking a rude as magician demonstrated why he's the kind of act some will want to punch in the face cos of his cheekiness; and Steve Wrigley hit home with the truth about sick days and how they should be saved for when it's a nice day. Equally The Boy With Tape on His Face demonstrated why he's a surefire crowd pleaser with his ever charming audience participation antics.

But the international acts weren't exactly shrinking violets either - from Jason Byrne's brilliantly manic and chaotic attempt at magic, to the Idiot of Ants sketch involving two fathers to be being subjected to "Dad conditioning"; from Steve Hughes deftly smart anaemic looking Lemmy dishing out lines about being a death metal cook, Wilson Dixon's dry laconic riffing to Milton Jones' hilariously funny surreal deadpan one liners, this is clearly a vintage year for the festival.

If any acts have been left off here (and by the sheer science of maths and space, they will have to have been), it's nothing against them because I promise you every single one of them was great - so make sure, over the next three weeks, you get in amongst it - because you'll laugh so hard, you'll have to book plastic surgery to fix your face at the end of May.

The Axis of Awesome: Comedy Festival Review

The Axis of Awesome are a three piece Aussie comedy rock band, who apparently have been together for 40 years. Although as the show goes on, it turns out they've been together for some 150 years.

Yep, it's that kind of night in Auckland's Comedy Chamber.

The trio consists of gangly tall guitarist Lee Naimo, lead singer Jack Blackesque Jordan Raskopoulos and keyboard player and short guy Benny Davis.

Comedy songs are a tough nut to crack to be honest; they're either side splittingly funny or a bit lame. Thankfully, with a bit of clever wordplay and general good humour, Axis of Awesome manage to be more amusing than irritating.

But thanks to a rather average sound mix at the start, most of their lyrics in the opening number were lost in a mix of guitar and keyboard and I was a little worried the cavernous Chamber may have been their downfall - however, with some banter and discussion between the trio (as well as a running gag mocking Benny's height) they soon managed to win over the somewhat reluctant crowd as they dished out their Songwriting 101 style humour.

Parodying a myriad of styles, the three of them demonstrated that they actually know what they're talking about - from love songs to boyband tracks, from the most irritating dance music song to their trademark Four Chord medley (which took in just shy of 50 songs), they're clearly in the know as they frame their lyrical epithets.

Of the night, I'd say the second half of the hour was more fun than the first - whether it's the fact they'd found their groove or the sound mix had sorted itself out, I'm not sure but with a dance track called Can You Hear The F**king Music Coming Out Of My Car they had all of us wrapped in their musical warmth and merriment. It could also have been a little something to do with the relative reluctance of the crowd to get into it - seated and reticent, while the Axis gave it their all, there wasn't as much laugh out loud love back from the sitting masses.

There were plenty of laugh out loud moments for the Axis and with some musical smarts as well, there was food for thought for the head - I just can't help but feel that with a slightly more enthusiastic crowd, The Axis could have been truly more Awesomer.