Words Sarah Kidd
What’s better than a laugh fest featuring three comedians? One that has a feel-good factor too; those in attendance last night informed by Ed Amon that the profits from the sold-out performance would be donated to a charity that helps settle migrants in New Zealand. Following the enthusiastic round of applause that Eds’ statement elicited – and for good reason – it was down to the show at hand.
Featuring the talents of Corin Healy, Heta Dawson and the aforementioned Ed Amon, the trio of stand-up comics threw down the gauntlet, challenging each other to give as good as they get, some friendly ribbing revealing itself immediately. Take one small-town Te Puke boy turned bona fide JAFA and mix him together with a Pakistani Muslim living in sin and a Rewa Hard Māori father who knows the fine print in the treaty and you have the recipe for some quick quips and riotous roasting.
Turning their attentions on the audience the trio coax forth information which they gleefully play with before discussing their distaste of personalities such as Mike Hosking, Simon Bridges and the one and only Brian Tamaki; a man none too popular with anybody in the room and some great fodder for humorous social commentary. Breaking it down and giving the crowd a chance to get to know each one of them a little better – complete with visuals in the form of a projector sized photo from their younger days for shits and giggles – on an individual basis, Corin and Heta disappeared to allow Ed the floor, stories of his strict upbringing and requirement to hide his girlfriend in a cheap motel every time his parents come to visit the source of much amusement amongst the crowd; international barbs arriving in the form of statements about Yemen and Egypt which also reminded you of the wolf often facing others doors.
“There are more Kiwiana gems in here than you can shake a stick.”
IT Manager by day and stand-up comedian by night Corin Healy regaled those in attendance with advice on how to take down keyboard warrior hate groups, and guidance on when the appropriate time is to ‘smash an avocado’, the term taking on a whole new and sometimes dangerous connotation dependant on your current geographical location in the country. Heta the last to appear solo told tales of traditional family games while incorporating some Te Reo; the subject of flags and how many are too many when walking through the streets of Manurewa, one that many in the audience fully understood.
There was material that worked and some that didn’t, the three comics testing the waters and genuinely laughing at their own wins and failures which was quite frankly part of the enjoyment. Here were a group of men melding routine material and friendships into one big ball and having a hell of a lot of fun in the process.
Pegging both stereotypes and political correctness out on the table for some lively poking, there are more Kiwiana gems in here than you can shake a stick
