Monthly Archives: April 2012

How to enjoy the Comedy Festival

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For the next three weeks we get to laugh, giggle and awkwardly snort as the best of New Zealand’s comedy talent and international visitors tell funny stories, sing silly songs and generally remind us all not to take ourselves too seriously.

I’m a huge fan of comedy –  a couple of years ago I made it to 13 shows during the festival! This year the NZ International Comedy Festival turns 20 and I think everyone should celebrate by getting out of the house and seeing what’s on offer.

I know some people are afraid stand up comedians might pick them out of the audience, or don’t want to see anything that might offend them, so here are my comedy tips for nervous beginners:

·         Read the brochure or spend some time on www.comedyfestival.co.nz and see what’s out there. The website even has sections for kids, teens and the brilliantly named You could take your mum to this.

·         See some local comedians. Long gone are the days when NZ comedy was considered cringeworthy and you’d only buy tickets to see an international. I go for a mix of both and some of the shows by local comedians have been my favourites.

·         If you don’t want to be mocked from the stage – don’t be late, don’t get up and down during a show, and don’t heckle. People are there to hear from the comedian, not from you. It’s also wise to not sit right up the front wearing an ugly shirt, talk through the show, etc. Surely all these things (especially the ugly shirt part) are just good manners?

·         Ask friends with similar senses of humour for recommendations.

·         If you’re not enjoying a show – relax! They’re mostly only an hour long. And book for something else immediately! Get back on the bike, etc.

·         If you don’t live in Auckland or Wellington, check out the Comedy Convoy, which is going to heaps of centres around New Zealand.

·         Television is a great way to get a taste of comedians – the biggest night of the comedy calendar is this Friday with the Comedy Gala and then the best bits will be screened on TV3 so you can check out snippets from heaps of the comedians and book tickets for the ones you laughed most at!

Shows I’m already booked in for (you’ll notice a strong musical comedy theme):

·         Steve Wrigley in Kevin: The Musical – my favourite show last year and I’m very excited that it’s back

·         Brendon Green: Everything is meaningless and nothing matters, lol

·         Jason Byrne: People’s Puppeteer

Also on my must see list:

·         Idiots of Ants – these are the guys who did the Facebook in real life video

·         Rose Matafeo: Scouts Honour – the rising star of New Zealand comedy/television presenting

·         Axis of Awesome – watch this crazy awesome video

 

Update:

I’ve been reliably informed that I need to see Bombs Away: A Musical, Jamie Bowen, Greg Behrendt, Andrew O’Neill, Revolver Circus and David O’Doherty too.

Food adventures: Mozzarella class

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I love eating and I LOVE CHEESE. A couple of years a friend did some cheese making courses and I knew that if I was going to be awesome, I too needed to learn to make mozzarella.

On Saturday headed out to beautiful Muriwai to go to a course with The Gourmet Gannet  and a couple of hours later I was heading back to the big city with my first, but hopefully not last, self-made mozzarella balls. I got to wear a cute apron. The class was very straightforward and easy to follow. There is talk of returning for one of the sausage courses.

Some things I learned:

  • Mozzarella isn’t very hard to make
  • Focus is necessary, particularly on temperatures
  • You shouldn’t take your cheese out of the iced water too soon, unless you want to create new shapes
  • Friends are super impressed when you serve them cheese you made yourself

I was extraordinarily proud of what I’d made. This must be what being a parent feels like.

My entertainment picks: I’ve been to Jersey Boys + We Built This City + I’m going to see Sir Ian McKellen

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There are a few things that I’ve been excited about for a while, so it only seems right that I report back now that I’ve been to the shows. (Plus, last weeks radio spot didn’t quite happen due to an American musician running late for an interview, so we’re revisiting a few topics).

JERSEY BOYS – The Story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons

I’ve been looking forward to JERSEY BOYS for almost a year now. I’ve crossed paths with people from the show a few times and been to an early rehearsal and seen a few songs performed – but even taking into account my high levels of buy in and huge love of musicals – I WAS BLOWN AWAY. It really is a stunning show with an incredible cast and those unforgettable songs. Enough hyperbole from me? Watch this video and see what some of the opening night guests had to say.

Tickets are now on sale for all shows until the end of the Auckland JERSEY BOYS season on 17 June. After that, they’re back off to Australia!

We Built This City

We’re building a cardboard city in Aotea Square this week – by we I mean kids aged 3-7 as well as a few ‘helpful’ adults. I went along yesterday – officially to help the photographer – and managed to get involved in building some epic tunnels! The show is from Melbourne, Australia and has travelled all over the world. There are three shows a day where kids build anything they like with the help of a cast of ‘engineers’ and ‘builders’ before they get to demolish the buildings and tunnels. It’s performance art for kids and it’s ridiculously fun. It’s been amazing seeing dozens of photos pop up on Twitter and Facebook since the show started being set up on Tuesday. It all wraps up on Saturday – book yourself in quick!

Sir Ian McKellen

I’ve managed to snap up tickets for Sir Ian McKellen’s one man show in Auckland on 26 May. If you haven’t caught up with the news, Gandalf himself is doing a tour around New Zealand – performing Shakespeare and Tolkien, telling stories and answering questions – all in the name of rebuilding Christchurch’s Isaac Theatre Royal. The word is that tickets are selling super fast, but if you want to see if there are still tickets in your area, read last week’s picks – I’ve posted all the dates and ticket sellers.

Shore to city

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I tried it. I didn’t hate it. But now I’ve left the North Shore (thanks for all those jokes about passports you hilarious jokesters you!) and I’m living at an unspecified location in Auckland’s CBD. The shore treated me well – there’s nothing like the sight of the sea to lift a kiwi’s heart and the drive across the harbour bridge was almost always lovely. Other than the reasonable rental prices and closeness to beaches that I would forget to visit. These are my top five places to eat on the shore:

5. Northcote Food Court (Food City) – I love its “never cook again” slogan. Lovely cheap and delicious food. 
4. Stafford Road Wine Bar – like a great city wine bar but you can wear jeans.
3. Jam – Takapuna’s great little super healthy organic cafe.
2. The Department Store – equally for the coffee I’d pop in for, the chocolate and custard twists, and the frocks I accidentally bought ever now and then.
1. Takapuna Beach Cafe – Great brunches. Very expensive sides. So delicious.

So I’ve been in the city for a week now and have been trying out the local supermarkets, cafes, shops and places to eat. I’ve been live tweeting my startlingly exciting daily coffee adventures on the way to work – I’ve been to a different place for a flat white each morning and so far Grind on High is in the lead. Recommendations are welcome! I’m also thinking about coming up with my own rating system for eating out in the city. I need categories to judge places by – perhaps price, menu fonts, flavour, staff hotness, bathrooms… any other suggestions?

Moving is a great excuse to get new things, like this punch bowl, new sheets, new walking to work outfits. If you know me well, come over for a creme egg.  

Entertainment picks: Jersey Boys, Sir Ian McKellen and the Breakers!

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JERSEY BOYS – The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

Jersey Boys fever has hit Auckland! The preview shows are on this week at The Civic before the grand opening on Saturday. This show is one of the biggest hits around the world at the moment and I’m very excited about seeing it later this week. I’ve been lucky enough to see a little bit of rehearsals and it’s really going to be something special. #JerseyBoysNZ was trending on twitter by the interval of the first show and the feedback has been amazing. Find out more.

Here’s a great clip of Frankie Valli on TVNZ’s Close Up after his show at Vector Arena last week – he talks a lot about the show and there’s some great footage of him meeting the cast backstage.

Sir Ian McKellen on Stage for Christchurch

We all know Sir Ian McKellen is back in the country reprising his role as Gandalf for The Hobbit, but here’s some exciting news for theatre fans. Sir Ian has announced a tour where he’ll answer questions, share anecdotes and perform from his Shakespeare and Tolkien repertoire. If he doesn’t promise to thunder “You shall not pass” then I’m not going.

Why would one of the most acclaimed actors in the world do a tour to the cities and towns of New Zealand? It’s all to fundraise for a rebuild of Christchurch’s Isaac Theatre Royal – the last place he performed on stage at in New Zealand during Waiting for Godot. This is HUGE news. In fact, it’s such a big deal that I’m going to post all the dates!

Saturday 5 May 7.30pm: Kings Theatre, Stratford | Book by phoning 0800 765 670 or 06 765-6708 or by emailing info@stratford.govt.nz

Sunday 6 May 1.00pm: Centrepoint, Palmerston North | Book at Centrepoint  06 354 5740 or  www.centrepoint.co.nz

Saturday 12 May 7.30pm: Clarence St Theatre, Hamilton | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) or www.ticketek.co.nz

Sunday 13 May 2.00pm: Baycourt Theatre, Tauranga | Book at TicketDirect 0800 224 224 or www.ticketdirect.co.nz

Sunday 20 May 2.00pm & 7.30pm: Theatre Royal, Nelson | Book by phoning (03) 548 3840 option 2 or www.theatreroyalnelson.co.nz

Saturday 26 May 8.00pm: Q, Auckland | Book at Q 09 309 9771 or www.qtheatre.co.nz

Sunday 27 May 2.00pm: Q, Auckland | Book at Q 09 309 9771 or www.qtheatre.co.nz

Saturday 2 June 7.30pm: Aurora Centre, Christchurch | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) or www.ticketek.co.nz

Saturday 9 June 7.30pm: Lake Wanaka Centre | Book by phoning 03 443 4172 or www.festivalofcolour.co.nz

Sunday 10 June 2.00pm: Lake Wanaka Centre | Book by phoning 03 443 4172 or www.festivalofcolour.co.nz

Saturday 16 June 2.00pm: Hawkes Bay Opera House, Hastings | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) or www.ticketek.co.nz

Saturday 23 June 7.30pm: Opera House, Wellington | Book at Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) or www.ticketek.co.nz

Sunday 24 June 2.00pm: Events Centre, Carterton | Book at Dash Tickets 06 379 4082 or www.dashtickets.co.nz 

NZ Breakers into the finals series

New Zealand has one team in the Australian National Basketball League and last year they were the first kiwi team to win any Australian tournament. This year they’re on track to do it again and they play the first of the best of three finals games against the Perth Wildcats tonight at Vector Arena. It’ll be live on Sky too, but if you want to be there, check out ticketmaster.co.nz. Go the Breakers!

Shihad: Beautiful Machine

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It’s always risky making a movie about a band that people have a strong connection to. I immediately had questions when I heard there was going to be a movie about Shihad (aka New Zealand’s greatest ever rock band). Would it only be stories about the good times? Would it be honest? What would they say about the Pacifier name-change debacle? Would I still like them at the end?

It opens opened with family, not an angle I was expecting. Jon’s mum’s tattoo reinforces her status as number one supporter. The inclusion of parents, partners and children is clever, making the film deeper and the stories richer. Don’t panic, there’s still plenty of music, but it’s more than just a rock n roll story.

I’m not going to go into detail about how the story unfolds. Of course it takes you from the beginnings of the band until now – with some very revealing moments along the way. Sometimes it’s funny. Sometimes it’s so honest, it’s raw. There’s drama, humour and hilarious hair – they’ve been around for over two decades after all. There’s footage from the early days, touring, Big Day Outs and the famous concert in Aotea Square, plus some hilarious footage from NZ Music Awards in days gone by. 

It’s great to have stories in the band’s own words with them reminiscing together as well as solo interviews. These are three-dimensional people, likeable in spite of their issues with themselves and with each other. A recurring theme is the determination Jon, Tom, Karl and Phil have to keep working on the dream, whatever it takes. Sometimes it has taken everything.

It’s not a perfect documentary, but it’s pretty damn good. If you’re a Shihad fan, you’ve got to see this film. If you’re not, and want to understand why they’re an enduring New Zealand favourite, here’s your chance to catch up on the back-story. I loved this film, and I think I love the band even more after seeing it. I’m glad it’s not a swan-song, produced at the end of their career, because I definitely need to rock out at Shihad gigs a few more times. There’s nothing like it.

Shihad: Beautiful Machine
101 minutes
Rating: M
New Zealand release date: 17 May
My rating, based on nothing but how much I liked it: ****

Read the NZ Herald review.

Turn off the TV these school holidays!

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School holidays are upon us, so here are some options for parents, grandparents or people who need to borrow children from friends to give them an excuse to head along to some of these very cool events!

Angelina Ballerina’s Big Audition

Royal New Zealand Ballet is traveling around New Zealand with this special children’s show. The show has been on tour for several weeks already and next week hits Auckland before heading across the bridge to Takapuna, then Wellington, Blenheim, Ashburton, Invercargill, Dunedin, before wrapping up in Timaru on 4 May. Libraries have come to the party with Angelina Ballerina book readings when the show is in town. Find out more.

School Holiday Movies

The Lorax, which I really enjoyed a few weeks ago, is now on and is my pick for the school holidays! Who doesn’t like singing and dancing after all? Mirror Mirror is also on, but I suspect this ‘re-imagining’ of Sleeping Beauty is aimed a little bit older than primary school. The Pirates, which opens today, looks much more fun. I wouldn’t mind seeing this – it’s made by the Wallace and Grommit people so is bound to make grownups laugh too. Check out all the movies at www.flicks.co.nz.

We Built This City

We’ve got something pretty special coming to Aotea Square (or Aotea Centre if it rains) this school holidays with We Built This City – an international show that has toured the world! Guided by performers who act as construction workers and other hilarious characters, children are placed in the role of architect, creator and performer to construct a magnificent imagined metropolis using nothing more than thousands and thousands of cardboard boxes. They create something amazing and they learn something too!

Find out what’s on!

Many of the attractions around Auckland and the whole country have special programmes for the school holiday at very reasonable prices, and some are free! If you want to create some memories with your kids but don’t know where to find out what’s on, a good place to start is your local council’s website. For example, there’s a great school holiday event section on the Auckland Council website.