JULIA MORRIS (Australia)
05/05/2008 - 10/05/2008
NZ International Comedy Festival 2007-09, 2013
Production Details
THE 1st LADY OF AUSTRALIAN STAND UP SET TO GRACE NZ’S HOME OF LIVE COMEDY
She may have bought a title off the internet but Lady Julia Morris has earned the right to the top rung on the comedy ladder in Australia.
Winner of 9 gold ‘Logie’ Australian television awards for her work on such shows as ‘Full Frontal’ , ‘Melbourne Tonight’ and ‘Beauty & the Beast’, MORRIS has been a force in the Australian entertainment industry for over 10 years.
But not happy to rest on her laurels at home MORRIS has now cracked the highly competitive UK market breaking through with seasons at the Edinburgh Fringe followed by appearances in 37 British TV shows including numerous sketch, panel, and comedy talk shows.
Chortle.co.uk summed it up in their review – "Lady Julia Morris is breathless, glamourous, camp, snobby, self-deprecating, gossipy, fast-paced, surprisingly barbed yet subtle with a stream of energy and material that is a lot stronger than her brash-but-catty style might suggest …with a delivery so relentless that you beg her to inhale, so rich with potential catchphrases you struggle to take them all in. It holds the audience, who can’t afford to lose concentration for a split second for fear of missing something great."
Morris now divides her time between stints in Australia, the United Kingdom and the USA working on stage, television and radio.
Her short, 6 night season at The Classic during the final week of the 2008 NZ International Comedy Festival will be her first in New Zealand
Dates: May 5th – 10th, 7pm
Venue: The CLASSIC, 321 Queen St, Auckland
Tickets: Adults $23, Concessions and Groups of 10+ $19 (service fees may apply)
Bookings: TICEKETEK – 0800 TICKETEK (0800 842 5385)
Show Duration: 1 hour
But not happy to rest on her laurels at home MORRIS has now cracked the highly competitive UK market breaking through with seasons at the Edinburgh Fringe followed by appearances in 37 British TV shows including numerous sketch, panel, and comedy talk shows.
Chortle.co.uk summed it up in their review – "Lady Julia Morris is breathless, glamourous, camp, snobby, self-deprecating, gossipy, fast-paced, surprisingly barbed yet subtle with a stream of energy and material that is a lot stronger than her brash-but-catty style might suggest …with a delivery so relentless that you beg her to inhale, so rich with potential catchphrases you struggle to take them all in. It holds the audience, who can’t afford to lose concentration for a split second for fear of missing something great."
Morris now divides her time between stints in Australia, the United Kingdom and the USA working on stage, television and radio.
Her short, 6 night season at The Classic during the final week of the 2008 NZ International Comedy Festival will be her first in New Zealand
Dates: May 5th – 10th, 7pm
Venue: The CLASSIC, 321 Queen St, Auckland
Tickets: Adults $23, Concessions and Groups of 10+ $19 (service fees may apply)
Bookings: TICEKETEK – 0800 TICKETEK (0800 842 5385)
Show Duration: 1 hour
1hr, no interval
Warm, open and amusing sarcasm and cynicism
Review by Kate Ward-Smythe 05th May 2008
Australian motor-mouth Julia Morris burst on stage looking like she’d just come from a cocktail party. Bubbly and vivacious, she took her capacity opening night audience on a rapid whirlwind global tour of her on-stage and off-stage experiences as a one of the comedy circuit’s most popular female stand up comedians.
The mistress of a shocking or rude throw away comment – which she then retracts as the good Catholic girl within takes hold – then restates as the naughty Morris wit re-emerges, is full of wise-cracks and funny stock phrases for all occasions. While on the one hand, this gives her show an air of predictability, it also allows this chatty raconteur to fully embrace what she knows best, and deliver a great show.
From Singapore, London, Manchester, France, Bangkok, Vegas and Hollywood, she touches on PMS; Forum groups; how PC and conservative Australians have become now they’ve got a liberal government and everyone’s said sorry; how she found out Special K was more than just a cereal; how we can help her quest to revenge the over confident, not so nice shop assistant called John; and oh yes… ping-pong balls.
But she saves the absolute best for last by recalling an unfortunate incident from a shock episode of Australia’s now defunct reality TV show, New Faces.
As with all her tales, you’re never quite sure how much is experience and how much is hyperbole, but who cares when the storytelling is so accessible and amusing. Who would’ve thought a yarn about an armless singer, combustible birds and a cowboy camera assistant could end in a rousing chorus of Stand By Your Man… and be so humorous.
Morris’ delivery is deceptively warm and open as she skilfully weaves sarcasm and cynicism into her many light, amusing stories. Her astuteness is as refreshing as it is entertaining.
Drawing in an older crowd, Morris is the show to catch if you want a guaranteed fun, slick and pleasing night.
Copyright © in the review belongs to the reviewer
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