Dave Wiggins has the same upbeat vibe as a ‘Kingston’ song.

‘Kingston’, for the uninformed, are a NZ Indie pop band that have a synthesized mix of playful lyrics and nice intentions in their tunes, much like our comedian tonight Dave Wiggins. He’s an ex-pat American, fully settled into NZ life with a NZ born wife and an 8 month old son. 

His comic style is lively with Marmite jokes blended easily alongside politically conscious topics like the Famine in Africa and US President Barrack O’Bama’s inauguration.

Faith is very important to Wiggins, but his set is only briefly visited by his Christian values. A quick rendition of what a ‘Hardcore Christian Death Metal’ song sounds like has the Limelight audience roaring with laughter. If you have never heard Death Metal, let alone Christian Death Metal, it is hilarious; with its menacing growls dedicated to God’s word. 

The 2009 Billy T Award nominee has a sprightly rapport with the audience, his 1 hour set also reflects on the oddities of local News and the quirky NZ stories that get the World’s press attention. It’s a night of good clean humour.

Precedence is given, at the end of the hour, to one of the many good causes Wiggins supports: The 40 Hour Famine charity. He encourages us to donate to the worthy cause by standing at the exit with a coin bag and info slips on how we can donate. It’s a noble man who can think of others while plying the crowd to tell friends and family to come and enjoy his show.

Not only is Dave Wiggins a believer, he’s a really good human being to boot. Go see his show. 
_______________________________
For more production details, click on the title above. Go to Home page to see other Reviews, recent Comments and Forum postings (under Chat Back), and News. 

Copyright © in the review belongs to the reviewer

Dave Wiggins’ stand up show is named for the song famous in Wellington as its anthem. It’s a toe tapping, energetic number with optimism and good cheer oozing from every note. Just like Dave Wiggins!

This guy is infectiously funny – his humour is (relatively) clean while also sharp and observant. When he doesn’t get a big enough laugh the first time, he knows how to come back and tweak the crowd again and again until we relent.

We sat up the front and my husband got quite a rapport going. Wiggins speaks with his audience not at it – the cosy Fringe Bar is a great venue for this style and we had to restrain ourselves from getting into a conversation with him during the show, he is so engaging.

As an American resident in New Zealand for seven years, he still delights in the funny things we do and say here, and it could have palled but, darn it, he just had us pegged. To be fair, he dealt equal justice to conspiracy theories, fatherhood and talking to school kids about the 40 hour famine (not many comedians on the festival circuit have gone there!!)

Eventually his material got around to his belief in Jesus. As the poster for the show is in the window of the Christian bookshop I walk past every morning, I was expecting this and was curious to see how he would handle it. It Was Brilliant. If you want to know why, go see him.

Yup, I believe in Dave Wiggins’ ability to make people laugh themselves silly. I’m a believer too!
_______________________________
For more production details, click on the title above. Go to Home page to see other Reviews, recent Comments and Forum postings (under Chat Back), and News. 

Copyright © in the review belongs to the reviewer