I can tell we’re into the last week of the Comedy Festival: in BATS Heyday Dome I’m sandwiched between two performers whose shows I’ve already reviewed on one side and a fellow reviewer on the other.   

It’s 7.00pm sharp, and “If you met my mum you’d understand” is due to begin. It’s preceded by a cliched opening announcement but what follows is anything but.  

Though the featured performer is late – very late. Bobby Wood apparently has trouble with the time as portrayed by clocks. Arriving in Wellington from somewhere on the west coast of the South Island might explain why. Much of the information that follows is rooted in agricultural matters – to the delight of its recipients.  

We learn about the trickiness of rubber ringing, what you shouldn’t be wearing when lightning strikes, and about the cow that sat on her own calf. There’s dramatic tension in the air – but it’s clearly not shared by the performer who’s created it yet is apparently nonchalantly unaware of it. 

And it’s this aspect of the performance that I find most striking. Supreme relaxedness in a role, gained initially by well-timed commentary and use of pause, combined with increasingly outrageous disclosure provides plenty of entertainment material.

Added to that, humorous touches that might border on vulgarity are instead achieved with admirable subtlety. Not too subtle to pass us by, mind you. We’re on to it. A witty script and a witty presentation is fine with us.

This is an extraordinarily well-crafted show – remarkably original in concept, cleverly scripted and polished. The plot is seductive – I can only say expect the unexpected. Oh, and I hope this review is as good as the one in the Greymouth Star. 

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