If you’re the kind of person who finds history a bit dry, think again.  

It’s a Tuesday night and I find myself at the Fringe Bar joining a small crowd of comedy lovers for the JoJo Bellini show, A Nifty History of Evil. The set up on stage is minimal, with a chair, a ukulele and a mic stand. There is a black and red colour scheme – appropriate colours for a show about evil.

JoJo is welcomed onto stage with a rock song, which starts the show off with a good energy. Her outfit matches the set – she’s wearing all black with red makeup. There are a couple of great jokes straight away which immediately have me on side.

The show itself is an interesting break from the usual format of stand-up comedy. While there are many jokes throughout, the show is really about storytelling. Even the parts of the show that aren’t funny are engrossing. There are plenty of facts and anecdotes regarding the history of evil, none of which I have heard before, and everything seems well researched. Some jokes and elements of the story touch on dark or sensitive topics, which is something to keep in mind if you’re not a fan of challenging humour.

I enjoy the touch of audience participation towards the end – though if you’re a shy audience member like me you have nothing to worry about, as you won’t be called on to answer questions or come up on stage.   

There are times where the show does not seem as well rehearsed as it could be, with JoJo having to refer to notes or lyrics during the performance. However, this is perhaps unsurprising given the fact that much of the script was rewritten shortly before the show due to certain global events. I can only imagine that the show will become more polished as the week goes on.

The music may also need some work; JoJo seems to struggle with some of the ukulele chords which disrupts the flow of the songs. However, the original lyrics are great – both fun and informative. The ukulele issues do little to slow down the show’s overall energy and the struggle is presented with a good sense of humour. 

The most admirable thing about JoJo as a performer is her confidence. Despite a couple of difficulties throughout the show, she keeps the ball rolling and always has a smile on her face. I enjoy her enthusiastic delivery and passion for storytelling.

This is a show that has you laughing and learning. I think anyone who likes storytelling, comedy and is even a little curious about evil should check this out. And don’t forget to keep an eye out for JoJo Bellini in the Wellington performance scene. 

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