BARNIE DUNCAN in JUAN, TWO?
Fringe Bar, 26-32 Allen St, Te Aro, Wellington
07/05/2014 - 10/05/2014
Basement Theatre Studio, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
14/05/2014 - 17/05/2014
NZ International Comedy Festival 2014
Production Details
SHAKE HIS MARACAS
Nominated for ‘Best Newcomer’ at last year’s Comedy Festival, Venezuelan Calypso DJ Juan Vesuvius (also known as Barnie Duncan) is back with a new foray into Sound and Claps at the 2014 NZ International Comedy Festival. He brings his clothes, his turntables, and his maracas. You bring your ears, mouths, and palms. Together you listen, laugh, clap, dance, and fantasise. What is comedy? Do you like this?
Juan, two? is the sequel to the 2013 festival hit Calypso Nightswhich sees Barnie Duncan doing what he does best –being an idiot and playing music. An anti-comedy, nouveau-clown lesson in music and going on holiday. Juan, two? plays in Wellington 7 –10 May and Auckland 14 –17 May.
Barnie has been making genre-stretching comedy shows via his company Theatre Beating for over 10 years. His show Constantinople won the 2011 STAMP Award at the Auckland Fringe and the 2012 Hackman Award for Most Original Production. He has toured to critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe, the Adelaide Fringe and Melbourne Comedy Festival, has performed experimental comedy in Berlin and Australia, and has started New Zealand’s only regular experimental comedy evening at Auckland’s Golden Dawn called Fast Shoes, Different Pamphlet.
“Barnie Duncan is a master of unpredictability and subverting expectations” –Theatreview, 2013
“Juan Vesuvius managed to pull off one of the most jaw-achingly good musical-comedy shows New Zealand has ever seen” -New Zealand Herald, 2014
As part of the 2014 NZ International Comedy Festival in cahoots with Old Mout Cider, grab some mates and join us for a great night of laughs from 24 April -18 May.
For the full Comedy Fest showline-up head to comedyfestival.co.nz
WELLINGTON
Dates: Wed 7 –Sat 10 May, 10pm
Venue: The Fringe Bar, 26-32 Allen St
Tickets: $16 -$18
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) // ticketek.co.nz
AUCKLAND
Dates: Wed 14 –Sat 17 May, 10pm
Venue: The Basement Studio, Level 1, Lower Greys Ave
Tickets: $16 -$18
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) // ticketek.co.nz
1hr
Genius
Review by Maraea Rakuraku 08th May 2014
The last time I saw Barnie Duncan was when he very convincingly played a Spaniard to hilarious effect in Briar Grace Smith’s Paniora! at the International Arts Festival earlier this year. I haven’t read any promotional material so I don’t know what to expect with Juan. Two? Something Spanishy? Regardless, I know he’ll have the accent sorted.
First off, respect to the audience. All are stellar participants, good natured and enthusiastic. No room for shy wallflowers here and I say that because they assist in what has got to be the best ending of a show ever!! Some even seem to run on stage to participate during the set. Now, that’s keen.
Secondly, Juan Vesuvius – the Venezuelan DJ – is a fantastic creation. Thirdly, Barnie Duncan can DJ!
I enter to Vesuvius on stage, in front of his decks which are covered in flags and wearing a leave-nothing-to-the-imagination ski suit which he strips off revealing a leave-nothing-to-the-imagination calypso outfit. It may be because I am late or he’s referencing his 2013 show Calypso Nights, where he was named Best Newcomer, that I don’t really get what follows, though everyone else seems to. It makes me hang on in there.
Then something happens halfway through where suddenly I do get it and find myself loving it. The DJing is genius, the music selection perfect, the accompanying commentary is both informative and funny, and – well for want of any other adjective – genius.
When he creates a Calypso band it takes every bone in my body not to rush on stage and bitch-slap someone/ anyone out of the way. After that my review notes move into what can only be described as the equivalent of a repetitive, slurring drunk: this is really, really good, fantastic, this is good …!
Duncan’s a consummate professional and stays in character the whole time. Each segue is impressively clean which means it looks effortless. Don’t be mistaken though, some serious thought and work has gone into this. Respect man. Is Juan Vesuvius available for parties?
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