Auckland’s newest comedy troupe, The Electrickokozoids, are nothing short of restorative: impeccable timing, simple props, mu’umu’u (Pacific Island oversized dresses), a broom, toy truck and outrageous wigs, combined with a heady mix of TV theme tunes from the 1980s and Pacific Island rivalry.

The show’s humble premise and more importantly, excess of talent and humour, single-handedly restored my faith in comedy, which is actually funny.

Set at the South Pacific Games, what is immediately striking is the sublime use of timing and talent: key ingredients in any successful comedy. Jordann Tuitama is a delight to watch as the disgruntled and bullied Māori athlete who for his troubles, is accompanied by a silent security guard. Tuitama’s incredible aptitude for accents was impressive as a racist German-Samoan character called Lars Schwanker, whose sole purpose was to denigrate every other athlete except himself.

Skits effortlessly weave in and out of customized R’n’b tunes, providing the audience with a great deal of mirth and cognizance. Danny Aso and Jordann’s duet of R. Kelly’s ‘Same Girl’ is hilarious and strikes a chord with patrons, who are challenged on a variety of stereotypes, sporting and cultural in-jokes and involuntary audience participation throughout the show.

Daniel Broad’s initial appearance as a token Palagi athlete at the games stretches the audience’s sides with his hysterical rendition of Britney Spear’s ‘Turn the Lights Down’. Frank Tofa’s sharp timing as a fa’afafine presenter, and cautiously caustic impersonation of Pacific Island reporter Tupuola Charlton, is a tour de force.

Both Tofa and Aso used their mellifluous voices as off and onstage MCs to continue to drive the show forward. 

Akuino Petelo is brilliant with his unlikely story of being a Samoan gymnast, who whilst competing for the team, decides to leave and pursue a relationship with a minor. The straight-faced tâtâ fiti (acrobatics) of Petelo, consisting of cartwheels, makes for a priceless send-up of contemporary dance moves, which are most definitely not out of the pages of Black Grace.

Music provides a strong backbone, which along with the MCs’ commentary, punctuates the jokes with great accuracy.

Whilst the pacing of the show builds up to a hilarious climax on the strength of the writing and talented performances from every performer, the only peeves would be the occasional use of chorus to fill in the background, which tends to distract the actual and more interesting action, happening downstage.

Definitely an underground hit to watch.

The Electrokokozoids are: Danny Aso, Daniel Broad, Akuino Petelo, Waitemata Seloti, Frank Tofa, Daniel Tuitama, Clay Tuitama and Jordann Tuitama. 

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