James Roque LEGAL ALIEN
Fringe Bar, 26-32 Allen St, Te Aro, Wellington
01/05/2018 - 05/05/2018
NZ International Comedy Festival 2018
Production Details
Humanising immigration one belly laugh at a time
Fresh from a sold out season at last year’s NZ International Comedy Festival, accomplished KiwiAsian comedian James Roque brings a new show to Auckland and Wellington.
In 2017, James Roque (roh-keh) realised he’d been pronouncing his own Filipino last name incorrectly for 17 years. So he adjusted it back, and since then has been on a journey of reclaiming his identity as an immigrant. Kind of like Eat. Pray. Love. But with less Julia Roberts and more of a culturally confused Filipino comedian.
Legal Alien tells the story of a first generation Filipino migrant who grew up (and is still growing up) in New Zealand. An immigrant who, after 18 years, feels accepted 90% of the time and the other 10% still feels like an outsider who’s being allowed to stay – a legal alien. Packed with anecdotes about trying to fit in, his relationship with his parents, and societal pressures, the show sees James unpack how all these things have shaped him to be the man he is today.
A regular on the New Zealand comedy scene, James is featured on all of of New Zealand’s most popular comedy TV shows. He is a writer and cast member on Three’s Jono and Ben as well as the sketch shows Funny Girls and Only in Aotearoa. He is also a panellist for 7 Days and has had standout sets on the TV comedy specials AotearoHa and After Hours.
“Immigration is a huge hot topic issue right now.” James says “Whenever people talk about immigrants it’s always as a statistic or just a number. People forget that immigrants just want to live a comfortable life like me and you. I want to put a face to the word ‘immigrant’ in a fun way.”
Legal Alien opens on May 1st in Wellington at Fringe Bar and runs for 5 nights, then in Auckland on May 8 at Q Theatre for 5 nights. Bookings recommended.
“More than just your typical stand-up show” – Megan Harvey, New Zealand Herald
Roque’s performance is impeccable” – Sam Brooks, The Spinoff
James Roque LEGAL ALIEN
Wellington Dates:
May 1 – 5, 7pm
Fringe Bar, 26-32 Allen Street, Te Aro, Wellington
Tickets: $18-$22
Bookings: comedyfestival.co.nz or iticket.co.nz
Auckland Dates:
May 8 – 12, 7pm
Vault at Q Theatre, 305 Queen Street, Auckland
Tickets: $18-$22
Bookings: comedyfestival.co.nz or qtheatre.co.nz
Theatre , Solo , Comedy ,
1 hr
Fresh, charming and engaging
Review by Margaret Austin 02nd May 2018
In the promotional note to his show Legal Alien, opening at the Fringe Bar, James Roque says he realises he’s been pronouncing his Filipino surname wrongly all his life.
Thinking he might have been making a pun about being a rogue, I find I couldn’t be more mistaken. Roque (please pronounce it roh-keh) is a fresh, charming and engaging commentator on life as an immigrant to New Zealand.
His family arrives in Glenfield, Auckland, and thus begin Roque’s experiences of expectation versus reality. A widely known Anchor Milk ad portrays Filipinos. Schoolboy stereotyping has Asians being good at maths – something Roque turns on its head.
Our performer’s decision to go to drama school is accepted, albeit with a degree of disconcertedness, by his three-job mum and door handle-maker dad. How can they show off such a son to family and neighbours?
We hear about circumcision practices, how Filipinos pronounce ‘refrigerator’, Roque’s ponderings on why he dates white girls, and how Tinder allows you to be secretly racist.
We get the impression that Roque has got off lightly as an immigrant. That’s not a criticism either of him or his performance. His ease with himself and his audience, coupled with an enjoyment of what he narrates, make for an entertaining hour.
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