JEROME CHANDRAHASEN - The Third Pint
Kitty O'Sheas, 28 Courtenay Place, Wellington
12/05/2015 - 16/05/2015
NZ International Comedy Festival 2015
Production Details
Some of Jerome’s most important decisions have involved accepting or declining the third pint.
Constantly wrestling between making the right choice or the most interesting.
Fresh from the London comedy circuit and a season at the Edinburgh Fringe, Jerome returns to the capital with an hour of storytelling stand-up.
“Had the audience hanging off every word… uniquely enjoyable” – Lumiere Reader
Tue 12 – Sat 16 May, 7pm
Venues:
Tickets:
Adults $18.00
Conc. $15.00
Groups 6+ $15.00* service fees may apply
Bookings:
0800 BUY TIX (289 849)
Theatre , Stand-up comedy ,
1 hour
Laid back chat always engaging
Review by John Smythe 13th May 2015
Jerome Chandrahasen barely sips past the froth of his pint of Guinness as he amiably delivers his stand-up show, The Third Pint. We few who have gathered upstairs at Kitty O’Shea’s form such a cosy group, he dispenses with the microphone and chats with us ‘au naturel’.
Rather than select a couple of punters to warm-up chat with, it’s introductions all round (although he pointedly avoids asking me what I do). As his set progresses he does an excellent job of referring back to and incorporating the cultural roots and occupations of his guests.
The range of topics Chandrahasen covers is wide and sometimes only tenuously aligned to his central premise: that some of the most important decisions he has made have involved accepting or declining the third pint.
Alongside the effects of alcohol he describes being at the effect of having a four month-old child as he does his domestic bit on the logistics front and attempts to navigate the wider world.
The idea of meeting old school friends for a drink gives us access to memories like being on School Patrol – the decisions we make as 11 year-olds – although it doesn’t quite compute with the impression we get that he lost touch with those mates some years ago.
Such disparate topics as how we greet each other, very small planes, feijoas, the archival properties of his beard and moustache, telemarketing and other charity-related experiences, also get a mention in the 55 minute set. He’s not a set-up and build to a punchline gag merchant. Most of his stories drift to an end somewhere beyond the high point which is fine because they are always engaging.
Chandrahasen’s manner is so laid-back and self-effacing that it takes a moment to register the honour implicit in his being invited, while in the UK, to debate at the Oxford Union. But as the story evolves, and as the third pint is consumed and surpassed the truth emerges.
You will have to see the show to discover how this decidedly odd experience links through to his current status as father of a four year-old-boy.
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