ONGALS
The Press Big Top - Busker Park, Christchurch
14/01/2016 - 23/01/2016
WORLD BUSKERS FESTIVAL 2016 | SCIRT
Production Details
The surprise hit of 2014 Australian Circuit, multi award-winning comedy, clowning and beatbox ensemble ONGALS come to New Zealand for the first time with an hour of their gob-smacking, hilarious moves.
With breathtaking magic, effortless circus and exceptional beatboxing skills that will have you laughing your hat off – even though you don’t know why. A high-energy physical comedy spectacular, guaranteed to tickle the funny bone of every age, this wave of K-Comedy is truly side-splitting fun for all generations and a show you won’t want to miss.
This is the first time K-Comedy has ever appeared in New Zealand and it really is about to “blow-up” so get your seats now for this show that has already taken the rest of the world by storm.
The Press Big Top, Busker Park
14th to the 23rd January, 6pm
http://www.worldbuskersfestival.com/
Theatre , Comedy , Clown ,
Gloriously playful and risky
Review by Lindsay Clark 15th Jan 2016
Everything is generous about this opening act for the 2016 World Buskers Festival: seating is well spaced and ample, the thrust stage is visible for all, the audience arrives smiling and the inimitable quartet of babbling, rollicking and infinitely skilful Korean clowns is simply beguiling.
They make a colourful statement in their polka-dotted get-up, with distinct characters developing along the way, as a series of wacky but oh so finely-tuned acts evolves.
Cho Su Won in sunny yellow spots is first on and warms up our applause with professional ease, mimicking the recalcitrant or inattentive and establishing that crucial engagement which will ensure a head start for laughter.
The pair of clowns that joins him cranks it up several notches. From the trunk on stage, boldly announcing TOYS, various props are drawn to fuel their inventiveness. A unique inflation system is especially well explored as the trio rock on in high gibberish, with quibbles between pale blue spots (Cho Jun Woo) and scarlet spots (Chae Kyung Sun). There are extraordinary balloons, juggling feats and whip cracking all accomplished with glee and polished physical skill.
Childish competitiveness is the frame for the initial build, as act after act intensifies the risk and virtuosity of what we are given. It is a stroke of theatrical insight to pull from the audience at this stage, Ki Seop, natty in royal blue spots, to complete the ensemble. He brings beatbox capers and the irresistible humour of sound to the party.
All up, Ongals engage us in a gloriously playful world, where laughter and fascination abound. There is no shortage of risk either, with challenges from whip craft and knife acts for example, suspending the breath of an anxious audience.
The engagement and the generous spirit which shapes it into performance continues after the Big Top has emptied. There, on the flattened turf outside the door, four artists who should be having a drink and a lie down are happily posing with their new fans for photographs which will prompt more smiles whenever the antics of Ongals are recalled.
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