Stand Up For Kids 2010
01/05/2010 - 09/05/2010
Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, The Edge, Auckland
24/04/2010 - 09/05/2010
NZ International Comedy Festival 2010
Production Details
THE KIDS ARE REVOLTING!
In 2008, the NZ International Comedy Festival launched a revolutionary programme that made comedy accessible to everyone. The objective was to start a youth uprising that parents needn’t worry about – something good, clean and fun. Thus, the Kids’ Comedy Season was born and has proven to be a hit with the young and the young at heart.
For the past two years, the season has assembled some of the best talents locally and internationally to present a showcase that is both kid-friendly and at the same time a lot of fun – and this year is no exception!
Kids in Auckland and Wellington will see some of the heavyweights of the comedy circuit show that they’re more than capable of adapting their material to a younger audience and more than receptive to a “cleaner” style, as Stand Up For Kids brings together the Festival’s best from New Zealand and abroad to entertain the wee ones. A highlight of the 2009 Festival season, the showcase is family-friendly and enough to have old and young giggling. Theatreview praised the event and assuring older audience members “… they don’t pick on the mums and dads… much.”
A special treat for Auckland’s youth, part time comic and a part time teacher, Mike Boon (NZ) knows how to keep young audiences captivated! Mr. Boons Big Time Last Chance Kids Show teams Boon up with his comedy mates to bring kids the ultimate in weekend afternoon fun. Packed with material as silly as his eyebrows! Mike Boon and company bring stand-up, stories and sketches to kids aged 5 and upward.
THIS IS ONE PLACE WHERE CHILDREN WILL BE SEEN AND HEARD – LAUGHING!
AUCKLAND:
Stand Up For Kids plays Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, THE EDGE
Dates: Sat 24th, Sun 25th April, Sat 1st, Sun 2nd, Sat 8th and Sun 9th May at 2:30pm
Tickets Adults $25, Children (under 15) $15, Families (2 x Adults & 2 Kids) $70
Duration: 1 hour
Bookings: THE EDGE on 0800 BUYTICKETS or www.comedyfestival.co.nz
Stand Up For Kids plays Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, THE EDGE
Dates: Sat 24th, Sun 25th April, Sat 1st, Sun 2nd, Sat 8th and Sun 9th May at 2:30pm
Tickets Adults $25, Children (under 15) $15, Families (2 x Adults & 2 Kids) $70
Duration: 1 hour
Bookings: THE EDGE on 0800 BUYTICKETS or www.comedyfestival.co.nz
WELLINGTON:
Stand Up For Kids plays Capital E, Civic Square
Dates: Saturday 1st, Sunday 2nd, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th May at 2:00pm
Tickets: Adults $25, Children (under 15) $15, Families (2 x Adults & 2 Kids) $70
Duration: 1 hour
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or Capital E (04) 913 3720 or www.comedyfestival.co.nz
1hr, Sats & Suns only
Major laffs in comedy for minors
Review by Nik Smythe 24th Apr 2010
In a triumphant effort to let our beloved kids in a bit on the comedy festival action, a motley assortment of the Festival’s varied participants combine to present a season of comic acts for children of all ages. All their best material no doubt, kids being the harshest critics…
Not much of a set: two stacks of shiny day-glo balloon balls, two small black rostra and a single remote mic; still, more ornate than most standup shows. The premiere afternoon is compère by festival veteran Carey Marx, a cheeky 30 something going on eleven Brit with more than one amusingly lame trick up his sleeve.
Marx enters screaming and proceeds to bark orders seemingly more for his own entertainment than anyone else’s. With over half the near-full crowd comprising hyper-energetic anklebiters, whippersnappers and assorted other youth, neither Carey nor any of the others have any difficulty raising a tumultuous ruckus, again and again.
Unnecessarily warming up the crowd, Marx regales us with a mildly amusing tale made laugh-out-loud by the impressive effects of his shiny-headed colleague Otto the Sound Effects Man Machine. His microphone sfx aren’t exactly perfect ringers for the guns, vehicles and sundry bodily functions et al which they pertain to be but they are near enough, plus his fake (?) German (??) accent is lovably humorous.
First act announced is a chap simply named Erin – or was it Aaron, said with Marx’s derisive fake Kiwi accent? … Taking the bull by the horns, with the help of half the audience by the end of it, he constructs a convoluted re-enactment of the final great battle of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Again, he engages naturally with the young and succeeds in getting them to do half his work for him.
Next up, endearingly awkward Joseph Harper tests the limits of taste in comedy for minors by explaining he’s forgotten all his jokes because he’s sad due to the personal tragedy of his beloved pet dog passing away yesterday. It doesn’t detract from what is ultimately another rewarding exploration of what makes the littlies laugh, in his distinctive and impressively pathetic way.
Rounding off the line-up, Jarred Fell comes off as as much of a cheeky pre-pubescent brat in a young adult’s body as the rest. Playfully performing magic tricks that actually work – compared to Marx’s laughable effort – and that classic kids’ favourite, balloon animals, Fell is a magnificent closer to a wholly mirthful afternoon of minor comedy.
I gather the line-up changes at each sitting but if this one is anything to go by parents and kids alike should be confident of receiving quality comedy as good as any for their entertainment dollar. The only thing I thought lacking in the premier was the presence of any female performers.
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Comments
Joseph Harper April 25th, 2010
Do you think you could alter the spelling of my last name? Then possibly delete this comment? Sorry to be dickish.