We’re nearly on the finish of the International Comedy Festival which has been full of quite a few excellent exhibits, and Yeah Nah Pavlova isn’t any exception. Loud Jess (Jess Loudon) and Sandra Pace make an extremely likable duo from the get-go, beginning the present with heat, gregarious, and larger-than-life vitality. I grew up in Otaki, an hour’s north of Wellington, and it shortly grew to become harking back to that small city hospitality I dearly miss.
The present is framed inside the age-old query of whether or not pavlova was invented in New Zealand or Australia. Being Australian, Jess, after all, represents her nation in a loud and unapologetic trend, efficiently charming and insulting the kiwi viewers on the similar time. Sandra, who immigrated right here from the UK, counter-balances Jess with a relaxing, quick-witted, and sharp-tongued high quality. The two play off one another nicely, and their exchanges give the present a few of its brightest moments.
The set is straightforward. Two microphones adjusted at comically totally different heights, and a desk laid out with cue playing cards. Crowd work isn’t a big element of the present, however the cue playing cards are used to immediate the viewers to hitch in with colloquial expressions. This consists of yelling “good c**t” on the high of your voice – a satisfying expertise. Once we’re acquainted with the setup, the comedians take us by way of their journeys of transferring to New Zealand, and the similarities and variations in tradition, which is one thing each immigrant can relate to. It was notably hilarious to listen to comparisons of the courting scene and prevalence of STDs from nation to nation.
The present is dotted with darkish humour. The topic of politics is candidly explored, they usually look again on the period of Covid lockdowns, amongst different issues whereas speaking about their lives right here. Their point out of Clark Gayford made me want I’d introduced my mum alongside (are all aged moms actually into Clark Gayford?). More critical matters weren’t off the desk, although I can’t give an excessive amount of away. The matters paint a vibrant image of what it’s like to maneuver to NZ from the UK or Australia, and notably within the second half, builds momentum in direction of understanding higher who our comics are as folks.
I used to be shocked to study that is Jess and Sandra’s first ever comedy present. Jess is an achieved actress showing in The Brokenwood Mysteries, Blind Bitter Happiness, and Shortland Street, and can also be a theatre actress. A narrative about auditioning for the Pop-up Globe makes it into the stand-up combine too. Sandra and Jess met on the set of Brokenwood after which 5 months later met within the inexperienced room of The Classic, each doing their first standup gigs. They went on to be semi-finalists within the Raw Comedy Quest 2023.
I might like to see extra iterations of this present. The present has vast attraction and would do nicely on tour in New Zealand. The magical ingredient of chemistry and quips between the comics is there, and I even acquired future Kath and Kim vibes (Gina Riley and Jane Turner). There is loads of potential for these on-stage characters to develop. As for whether or not pavlova was invented in New Zealand or Australia, I can’t give away the ending, however we do get a solution as promised.
Yeah Nah Pavlova was offered as a part of the New Zealand International Comedy Festival 2024 sixteenth – seventeenth of May
