Double-billed Comedy Festival shows can be a mixed bag. It makes sense for two comedians to join forces given the cost of putting on a show, but it always runs the risk when you have two similarly veined comedians of one outshining the other.
What's interesting about Twins is that
the two comedians – Liv McKenzie and Ed Amon – seem to have very little in common. McKenzie is a Christchurch-born single millennial, while Amon is a married Pakistani migrant living in north Auckland. The two appear to be good friends, but outside of that there's nothing obvious about why they've joined forces this festival.
Their styles differ as well – Amon feels more like a traditional stand-up, working the crowd in-between jokes that have little to do with each other, while McKenzie almost breathlessly barrelled through a tight set more in line with where comedy is going.
Despite their differences, the two were very funny in their own distinct ways. Amon was first up on Friday night, and discussed migrating to New Zealand, weight loss and racism online. There was a dorky sensibility to some of his jokes, but also a frank openness around his personal experiences that are unlikely to be covered by many other comedians this festival.
