Rex Havens.
A US comedian's one-off New Zealand show is going to be performed at Kāpiti Playhouse.
Rex Havens, from Dallas, Texas, will perform the show Women & Children First on Wednesday March 6 from 7.30pm.
A mutual acquaintance approached Stewart and Tricia Macpherson about presenting Havens in New Zealand.
"We researched him and found him very interesting," Stewart said.
"As patrons of the Kāpiti Playhouse we thought this one-off exclusive performance should take place on our turf."
For over 20 years Havens has performed comedy throughout the United States and over 20 countries in comedy clubs, on radio and cruise ships.
A former teacher who made a transition to the standup comedy stage in the 1980s, Rex has always believed that laughter is the best defence against a confusing and challenging world.
"My motivation for a comedy career was never to land a sitcom or be a movie actor, like many who get into comedy as a stepping stone to other things.
"I got into it purely for the love of the sound people make when they laugh.
"It's the sweetest sound on earth.
"For those perfect seconds when we laugh, we don't hurt or hate.
"It's a pure burst of joy and the best place to go in all the world.
"If I have an addiction, it's that sound, and I've chased it, and it has chased me, all over the globe."
Rex has wanted to perform in New Zealand for a long time but wasn't sure how his humour would translate, he told Kāpiti News.
"But after meeting tons of kind New Zealanders after shows in American theatres and cruise ships who said 'We loved it — you should come!' we decided to try to make it happen, so we're on our way, and most excited.
"I love the personality and friendly spirit of every one of your countrymen and women I've ever met, and have wanted for years to see the land such wondrous people call home."
He said the goal of every show had remained the same for 20 years — for an audience to laugh loud and carefree for two hours, go home happy, be glad they came, and to do it in an original way.
And constant changes on stage make it a very visually-engaging show, "much more so than traditional standup comedy".
Tickets are on sale from today via eventfinda.co.nz or at Coastlands information desk.
Kapiti Playhouse is located in 7 Ruahine St, Paraparaumu.
