An occasional series asking comedians at this year's TV2 International Laugh! Festival what makes them ticklish.
Ladies and gentlemen ... Rhys Darby.
Name of Show: Rhys Darby and the Time Machine.
Being a comedian, is it the job you've always wanted or an escape from a proper one? I left school at age 16 to join the Army, the day after I played the lead in the school play. I was a signaller in the Army for four years before leaving to attend university. I studied philosophy and art theory for four years, achieved a BA degree, then went on to full-time work selling women's perfume. Any way you look at it, being a comedian has always been my destiny.
Your major point of difference from all the other acts at this year's Laugh! Festival?
I am, without a doubt, New Zealand's most physical comedian. It's not that I don't like standing still but my stories involve a lot of characters, action, adventure and sound effects.
Your urge to get up on stage and make people laugh - is it more the result of a) psychological imbalance or b) towering confidence?
Towering confidence - I also have special powers.
If a) describe it in medical terms. If b) where do you get it from?
Ever since I was five years old I can remember being told by the normal kids, "You should be a comedian!" At the time I thought they meant some sort of lizard and so spent hours rehearsing my facial contortions. After many years of being laughed at at school and in the Army, it became effortless to walk out on stage and "do the lizard."
Who or what always makes you laugh?
Old men make me laugh.
And when you do, do you snigger, chuckle, giggle, guffaw?
When I think something is really funny I will laugh loudly and yell "hilarious!"
The funniest word in English is?
Wobble.
Is comedy still the new rock'n'roll?
In New Zealand it is the new rock'n'roll! We're rockin' out the house! Yeah, move over Stellar, 'cause I'm the new fella on the block, gonna make you rock ... Darby and the rockers.
Quite. What's the punchline to your favourite joke?
"So I pretended I was a tiki!"
Review your show in a sentence of 25 words or less:
Rhys Darby brings you an epic adventure story, portraying all the characters, sound effects and music, with the direction of Jonathan Brugh. It's simply massive!
Now give it a censorship warning:
Rhys Darby and the Time Machine is for general exhibition. It is suitable for all ages, and I wish everyone could go see it.
* Rhys Darby and The Time Machine plays nightly at the Silo Theatre until Saturday, 7 pm.
Laugh! lines: Destined to be a laugh lizard
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