I got distracted by work, traveling and making plans for travel, but I’m back and ready for further updates.
You may get an impression that I only see New Zealand acts while I’m not in NZ. Well… you are quite right. Next day after I saw Connan, I did some voluntary work again till afternoon and went straight to my favourite cafe, Flat White, where I met up with my friend, V. and we went together to the Empire to see Rhys Darby.
I don’t have to explain to Flight of the Conchords fans who Rhys Darby is and if you’re not one of them then I’ll just say that he’s a New Zealand comedian and actor (Yes Man, The Boat That Rocked). I had watched his stand-up once on DVD and really enjoyed and admired how he managed to connect all the stories in one and sum up at the end of the show. I had hoped to see him live, so when he announced a tour with his new program, I bought a ticket when I had a chance.
“This Way to Spaceship” was a sort of sentimental journey from his humble beginnings as a comedian through the era of finding a girlfriend and future wife up to now, when supposedly the world would be over in December last year. I enjoyed it more that I had thought I would. There was time for laugh and for reflection. I even was moved to tears a few times. Everything was intelligent and funny and made me love Rhys more. There was also a guest appearance surprise. Jemaine Clement of FOTC lent his voice to the computer on Rhys’ spaceship!
When the show was over, V. and me thought that Rhys would come out and do the signing by the stage, but actually he was in the foyer and we were the last to join the queue. Even though he looked tired, when we finally reached him, he was still happy to talk to us and pose to the picture taken by his wife and manager, Rosie.
