NZ COMEDY FESTIVAL: THE WAFFLES OF HURLEY AND WRIGLEY WITH A TASTY SIDE OF SMITH
Waffles: Hurley meets Wrigley
Unleashing fluffy beards and their burgeoning bellies on stage, Ben Hurley and Steve Wrigley made themselves known last night at Q Theatre.
Kiwi lads indeed, and clearly so with their nasal twang and hobbit-like appearance. If you’d had a few too many it would be easy to think you were seeing double. Or going mad.
Walking into a theatre with expectation is never to your advantage, and previous encounters with these burly men had had me in stitches. However, the next hour left me wishing I had left all assumptions at the door. With the usual front-row banter, they plucked out a few laughs from the audience, yet Wrigley cast these throw away lines out even further to leave only himself laughing.
They may have had the lines, but they sure didn’t have me hooked. Waffles or waffling should be left for Sunday brunch. Touching on kiwi-isms, politics and current affairs, they bounced off each other and a slide show presentation for topics. And while it was apparent that they were good buds off stage, at times they appeared to fight for the limelight and our attentions. Perhaps I missed something and this was all part of the gag? Hurley was definitely the favoured of the two, and I have no doubt that he would have thrown out more wit had he had the opportunity.
Oh, but Justine Smith. Enter stage right.
Justine Smith is another story altogether. Moreish and oh-so mouthy, this lippy, red-headed lady had us all in hysterics as she oozed out intimate details. With a five minute flourish on stage as a guest comedian she had us tickled pink.
Actor Ben Carrington, may I ask – what was the point? Enter stage left. A plug for a great TV show. Are infomercials not getting enough views these days? Easy on the eye, and all-round nice guy – I will give him that much. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.
Justine Smith on a plate any day, but next time keep the waffles for the kitchen.
