Elwood's (un)common Sense

With musical numbers, merging his very obvious musical skill with his acerbic wit and a bit of improvisation for good measure, Jeremy Elwood’s (Un)common Sense is an entertaining hour of social commentary…

Peter De Vries once said, "The satirist shoots to kill while the humorist brings his prey back alive and eventually releases him again for another chance." Jeremy Elwood definitely shoots to kill. In a comedy industry where political satire is spotted rarely, Elwood has settled himself comfortably into the satirist role.

At the start of the hour, Elwood readily admits that the recent natural disasters and ensuing upheaval has propelled him to change tack in his subject matter. What was formerly going to be a show about the lack of sense and abundant stupidity present in society instead nods to the incredible displays of human courage and generosity witnessed in the last several months. All that aside there are still plenty of people out there doing dumb shit.

Don Brash sits firmly in Elwood’s firing line and further off-shore the Westboro Baptist Church – a severely bigoted family church in the US – cop a good whack of violent criticism (and rightly so.) My only objection would be his recommendation that people check out their website, when the last thing anyone would want to do is increase their visitor traffic.

Elwood ends the night with a selection of musical numbers, merging his very obvious musical skill with his acerbic wit and throwing in a bit of improvisation for good measure. (Un)common Sense is an entertaining hour of social commentary, so if you want to hear some cunning character assassination and a thoroughly amusing John Key impersonation, then make your way along to Upstairs at the Basement for this one.

Showing In: Auckland
Dates: Sat 30 April & Tue 3 – Sat 7 May, 8.45pm
Venue: Upstairs @ The Basement, Auckland
Tickets:
Adults $25.00
Conc. $22.00
Groups 6+ $22.00
* service fees may apply
Bookings:
0800 TICKETEK (842 538)

Showing In: Wellington
Dates: Tue 17 – Sat 21 May, 7pm
Venues: The Garden Club, Wellington
Tickets:
Adults $25.00
Conc. $22.00
Groups 6+ $22.00
* service fees may apply

By Rachael McKinnon, 4 May 2011