Review by Eli Cairns
All the things we could do, if we had a little Hoani…
Back at it again, Hoani, Hoani, Hoani, Must Be Funny in a Rich Man’s World is a relatable and hilarious glimpse into the daily life of one of Aotearoa’s rising comedy stars. Tactfully brushing by the agonising politics of today in favour of a close and friendly lens into this not-yet-rich man’s world of the last year or so, Hoani Hotene offers up a humorous and surprisingly warm reprieve from the ongoing strife of the rich man’s world.
Built on a variety of stories around family and touring comedy, this show’s core is as near-and-dear as it is refreshing and new. Hotene opens his Wellington show with anecdotes about the struggles of flatting in the capital and our quirky cafe culture. He goes on to mention the less glamorous parts of becoming an international act, and the emerging charms of living with his 4-year-old niece; and of course, who doesn’t have a couple of stern words for Winston Peters in these trying times? This show’s core is mundane in content but by no means boring; Hotene makes the simplest of activities into side-stitching stories, and all of that is woven together with some chilled-out crowdwork and a finishing song to boot.
Hoani Hotene is a relaxed and inviting comedian, and an engaging storyteller. His consistently friendly energy makes him a pleasure to have a chat with; although frequently awkward during audience interaction, he’s always endearing and never antagonistic to the crowd. With a few slips of the tongue (‘in between jobs’ turned to ‘retired’), even his mistakes have us falling apart as he seeks genuine connection amid quick-witted quips. One particular Wellington interaction was offered entirely in te reo from the audience member, which Hotene met with delight and ease; he also helped solve a cast-iron related relationship issue between them and their partner, much to everyone’s split-vote enjoyment. Hotene’s stage presence feels earnest and down-to-earth, making his stories familiar and his comedy completely accessible; you feel in this show that you’re hearing a real person’s real life, and it plays to his strengths completely.
Hoani, Hoani, Hoani, Must Be Funny in a Rich Man’s World succeeds completely in what it sets out to, making for an easy-going hour of laughs with a heartfelt twinge at the edges. Though only taking a couple potshots at the rich man, this show still presents you with the ups and downs of today’s going-ons, surely relatable to the vast majority of us comedy-hungry plebs. Well-structured, chock-full of callbacks, and with jokes and stories a plenty, this show may be exactly what you’re looking for in an easy fresh night of comedy.
The winner takes it all!
Disclosure: As a somewhat active member of the Wellington performing arts community, I may be quite familiar with a number of the performers in this show. Having said that, I am not a liar, and there is zero bias in my reviews, shut up.
Also, tickets were provided to me for free by the production. Literally changes nothing, though