Review by Eli Cairns
Turns out this town is big enough for the two of us!
Skuxx Cowboys Get Lonely Sometimes Too is a funny and vibrant quest across the land. Following crack-up stand-up Kipling DC on his quest for skuxx-actualisation, this wacky and wild show takes you on a brave pony ride through the west to such enticing locations as the desert, a bridge, the forest, state highway 15, the maastrichtian geological age, and perhaps even, a saloon…
A show split into an absolute smorgasbord of interconnected hero’s-journey acts, Kipling presents a proud and delightful exploration of what it truly means to be a skuxx cowboy, and the struggles and joys that tumultuous life brings. Both mock-educational and earnestly fantastical, Skuxx Cowboy’s storytelling is lively and engaging, and only occasionally overly self-indulgent. Kipling’s comedic style hinges on a conversational rhythm, with a surprising collection of props at his disposal which produce a wide variety of self-performed characters to bounce off of. He charges ahead through even the shyest of audience interactions, but by no means allows anyone else to steal his thunder, always ready for any heckles or avoidance of eye contact.
Kipling is a high-energy, high-impact performer. While falling in love, juggling half a dozen self-inflicted callbacks, and reminiscing on the best of New Zealand dance pop from the early 2010s, he’s eager to get as silly as we’ll let him, and always on the hunt for another throwaway line from out of left field. Kipling is unafraid to threaten his audience into a good time, with an endless supply of banana guns at the ready. His strongest moments are often when he’s left to his own devices, drawing out the sketch (and the laughs) for as long as he can — whether it’s about raspberries to the tummy or the tragic, sound-effect-accompanied death of a dear friend. Not only is Kipling as certifiably skuxx as one 27 year old with a mullet can be, he’s also energetic, affable, and charming, and a captivating presence on stage.
Whether you’re skuxx, a cowboy, or maybe just a little lonely, this gift-horse of a show will knock your socks, lead you to water, and make you drink. In the safe hands of one fiercely bashful host and a gunslinging story for the ages, feel free to dig in your (largest ever recorded) claws for a night of adventure-driven comedy and a wagon full of laughs!
Stick ‘em up!
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