New Zealand is strongly associated with The Lord of the Rings movies, and this is why three kiwi comedians decided to call their show Lord of the Zings. Unlike other shows at the fringe (which are actually about Tolkien’s ground-breaking fantasy classic), this show has absolutely nothing to do with Hobbits, and is more middle-class than it is Middle Earth.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is very much an open forum for performers to demonstrate their talent to the world, and this act mostly exists for three comedians who have travelled very far to show off their skills to their peers and international audiences. Of course, it’s also the Fringe, so the space they’re using is a small karaoke room located a short walk away from the Royal Mile, but still, a stage is a stage.
We opened with Hoani Hotene, who is ginger, Māori and also very good at making you laugh. A good choice of opening act and some very well-observed, relatable comedy.
Comedian Finn McLachlan shone as the show’s middle act; this energetic and charming young man is both an actor and comedian, and has been described in the past as a certifiable twink. We agree with that certification. The bisexual comedian unironically sat awkwardly on the venue’s karaoke bench whilst being simply hilarious about his horribly complicated and apparently disastrous love life. Charming and extremely funny stuff.
Danny Sewell is one of those comics who embodies their sense of humour. Short, bald and with the sort of smile that could charm a tornado, his routine mostly explored growing old and handling how the relationship with one’s parents changes, and how people are accidentally very funny. He also pulled one of the best show-ending moves we’ve seen in a while, a stunt that required the removal of clothing without that actually being the joke.
A great trio of acts to seek out if you can, though don’t expect to fight any cave trolls on the way.
You can find tickets for the show here, and you should follow Hoani, Finn and Danny on their social media to find out more about their future shows.
