With 22 years at the Edinburgh Fringe under his belt, Andrew Maxwell is no stranger in the international comedy circuit and Festival scene. It’s his first time back on our shores in almost 2 decades and he is still as fascinated with “Polynesian Scotland” as ever.
The thing that amuses Maxwell the most about NZ (and our neighbors across the ditch) is our lack of news, or rather what we deem newsworthy. As an avid news junkie, he craves to remain connected to the goings on around him and beyond so is sorely disappointed when he discovers the most exciting to happen is cats on buses.
Maxwell also pokes fun at countries further afield like Germany’s odd spa rules and the Italians’ desire to be heckled at comedy shows. He doesn’t spare his homeland either; his shrewd observations on Cork residents being obsessed with themselves and that scary Belfast accent are comically spot on if you’re in the know.
Amidst his thoughts on Brexit, racism and American police, Maxwell also weaves in more personal material like his relationship with his teenage son and being married to a Muslim. It’s an interesting dichotomy, pairing personal and political but he manages to make it work, proving he can nail the everyday slice-of-life type comedy too.
Showtime is a sharp, engaging and insightful hour of topical discourse from Maxwell who has his pulse firmly on the world’s happenings and uses his seasoned comedic eye to find the funny and garner laughs easily. His style of comedy is not for everyone but for those who like their laughs with a generous serving of political and social commentary, this is the ticket.
Andrew Maxwell will be performing at the Classic until 12 May. For more details and to book tickets, click here.
comedy | theatre | live entertainment | performing arts 