Keeping the laughs local
Christmas Comedy Gala host Pax Assadi (below) says this year’s show is a good chance for some lesser-known acts to shine. He also reveals why he enjoys banter with audience members but dislikes hecklers.
Comedy galas usually contain multiple international acts.
But this year’s New Zealand International Comedy Festival was cancelled because of Covid-19 restrictions and that meant no gala opening.
So instead we’ve got the Christmas Comedy Gala, a line-up of local acts and featuring just one overseas performer, Australian Laura Davis.
Filmed at a packed Civic Theatre in Auckland and screening across two episodes, the performers include Melanie Bracewell, Justine Smith, The Topp Twins, Guy Williams and Ben Hurley. But there will also be some lesser-known names showcasing their talent.
“Normally when you go to a comedy gala it’s right before the comedy festival which means that we’ve got a bunch of internationals in the country,” says Christmas Comedy Gala host Pax Assadi.
“So you end up with a comedy gala that has a bunch of New Zealand’s top comics and then a bunch of internationals, which doesn’t leave any room for the lesser-known comics.
“That’s why this gala was awesome because you get to watch not only the top comics but also these lesser-known comics who are also very talented in their own right, and have been doing comedy for a while, but just haven’t got their shot. “Someone like Paul Douglas is a comic I’ve been gigging with for years now. He started maybe two years after I started so we’ve been on the scene together for years gigging all over the country together.
“We’ve always talked about how his time is around the corner. It was only a matter of time before New Zealand discovered how funny he is. The gala might be that introduction to New Zealand that he’s been waiting for.
“The thing is he’s one of so many comedians that you’ve never heard of that are hilarious and you just don’t know about them.”
Assadi has performed at comedy galas like this before, but this is the first time he has played host.
“I love audience interaction but heckling isn’t what I want because heckling is the audience trying to drive the interaction.”
– Pax Assadi
He says that meant “lots and lots of privileges” such as his own dressing room, plus free soft drinks and snacks.
“I made sure as many comedians as possible walked into my green room so that they can feel my perks running through their veins,” he jokes.
As the host, Assadi performed some of his own material, but also engaged in light banter with a particular audience member sitting in the front row.
Chatting to selected audience members is something he enjoys, but heckling is a different story.
“I love audience interaction but heckling isn’t what I want because heckling is the audience trying to drive the interaction,” says Assadi.
“Usually it doesn’t go that well.
“When I’m doing audience interaction I just want to drive the conversation so I can direct the conversation towards funny. But don’t heckle.
“They think they’re making themselves funnier but they’re not really. They’re just making it worse.” Like so many comedians here and overseas, Assadi’s work has been affected by the pandemic. “All comics have had a lot of work cancelled,” he says. “It’s just the nature of 2020. I’ve had work cancelled and I’ve had work come up because of it. “Even though it’s a year when work has been really weird, people still want to be entertained. So it’s been good and bad. “This gala was an amazing way to cap off a strange year.” This year Assadi and his sketch comedy group Frickin Dangerous Bro filmed their first television series which is expected to launch next year. “We were worried it might get cancelled and we might have to postpone it until next year. But we were able to work through it and film it,” says Assadi. “And I’ve been greenlit for my own sitcom called Raised By Refugees which was the title of one of my comedy shows. “It’s been one of the most confusing years and frustrating years while at the same time being one of the best years of my career.”