Rhys Darby review

Written by: Olivia Phipps
Published: Monday 16th July 2012

Those of you familiar with Rhys Darby will almost certainly have become aware of him from one of his many acting adventures. He's been in films such as Yes Man and The Boat That Rocked, but perhaps most notably he is known for (yes, you guessed it) the lovable mishap that is Murray Hewitt from Flight of the Conchords. Stand-up is a comedy path that a great deal less people will have seen him tread, until now, and although Darby is very proud of his acting work, he is also keen to make a name for himself in the UK in the profession he started out in. So, whether you know him or not, just what is his stand-up all about?

This Way To Spaceship – currently touring the UK and soon to begin a long run at the Edinburgh Festival – sees Darby waking up on a spaceship, trying to recall exactly how he got there. Through an amalgam of mime, storytelling, slapstick, observation, dance, sound effects, character comedy and funky lighting, we come to learn more about his life, the spaceship, and some of the escapades that lead to him being there.

Ok, so it's not just stand-up; he hasn't completely moved away from his acting career. But where would the fun in that be? Many of Darby's strengths lie in the techniques he has developed from being a comic actor, and he rightly utilises these to his advantage. As a storyteller, for example, he absolutely flourishes: whether he's weaving a tale of boyhood adventure on a golf course or amiable teenage angst on a nightclub dance floor, he is certainly in his element, becoming entirely lost in his imagination. It goes without saying, incidentally, that the whole room are lost along with him.

The audience, in fact, were hugely supportive from the very beginning, which was almost certainly due, in part, to affection for his acting appearances. Recognition of this from Darby came in the form of a few references; joyfully received, though thankfully not over-expected by the crowd. At times, however, he seemed a little less than confident in the direction of the show, and sometimes even surprised at the positive reaction he was receiving: surely a product of nerves rather than any questioning of the material quality. After a slightly slow start, however, Darby seemed encouraged by the warmth of the room and once he relaxed into the flow of the show, and realised there was not much in the way of 'winning over' to be done, he just got better and better.

So, has Rhys Darby proved that he can fly solo without the might of the Conchords? Well, yes. He was warm, silly and intelligent, and there were times when I struggled to breathe from laughing. What more could you want from a comedy show? Simply a great evening.