Sharp: Razor Sharp Wit

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RAZOR SHARP WIT

Following the success of their 2004 season of the full length improvised play Pulp William, Christchurch based professional improvisers Daniel Bain and Javier Jarquin explode onto the Wellington scene with SHARP – the ultimate comedy variety show.

SHARP is an action packed, fast paced 60 minutes of fresh new comedy. “We only have an hour so there's not really time to pause for breath” Says Javier.

Audiences can expect to be pulled every which way as the pair deliver a smart, slick and unique showcase of comedy.

“We will mutilate and misuse every single performance discipline we have at our disposal.”Adds Daniel.

And there are certainly a few to choose from. Both performers are veterans of New Zealand's longest running late night comedy show Scared Scriptless at the Christchurch Court Theatre and critically acclaimed by individuals as diverse as Helen Clark and Nancy Cartwright. Daniel has also worked as an internationally touring street performer for the last five years, taking his skilful blend of circus skills, comedy and stream of consciousness ranting to such prestigious events as the Halifax Buskers Festival, The Edmonton Fringe Festival and the Singapore River Buskers Festival.

Javier has appeared in many improvised and partially improvised shows such as Fairyable and The Early, Early Late Show. Aside from his talents in improvised theatre Javier is also equally at home behind a microphone with his stand-up routines and has hosted and been a headline act of many stand-up comedy shows with his “brutally honest” performance style.

The ideas for SHARP were derived from the pair's improvisational backgrounds but it's not an improv show, “We couldn't possibly limit it to just that.” As such they will also exploit stand up, robotics, Shakespeare, xylophones and a lonely baby on a string.

SHARP combines the quick wit and immediacy of improvised theatre, the visual spectacle of street and circus, the smart mouth attitude of stand up and the joy of Room Eleven's Christmas play for the parents.

“Pulp was a heavy piece of work, Shakespeare and Tarantino are big subjects. For our next work we wanted something a little lighter, something with more of a sense of fun.” Says Daniel, “Sharp is going to be fun for us and fun for our audiences. Not to say it won't be challenging. There's nothing harder than trying to get improvisers to stick to a script.”

SHARP runs in the New Zealand International Comedy Festival from the 23rd to the 26th of May at BATS Theatre in Wellington.

ENDS

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