COMEDY: REGGIE WATTS
Anyone who is described as a “sonic Salvador Dali” (Chortle, UK) piques our interest. Will comedian Reggie Watts’ fast and furious words sport tiny curly moustaches? Will they melt? There’s only one way to find out – and luckily for all the curious cats out there, he’s hitting up the Sydney Comedy Festival this May – but unluckily for those busy on the 9th, it’s for one high-octane night only. High-octane, and with ten octaves. That’s right – this funny-man has a seriously staggering set of vocal chords. He pitches them against funky bass lines for a soundtrack of hilarious, off-the-cuff riffs on everything from ancient history and technology, science and racism, to theology and pop culture. Wow! How’d he get so good at mixing so many different things? His background might have something to do with it – Reggie was born in Germany to a French mother and an African-American father, was raised in Great Falls, Montana then proceeded to grunge-out in Seattle rock bands during the 1990s, followed by a foray into the funnies. And having Alice Walker of The Color Purple as a second cousin couldn’t hurt his way with words. Either way, this is one surreal trip you’ve really got to take.
May 9. The Factory Theatre, 130 Victoria Rd, Marrickville. $21.50-26, 9020 6966 or www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au
(After the Comedy Festival, Reggie goes on a national tour before returning to Sydney for one more show in June, as part of Brian Eno’s festival, Luminous.)
