Comedy review: Rhys Darby – This Way To Spaceship Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33)

By Fiona Shepherd
Published on 10/08/2012 15:00

ONCE you have seen Rhys Darby’s show, prepare to accept no other anthropomorphised impersonation of horses performing dressage moves. His fancy hoofwork is second to none.

RATING: * * *

And don’t get me started on the camp Alsatian. Positively balletic.

Darby, better known as Murray, the hapless manager of comedy duo Flight of the Conchords, is a fluent physical comedian, capable of milking the humour from the most mundane scenarios – looking for a lost wallet, handshake etiquette – with slapstick élan.

Adolescent memories provide much of the material for an amiable hour that might – but probably won’t – start several new dance trends. If any of his recollections are actually true, then Darby has always been a likeable looper.

What has this to do with spaceships? Not much beyond laying all the groundwork – silly moves, silly noises, silly notions – to be reprised in the final space-age scenario, a veritable dumb show of silliness which is thoroughly infectious and feel-good, if about as profound as a puddle.

Until 27 August. Today 8pm.