A Brief History of Everything in the Sky
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MEDIA RELEASE
Stardate 19.01.2007
FRINGE COMEDY REACHES THE OUTER LIMITS
Observational comedy takes on a new meaning in the 2007 Wellington Fringe Festival when popular local comedians Matt
Elliott and Mike Bodnar look to the heavens for comedy inspiration. In what may well be a world comedy first, the duo -
who had a sell-out show at last year’s festival (This Time Next Year) - perform stand-up comedy in a planetarium.
Their show, A Brief History of Everything in the Sky, plays at Carter Observatory, from February 14 –17, an ideal venue
for observational comedy.
“Unusual venues are nothing new for us,” said Matt Elliott. “We performed on the frigate F69 shortly before it was sunk
off the south Wellington coast.”
Mike Bodnar added, “Contrary to popular opinion, there was absolutely no connection between the two events, though some
of my humour took a while to sink in”.
Carter Observatory, in Wellington’s Botanic Gardens, has something else to laugh about having recently secured funding
for the next decade from the government and Wellington City Council; this will support an upgrade of the historic
facility. Science Minister Steve Maharey described the observatory as “an important cultural and scientific asset for
Wellington”. He was unavailable for comment on Elliott and Bodnar (who see it as more of a hysteric building).
Elliott has performed nationally and internationally for 18 years, and wrote the only history of New Zealand comedy
(Kiwi Jokers). He produces and presents a weekly radio show dedicated to comedy on Wellington Access Radio, 783AM.
Bodnar, familiar to many from his years in radio and television, debuted in stand-up comedy in 2005 and had his first
solo show at last year’s Dunedin Fringe Festival.
This year’s Fringe show should not be missed as Elliott and Bodnar take comedy light-hearted years into the future. The
humour will be out of this world. Ticket prices are not astronomical.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF EVERYTHING IN THE SKY
Carter Observatory, February 14 – February 17, 2007
Tickets: $15, $12 & $10
Bookings: email matt.elliott@xtra.co.nz or phone 021-1623874
Running time: 60+ mins
ENDS.