STEVE Wrigley has performed Kevin: The Musical before, but the Auckland Comedy Festival season was really just a dress rehearsal for Wellington.
Wrigley’s always wanted to do a solo show at Bats, ever since he first got into comedy doing gigs at the San Francisco Bath House.
“I built Kevin: The Musical with Bats Theatre in mind,” Wrigley says. “I’m really excited I finally have the opportunity to do a solo show [there].”
Kevin: The Musical tells the story of a small New Zealand town called Kevin and the fuss caused when it’s heard the town may get its first traffic light. It’s a one man musical and Wrigley sings and dances his way through the whole show.
“I’ve always been a big fan of one man shows but I’ve always wanted there to be a reason why there is only one person performing the show. I didn’t just want to be another actor showing he could jump from character to character.”
In Kevin: The Musical there is a reason. Wrigley plays a theatre janitor faced with a full house and no cast or crew. Not wanting to disappoint the audience the janitor takes to the stage doing his best to perform the show.
Wrigley has performed in the Comedy Festival before. His first show was in 2003. In 2008 First Time won him the Billy T Award and other shows have been nominated for the Fred Award for comic excellence.
Kevin: The Musical is quite a departure from his other shows which focused on stories from his life but Wrigley says he’s been planning the show for more than five years. A NZ Comedy Trust grant allowed him to bring in Mark Dennison to write the score.
“I hope people come along expecting the usual one man show,” Wrigley says. “I want to play with their heads a little.”
Steve Wrigley in Kevin: The Musical, NZ Comedy Festival, Bats Theatre, May 17-21.