EDINBURGH FESTIVAL 2009: It's Rhys Darby Night, Udderbelly's Pasture, 9 August 2009

There are three Rhys Darbys. There’s the Rhys Darby, Kiwi stand-up, professional dickhead and master of the sound-effect, there’s Rhys Darby who plays witless manager Murray in Flight Of The Conchords and, latterly, there’s Rhys Darby, Hollywood actor and Jim Carrey’s new favourite.

Unfortunately about 95% of the audience in Edinburgh’s Udderbelly Pasture are here to see Murray. All credit to Darby, he gives it to them, introducing himself on stage in character, throwing some easy titbits to the crowd, indulging the mad-fan heckler sat to my left.

Then he goes into his routine, a joyful collection of silly noises, sound effects and voices. It’s this that the “electric-copper” haired Darby does best and, presumably, what endeared him to Carrey. Who knew that an elevator or noises from the Vietnam war could be so funny?

To string it all together Darby talks us through – rather than steers away from – his recent ascent to Hollywood stardom. It’s refreshing to hear him talk about it with giddy enthusiasm, lampooning his own inability to navigate his own driveway and talking us through the difficulties of a sex scene with the director’s wife. He also throws in a couple of characters for good measure; a failed whale-watch guide and a UFO spotter (for which he goes uncharacteristically dark).

The show is patchy and oddly put together like “An Evening With…” and the bits in between don’t always work but when he’s doing a silly voice (like the oNe You hear when you hear your own voice on tape) or an impromptu dance (like the one he treats us to on the way out), there’s real magic at work.

Need more UK Regional Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...