Many thanks to the very lovely ‘Shell‘ of Angry Feet Forum – the best little group of Tim Minchin supporters on the ‘net!
It is a small theatre downstairs in the New World Stages Complex and I took my seat about ten minutes before it started and I have to say I fidgeted quite a lot as I waited for Tim to come on – just staring at the beautiful shiny piano which looked the same as the one on Tim’s MySpace profile. I’d been so good not watching the DVD so although I had an idea of the songs I had no real idea of the delivery order or stage persona when he’s doing the stand up part.
It went all dark and I could see this figure shuffling to the middle of the stage in a long coat and as I was in the centre of the front row I sort of gazed at his bare feet until the lights went up, as I couldn’t really believe I was actually there and it was actual Tim and his actual feet!
He started with ‘So Fucking Rock‘ and set it up with a brilliant awkwardness in body language that was just adorable, eliciting nervous giggles from the audience. It went down very well and people got into it. His interactions with the audience were hilarious and cute and he got good responses and ‘Peace Anthem‘ went particularly well with the audience joining in and hollering it back at him. There were spontaneous rounds of applause in the middle of songs for his piano playing skills. The little looks he gives to the audience are so expressive and emphasise things brilliantly and adorably allowing him to get away with so much!
The photo featured here is the one that Shell took!
…At one point quite early on a couple got up from the second row and left and he kept referring to this and wondering why and what they were up to. When they reappeared again together and sat down he broke off to ask them if they’d been out for sex! They weren’t playing along or admitting to anything but his gentle teasing was funny none the less. The timing of their return was good actually as Tim was building up to ‘Angry (feet)’ and used this to help. I also tried to take a picture at this point and eff’d it right up – I must have looked confused and indecisive cos he leant right down at me and insisted “TAKE THE PICTURE, take it, taaakke it!!!” so I did and when I post it, you’ll see he’s laughing at me and looks totally manic. Then he went into the poem – wow – the tension in his body and face when he does that!
The venue was not full – just downstairs but there was plenty of energy and laughter – I’m sure with word of mouth the gigs will sell out soon though. At the end most people stood up to applaud – including me – at great risk too as when he sat to do his encore I nearly sat on the floor because my seat had folded when I stood! As I left I was talking to other audience members and listening to their comments – all very positive.
I waited around after the show by the bar and when Tim came out he came to say hello – he signed my DVD, did a couple of photos with me and chatted away. He is absolutely lovely, easy to talk to and awesomely kind. I’m hopelessly shy and awkward particularly in social situations I don’t quite understand but he really put me at my ease and was very sweet.
I had tickets to the Saturday show as well…. Different audience energy but Tim was awesome again. When a couple left – they were having a domestic! – Tim stopped playing ‘Rock and Roll Nerd‘, leapt off the stage, coat tails flying spectacularly and chased them out to the foyer doors with his mic, shouting at them and asking them to come back and argue!! They didn’t – probably just as well! At the end of ‘Canvas Bags’ – he stepped onto the chair arms next to me to deliver a couple of lines!
Across both nights I genuinely loved every minute – all songs and talky bits… I told anyone I chatted to in New York (and that’s quite a few) about Tim’s gigs and positively insisted that the Concierges at my hotel make it a priority to go and to recommend the show to guests.
And don’t forget that the NY Skeptics are also encouraging you to go see the show! Check out their website regarding a special discount for skeptics thanks to Tim – and you must check out their shirts! Will “Minchin for Australian Prime Minister ’08″ be on the cards? 
When: March 14 – April 11, 2008
Where: New World Stages / Stage 5
340 West 50th Street Between 8th and 9th Avenues, New York NY 10019.
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