Take three guys, musical and creative, and let them loose with electronics, musical instruments, cameras, lasers, fire and more, and Gadgets is the beautiful child.

Gadgets at Downstage is part of the Comedy Festival and it certainly wins in that genre.  It is very funny thanks to Joel Salom’s rubber body, rubber face and his able assistants Marko Simec and Jim Dunlop who know more than a thing or two about music meeting comic timing.

We went as a family, and it is intended as that, a family comedy show (beware the 9pm sessions though, they are adults only).   Fast paced action, visual intrigue and the best juggling around.  There were plenty of hot favourites, from shaker balls juggled in syncopation with the band to meeting Eric the Dog, the best sort of dog a planet could have;  he was out to save it, or destroy it, depending on his mood.

The show presented two extraordinary feats, the electronic musical juggling set to a laser beam show and Joel Salom’s incredible fire juggling.  Awesome.  We loved it, this is physical comedy at its best.

If you choose one show to soak up Wellington’s Comedy Festival, then Joel Salom’s Gadgets is it.

Gadgets is on:

11-15 May 7pm (very child friendly hour) or 15 May matinee at 4pm

13-14 May 9pm (adults only)

Tickets:  $35 – $25 from Downstage, phone 801 6946