Edge Meets Fringe

Kiwi comedy act, Flight of the Conchords, was dubbed the “unlikely hit” of this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival by the Guardian, and narrowly missed out on the event’s prestigious top award. The satirical folk duo – comprising Bret McKenzie and Jermaine Clement – were favourites to win out of the shortlist of five, and have since been offered a Radio 4 pilot to showcase their “impressive musicianship … [and] blissfully funny lyrics.” Other NZ acts reviewed in the Guardian were Stephen Papps‘ one-man show ‘Blowing It’ and comedian Rhys Darby (“a likeable newcomer who shows that stand-ups can trip over, fly away and leap around too.”) The Age‘s pick for “sleeper hit” of the Fringe was Mike Riddell‘s “passionate and confronting portrait” of James K. Baxter.