(7.7) Tagline: “You’ve seen my stand-up, now see it again!” Tickets are still available for Thursday’s show at the Columbus. Rhys Darby first stole our hearts as Murray the hopelessly optimistic band manager in “Flight of the Concords.” His cheery consensus building continued as the leader of the werewolf gang in the FX series “What We Do in the Shadows.”* So Darby was a natural to play the part of the pathologically enthusiastic Gentleman Pirate, Stede Bonnet, in HBO’s “Our Flag Means Death.” The exquisite Taika Waititi costars as Blackbeard with support from a wonderful cast including Nick Kroll and Kristin Schaal, and, seen here, Nathan Foad. I’m not sure which is more incredible, that Stede Bonnet actually existed or that I had never heard of him. The Smithsonian calls it the “worst midlife crisis on record” adding:
Bonnet was thrilled to make Blackbeard’s acquaintance, and the two pirate captains agreed to cruise together.
Series creator David Jenkins (“People of Earth”) really runs with that idea. And whether Bonnet and Blackbeard ever paired off intimately, historians report that those long, lonely months at sea did lead some pirates into forming same-sex civil unions known as “matelotage.”
I don’t know how or why New Zealand has produced so many witty, wacky geniuses, but I think I could be pretty happy there.
*Season 4 of WWDITS premieres Tuesday, July 12!
$35, Rhys Darby, doors 7pm, show 8pm, Thursday, July 7, Columbus Theatre, 270 Broadway, (directions)
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Covid protocols: “All events at the Columbus Theatre will require valid proof of full Covid-19 vaccination for entry (partial doses will not be allowed entry). No exceptions. In addition, we ask that you wear a mask in all public spaces (lobby, bar, and seats) when not actively eating or drinking.”