Norpa News

Stringing us along

A scene from La Boite's touring production of Zigzag Street, which will be performed in Lismore on June 28 and 29. See below for your chance to win a double pass to this show!

The last laugh

For those who missed out on tickets to the Comedy Roadshow on May 20, here's a free sample - the funny bits from our interview with emcee Justin Hamilton.

What's the hardest thing about touring?

Its' harder for the tour manager... comedians are hopeless on the road, they become like 'How do you put on pants?' and 'How do you order food?'

What's the scariest thing you've ever found in your fridge?

I used to have a flatmate who was a clown by profession, and was really fond of pot, so I used to call her 'Clownie Queen of Bongs'... one night I got home late, and made some toast, and noticed something funny about the butter I'd gotten out of the fridge. She was preparing to make mull cakes, and I almost put that on my toast... she turned into a four-year-old poodle for about four hours after eating the cakes.

Where do socks go?

On my feet, in the sock drawer, or in the laundry.

What, you never lose a sock?

No. Guess what star sign I am (he's a Virgo)... mix and match socks really stress me out.

What do you think of our PM?

Johnny is a shaved Ewok who escaped from Star Wars. He would be a hilarious joke if he was not our Prime Minister.

What are you looking forward to in Lismore?

I'm hoping to meet my future ex-wife if she's there... but she can't be a Sagittarius or a Gemini. (Note for prospective exes: Justin assures us his mother trained him to leave the seat down.)

Justin will be joined by comics Jackie Kashian, Damian Clark, Damian Callinan and Tommy Dean for the Comedy Roadshow this Friday night.

Events and giveaways

• Zigzag Street, the play based on Nick Earles' award-winning novel, is a play based on contemporary reality, and chock-full of laughs. The La Boite touring production is playing at the Star Court Theatre in Lismore on June 28 at 8pm and June 29 at 11am and 8pm. To go in the draw for a double pass to this play, send an envelope with your name, address and phone number on the back, and an Echo masthead inside, to: Zigzag Double, NORPA, PO Box 225, Lismore, 2480. Entries must arrive at the NORPA office by next Tuesday, May 24.
• To see the winning joke that scored Paul Jones of East Ballina a double pass to the Comedy Roadshow on May 20, go to www.norpa.org.au.
• • Tickets are already selling for NORPA's mid-winter weekend of music. On Friday night, July 22, award-winning cabaret star Paul Capsis is presenting his new show; on Saturday, July 23, Ruby Hunter, Archie Roach and Paul Grabowsky's Australian Art Orchestra are presenting Ruby's Story; and on Sunday, July 24, Central African ensemble H'Sao will make world music magic at the City Hall. Tickets will sell fast, so phone the Northern Rivers Ticket Centre now for bookings on 6621 5600 or go to www.norpa.org.au. For groups of ten or more phone 6622 0300.
• Winner of the ASQ double pass from last week's Echo was N Doncaster of Lismore.