Review: French and Saunders

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COMEDY QUEENS: Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders had the audience in stitches at The Civic in Auckland.

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Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, arguably Britain’s most celebrated female comedians, are on their first – and final – New Zealand tour, reviewer Tracey Bond was there for their opening night.

Where: The Civic Theatre, Auckland
When: Friday, July 31

Take two comic geniuses, add much-loved characters and a sprinkling of celebrity parodies and you have a recipe for laughter.

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders has been beaming into New Zealand homes for decades but the pair have only just made it to our shores in person for the first and sadly, last time.

After seven seasons of the TV comedy sketch show the pair have announced that they are going to pursue more 'age apporopriate' material.

But on-stage there was no sign that they are starting to slow down.

The first sketch - French being given a medical by Saunders was performed at lightning speed.

French showed how, with just a twitch of a facial expression, she has the ability to have the audience in stitches.

The pair have never been afraid of looking silly - they've built their career on their ability to spoof celebrities and popular movies.

Their take on the Mamma Mia movie, with Saunders taking on the role played by Meryl Streep and French as the Julie Walters character was a highlight.

Saunders showed how good she is at morphing into celebrities - her impression of Streep was so good it was almost spooky.

This is a slick production with sets featured in their TV shows interspersed with video highlights and plenty of costume changes.

Throughout the show the girls poked fun at each other's successful solo projects - Absolutely Fabulous and The Vicar of Dibley, culminating in Saunders rising up out of a box and demanding to be worshipped as a comedy goddess.

There were appearances by Abfab's Edina Monsoon, the bald fat, perverted old men, Jill and Jo who retire in America and a special appearance by 'Joanna Lumley'.

French and Saunders have their various characters down to perfection and after so much time together, it was nice to see they still find each other funny.

At one stage Saunders cracked up, declaring French 'was not usually that funny'.

There are still tickets left for some of the shows – get in quick for a chance to see a couple of comic geniuses at work - for the last time together on stage.

Oh and make sure you take some chocolate with you.

*Were you at the show? What did you think?

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Trudi   #23   02:49 pm Aug 07 2009

We went to the Sunday night show and I have to agree with Trev, Yvonne can't have been at same show! It was fantastic, and that being said from the worst seats in the house. Both are brilliant comedians and had us in tears, from laughing so much!

Sharon   #22   09:49 pm Aug 05 2009

Wow .. a trip to Auckland was well worth it to see this fabulous comedy duo... A fantastic night filled with laughter throughout the whole theatre... just great !!! A shame it has come to an end.

Rachael   #21   03:37 pm Aug 04 2009

Went and loved it.....laughed and laughed. Was marvellous to see these two wonderful ladies in person. Thank you so much for coming to see us after all this time!

Brooke   #20   12:21 pm Aug 04 2009

I went to the sunday show and absoltely loved it, I have a few of there dvds and I couldnt belive they were actually performing infront of me. Brilliant show. French and Saunders are comedy goddesses

Marie   #19   06:18 pm Aug 03 2009

Marvellous...on the ball!! Icons!

samsa   #18   05:59 pm Aug 03 2009

I am a real fan of these two but they really let themselves down .I dont know who wrote some of the material but it was crude and not at all funny . They should be ashamed of themselves and so should the 6 members of the audience who gave them a standing ovation ...that was a joke !

pam   #17   04:40 pm Aug 03 2009

Went to last nights show and if laughter is the best medicine then I should now live for ever!Absolutely brilliant.Laughed till I cried.Thankyou and goodbye French and Saunders.

Steve Withers   #16   01:51 pm Aug 03 2009

We saw them Saturday evening. They were even funnier live than on TV. Not to be missed if you have a chance to see them. Well worth a trip from Wellington....or where ever.

ron herbert   #15   10:22 am Aug 03 2009

im sick of poms comming here and telling us how to perform comedy /drama and play rugby

Holly   #14   08:58 am Aug 03 2009

They were brilliant. The grannies on motorised scooters- come on Yvonne, you must've had a labottomy not to have giggled at that!

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