A LITTLE RAY OF LAUGHTER

NZ stand-up comedian Ray O'Leary describes himself as low-energy and deadpan. And audiences cannot get enough!

The award-winning writer and comedian brings his new show to Darwin – 'I Can See O'Leary Now The Ray Has Gone'. And yes ... he knows that's a really bad pun. 

Lisa Pellegrino caught up with Ray for a yarn.

You are from NZ originally but Australian audiences know you well from your comedy tours and TV work. Is Australia a second home to you now? 
Yes. Australia has really welcomed New Zealand comedians, including myself. 

How would you describe NZ comedy? Is it its own brand? 
If I had to describe it in a single word, I'd probably say 'understated'. It's often very dry, very deadpan … and sarcastic ... laconic.

You said NZ comedy is dry and deadpan … That's how people describe you ... 
Yes, yes, I am the quintessential New Zealand comedian. So, you don't really need to go see any of the other ones. That's my marketing strategy.

And audiences love it! 
Yes, I think so. They keep coming back and people keep buying tickets. So, I’m forced to keep doing the show.

How would you describe your comedy to somebody who hasn’t seen you before? 
Not for you. This is a mistake you're here. Get out of the venue while you still can!

I speak monotonously. I don't really laugh on stage ... or even seem to be enjoying myself. It’s like I'm trying to give a very serious TED talk but the audience keeps laughing at everything I'm saying. 

You’re bringing your new show 'I Can See O'Leary Now The Ray Has Gone' to Darwin. What's it about? 
It's sort of a summation of all the funniest thoughts and observations I've had in the past year or so. Audiences that have come to my shows before or have seen them online, they'll know there's not necessarily a throughline or a narrative arc. 

'I Can See O'Leary Now The Ray Has Gone'. You obviously love a pun.  
The more tortured, the better.

Yeah, the title takes a little labour to get out. 
Yes. Thank you. Thank you. The labor is what I'm going for. The hope is it's just a little bit too clunky.

You’re in Darwin June 27. You’re from a small regional city called Whanganui. Darwin is a small regional city. Maybe there’s a few similarities? 
It's not a competition, but I reckon the town I'm from is smaller.

Prove it. What's your town like? 
Well let's see. I think there were about 40,000 people living there when I was growing up. 

I’m looking at the population of Darwin. It's about 150,000 - 160,000. 
160? You see in New Zealand that would be a major, massive metropolis and it would be the economic and political hub of the country. Basically, all of society would revolve around Darwin. 

If we travelled to your city, what should we do? 
Well, I think I'd be remiss not to mention a tour up and down the Whanganui River. 

Let’s not sell that river short, the longest navigable river. Didn't it earn the title of the Rhine of NZ at one point? 
Are ... are you googling this as we speak?

I actually went down a river rabbit-hole last night. 
... Is this part of your research on me? Because this is an interview with me, not the Whanganui River. I can keep talking about the river, if you insist. You know it's a fascinating river actually, because it was granted a special legal status. I don't know if it's quite personhood but it was definitely given special legal recognition. I tell you what, there's not a river that's a more beautiful ocean, brown colour. Really, really brown like the ocean.

I don't know if people describe the ocean as brown but it sounds beautiful nonetheless. Well, it’s been a pleasure finding out about your river ... oh, and you of course. 
Actually, there is a saying in Whanganui. I won't be able to do the Maori version justice but it translates to 'I am the river and the river is me'.

So really, if you had just interviewed the river, you could have gotten just as much information about me. So good job!

Next time I'll be chatting straight to the river! 
Yes, right from the rivers' mouth.

Hey, that was a pun! 
Yes ... and not as tortured as I would like but I'll work on it.

I Can See O’Leary Now The Ray Has Gone 
WHEN SAT JUN 27 | 7.30 PM 
AT AANT CENTRE 
COST $39.90 
INFO yourcentre.com.au