Prolific Kiwi funny man Tom Sainsbury returns to Kinross tonight for two shows where none of his everyday Kiwi characters will star, but they will get cameos.
Over the years the comedic chameleon has brought dozens of caricatures to life across the full gamut of stand-up, film, TV, theatre and social media.
It’s via the latter the ‘Snapchat Dude’ has really ripped in, using synthetic wigs and face manipulation to parody everyone from politicians to people in the street for sharp, satirical and often hysterical social media vignettes.
Following sell out shows in Auckland and Wellington, he’s bringing his national ‘Gone Bananas’ tour to Gibbston.
‘‘It’s just me sharing hilarious yarns about my life and I do a section around city councils, and people who comment on council pages of the newspaper.’’
That’s the part where some of his social media creations ‘‘will definitely be popping up’’, albeit minus the face manipulation.
‘‘The rest is personal stories and embarrassing life experiences that seem to make everyone laugh — I always find myself in those situations.’’
Like the time the 41-year-old was driving and got pulled over by a cop ‘‘who presumed I was a middle-aged mum’’.
‘‘It was my mistake, really, because I was driving a lavender Honda Jazz.
‘‘It took him a good 30 seconds to realise he was talking to a man.’’
It seems such is Sainsbury’s ability to morph into character, it can happen without him knowing.
When Mountain Scene caught up with him he was filming series two of Snackmasters with co-host Kim Crossman.
In the show, top chefs battle it out in a quest to recreate some iconic Kiwi snacks with taste buds, not recipe books, to guide them.
He’s loving being back on board for the second crack that ‘‘feels a lot more streamlined, but also too delicious’’.
‘‘I’ve eaten far too many snacks.
‘‘They’re always bringing gift bags to me it’s like ‘I can’t, my waist line, I can barely put these pants on as it is’.’’
Sainsbury’s show kicks off a winter comedy series at Kinross.
It’s followed this Saturday by Edinburgh Fringe Festival award- winning ‘Life is a Bitch’ from duo Emma Newborn and Amelia
Dunbar — also known as ‘Bitches Box’.
The pair inhabit the psyche of dogs to conjure up an imaginative world that sees them bouncing from one four-legged character to
another at pace to reveal the glorious inner workings of the K9 mind.
Another Kiwi favourite, Guy Williams, will close out the series on September 29 with his acerbic take of life, politics and all things controversial in NZ right now.
Kinross boss Nicky Sygrove says ‘‘it’s fantastic to get incredible performers like Guy and Tom keen to come back to Gibbston’’.
‘‘We are super-excited about adding the Bitches Box show, too.
‘‘I’ve never seen anything as funny as those two ladies imitating different dog characters.
‘‘It’s ridiculously funny.’’
Kinross comedy series: Tom Sainsbury Gone Bananas Tour, tonight, Kinross Vineyard & Cottages, 7pm and 8.30pm, tickets from $29.92 via Eventfinda; Life’s a Bitch: By the Bitches Box, this Saturday; Guy Williams, All Night Long, Friday, September 29. Tickets from kinross.nz
