Chris Parker: Iconique

Chris Parker

From performing weekly in the hugely successful improv show Snort, to co-head-writing and having his own segment on Jono and Ben, Fred Award Winner Chris Parker is paving his way as one of New Zealand’s most affable personalities of both theatre and screen.

The speed at which technology is advancing, and the effect it can have on one’s sense of self, can be intimidating, but with the help of Alexa (voiced by sister Liv), Parker explores the trepidation and curiosity with which we should and can respectively approach it in his latest comedic offer, Iconique. With humour ranging from the awkward to the salacious, physical comedy, and musical numbers, it’s everything you’d expect from a Chris Parker show.

However, while these components come together, they don’t equate to more than the sum of their parts. Perhaps it’s expecting too much, but Parker’s previous works have been not only hilarious, but also incredibly affecting. Iconique marks a progression in the legitimacy of Parker’s development from actor to comedian, and while justified, it lacks the punch that launched Parker as a solo performer.

Comedy doesn’t require pathos (though it can help), and perhaps the desire to draw upon the emotional strings he plays so well, was a tool which Parker actively tried to avoid. An attempt to push himself further as a performer. If so, it’s a laudable effort, but I can’t help but feel that even if trying something new, Parker could have given us a little bit more.