Jan Maree's life is in her suitcase. The New Zealand comic has moved out of her house in Hamilton, sold her possessions and says she's enjoying travelling light.
"I'm quite comfortable that I don't have a great choice in outfits. It cuts down the prep time everyday," she quips.
It's been quite a year for the comedian, who's been described as a chauvinist's nightmare. She was the first female comedian to win New Zealand's highest accolade, the Fred Award, for her 2011 show Fever Bitch. She used the $3,000 prize to help fund some travel to Indonesia and Europe and ending in Melbourne for the Comedy Festival.
Her new show - Hairy Today, Gone Tomorrow - chronicles Maree's travels as well as her attempt to connect with her roots as the daughter of a "Croatian and Kiwi girl from Central Otago."
"For me, this show is about going to Croatia and the hairy escapades along the way. I don't have a problem with the audience hearing what really happens to me. I get great delight out of hearing people laugh at those things out of recognition. I'm not talking about anything that's not in the realms of any New Zealander, because we are all from somewhere else.
"I've wanted to write a travel show for 10 years, but I figured don't force it. The nice thing is I've finally managed to do that and it has a greater meaning than just some joke, which is what I always try and do with my shows."
While in Croatia she visited her grandfather's birthplace, Mala Duba. He died when she was 14 and was the last member of her family that spoke Croatian.
"There was a lot of mirth and misadventure to do with not being fluent in the language. I thought with some basic phrases I had, I would be sweet. But it turns out - not so much."
"Yugoslav people are naturally passionate, as you can hear I'm shouting down the phone at you, but it's actually my natural talking voice."
She frequently peppers the conversation with witty asides.
"I don't know how easy it is to learn a language at 38 - What did you say Jan? 38? I know, but I don't look it - I don't know how easy it is to learn more conversational Croatian, but I'm going to give it a go."
Maree has been in the comedy industry for 17 years and, up until recently, had not planned on performing in the UK.
Her company, MX: the Jan Maree eXperience, tours comedians throughout the North Island and was recognised with the President's Trophy for services to comedy in 2009. She also won the best female comedian award and best show at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival in the same year, cementing her status.
"I really love New Zealand and I always thought I could carve out enough of a career here to keep me satisfied in my craft. Moving from Wellington to Auckland was a big change, then moving to Hamilton to work for breakfast radio was another. You go through changes in life and then it hit me and I needed a fresh challenge."
Maree performed at the Top Secret Comedy Club in Covent Garden, London and then travelled to Edinburgh to do a show at The Stand.
"I thought this is it. You've got one chance, make it count. After my gig, the booker [at The Stand] came up to me and invited me back in July."
Maree will perform around England for three months before travelling to Indonesia to do a gig there for the first time.
The comedian said she was heartened to see more female comics rising through the ranks.
"I've never believed it was harder to be a female on stage. If anything, I've always tried to view it as a more positive thing simply because there is usually one girl in the line up and five guys, which means you have the opportunity to be the superstar.
"It's like when you have five jelly beans and one chocolate. Jelly beans are good, but chocolate it totally better and the chocolate one will always stick out."
Details:
Jan Maree performs in Wellington tonight and tomorrow at the Fringe Bar and in Auckland from May 15 to 19 at Vault at Q.
More information www.comedyfestival.co.nz
- © Fairfax NZ News
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