Tickling Funny Bones on National Arts Festival Fringe.With 51 comedy productions on the Fringe programme this year, South African comedians from all walks of life are amped to tickle the funny bones at this year’s National Arts Festival.
UK’s comic ventriloquist Paul Zerdin will headline the comedy on the Main programme, with Stewart Taylor as opening act. Credited as being ‘the man who has made ventriloquism cool’, Zerdin is widely considered to be one of the world’s leading practitioners. With a winning combination of charm, impeccable comic timing and continual audience interaction, Zerdin‘s Sponge Fest, which was a hit on the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2009, sees him bring to life three very different characters – the cheeky pre-adolescent Sam, belligerent old age pensioner Albert, and precocious infant Baby, before finishing up with a human puppet finale that is guaranteed not to leave a dry eye in the house. His performance was a smash hit at the most recent Royal Variety Performance in the UK, and he has numerous stage and TV credits under his belt.
A milestone at the Fringe this year is the 21st birthday of the popular Raiders’ series. Theatre for Africa celebrates this coming-of-age with the première of Raiders of the Lost Aardvark. The famous yellow tiger moth, The Aardvark, is back in the thick of the action with Salty Hepburn at the controls. Written by Nicholas Ellenbogen, Christopher Weare and Luke Ellenbogen.
Other returning Fest favourites are Rob van Vuuren (as director for The Best Man’s Speech, Rumpsteak and Gary the Tooth Fairy and performer in Rob Van Vuuren Is Rob Van Vuuren and The Most Amazing Show), David Newton (Best of Fest, Laugh and Politically Incorrect, as well as directing Siv Ngesi in Dekaf), Mark Sampson (Feels Funny and Missing Links), Stuart Taylor (Learner Husband) and James Cairns (Dirt). Slick 'n Sleeve return with the third in their popular Butlers series, Butlers and Bridesmaids, where the audience decides what happens next, and the popular Monkey Nuts with Matthew Ribnick is also back.
Tributes to legendary storytellers Herman Charles Bosman and Patrick Mynhardt have become a regular Fest institution. A Teacher in the Bushveld with David Butler and Bosman's Veld Maiden with Barbie Meyer continue in this vein.
Relationships and the dynamics of dating are always in the line of fire of comedians. This year is no exception, with shows like Gods, Fate and a Librarian, Yes!, Of Cats and Dogs, Boston Marriage, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress by Alan Ball of American Beauty fame, Beyond Therapy, Decadence, Do You Come Here Often and Man Turn Life Up And Down.
Politicians, celebrities and sports stars often hand ammunition to comedians on a silver platter. Herebedesh by Melisizwe Community Theatre, Ben Voss’s Beauty Therapy, Mpho-Osei Tutu’s Convincing Carlos and a few others grab the opportunity to make light of issues in South African politics and society. Cultural peculiarities are exposed in Kung Fu Crazy, NATV Live in Grahamstown (première), Super Gamat: Hie Kom U Ding!!! (première) and Tokoloshe Come Again.
Other random ajoba-ness comedies at the Fest will include Dr Stef's Sidesplitting Hypnosis, High Diving, Kaput! (première), Little poof! A Homofabulous Show!, No Fat Jokes (première), Shaggy... (première), The Web and Profest Theatre’s One Man’s Life with Eric Nobbs.
Live & Kicking is a nightly showcase of off-the-cuff comedy by favourite fringe comedians and others at the Scout Hall. Watch CUE for the nightly line-up – don’t miss the special guests. Drinks available throughout!
The National Arts Festival is a designated cultural activity of the Soccer World Cup, and is on in Grahamstown from June 20 to July 4, 2010. To get the full festival experience online, click on the National Arts Festival’s advert on this page which will link you through to their website.
Pick up a copy of the Booking Kit / Programme at selected Exclusive Books and Standard Bank branches, and Computicket Outlets. Call the Festival hot line for all enquiries – 046 603 1103 and follows the NAF on Twitter @artsfestival or on Facebook: facebook.com/nationalartsfestival
The National Arts Festival is sponsored by Standard Bank, The Eastern Cape Government, The National Arts Council, The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, The Sunday Independent and M Net.
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