Mel Miller, one of South Africa's most acerbic comedians, who comes from a long line of South African comedy greats such as Eddie Eckstein, Denis McLean and Cyril Green, will be back by popular demand at Heritage Theatre performing his one man show for one week only.
When television was introduced to South Africa in 1976, Mel Miller was asked to appear in a programme called Biltong & Potroast. The idea of the programme was to pit South African comedians against British comedians. The adjudicator was Clark McKay. The programme took off, and at one stage it had more viewers than the BBC programme, the gripping The World At War series.
“We were paid the princely sum of R35 per show (even then it was bad money), but for the first time a million people could see us by just pushing a button,” explains Mel Miller.
Far from fading into obscurity since Biltong & Potroast, Mel Miller has continued to entertain capacity audiences over the years. His last show in June 2008, Mel Miller’s Big Fat Comedy Show at Montecasino, drew 3,000 people in two days.
“This my 46th year in comedy,” he says, proudly, “and I’m enjoying it now more than ever.
Mel Miller’s six-show season runs from January 25 to 30 at the Heritage Theatre in Hillcrest. Tickets R190 pp Wednesday to Saturdays (R165 pp Tuesday evenings and Sunday lunch time) include an excellent two-course meal. Bookings can be made on 031 765 4197 or online at www.heritagetheatre.co.za