Matthew Ribnick in “The Chilli Boy”It is the tenth anniversary of the iconic one-hander comedy – The Chilli Boy - which returns to Durban for a celebratory season double-billing with Monkey Nuts at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre for a short season from April 12.
Geraldine Naidoo’s smash-hit play, The Chilli Boy, is back in Durban by overwhelming public demand. The Chilli Boy premiered at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown a decade ago and has since enjoyed numerous sell-out seasons in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and even a sold-out season on London’s West End.
The Chilli Boy is the hysterical story of an old Indian woman reincarnated as a white gangster from Boksburg. At the age of 30, the gangster starts suffering flashbacks from his previous life as an Indian woman. He starts wearing a sari while cooking all sorts of delicious Indian meals including curries and biryanis. He no longer wants to fight or brawl as his newly-discovered maternal instincts start determining his behaviour. His tough reputation is threatened by the resultant turmoil.
Winner of the prestigious Naledi Award for Best Comedy Performance, Monkey Nuts is one of the finest and funniest shows seen on the theatre circuit this decade. The show is a true comical masterpiece from writer/director Geraldine Naidoo; the creator of the hit shows Hoot and The Chilli Boy.
The play is a clever mix of situational comedy, storytelling and hilarious (unforgettable) characters. It tells the story of Edgar Chambers; an odd bod obsessed with entering all sorts of competitions. A bank teller by profession, Edgar also has the unusual knack of sniffing out free stuff and special offers. However, his main hobby is monitoring the prices of grocery items in various stores. So skilled is he that he can provide the price of any grocery item, anywhere and at any given time but it is his obsessive competition-entering that sparks off the madcap story that has audiences in stitches.
Edgar’s only friend is a monkey that lives in the back of a pet shop but, as the story unfolds, audiences are spoilt with a bevy of brilliantly portrayed (hysterical) characters – all with some sort of connection to Edgar.
The 10th Anniversary Season of The Chilli Boy runs from April 12 to 15 and again from April 19 to 22 with shows Thursday to Saturday at 20h00 (18h00 on Sundays). Age restriction: no under 12’s. Tickets R120 on Fridays and Saturdays and (R60 on Thursdays and Sundays).
Monkey Nuts has performances on April 17 and 18 at 20h00. Tickets R60. Age restriction: no under 16’s.
Performances take place at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre. Booking through Computicket.
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