(Rob van Vuuren)
One of the funniest comedy shows I have ever seen. (Review by Keith
Millar)
St Andrews College in Grahamstown, founded in 1855, is one of the oldest
schools in the country. This venerable seat of learning boasts many buildings
of historical interest on its campus, and it exudes an atmosphere of scholarly peace
and tranquility.
So the main hall of this institution with its grand vaulted ceiling was
an unlikely venue for me to see one of the funniest comedy shows I have ever
seen.
Rob van Vuuren was a Standard Bank Ovation Award Winner for Comedy at
the National Arts Festival in 2011 and 2012, and has just been announced as a
recipient of a Silver Ovation Award for his show WHAT WHAT this year. So … it is not just my opinion that he is a
very, very funny man and one of the country’s best comedians. As a Festival
regular he has built up a considerable fan base and his shows, never mind the
venue, are inevitably sellout.
WHAT WHAT is Van Vuuren’s
amazing new one-man presentation, with a twist, in which he pushes the
boundaries of standup comedy. Not for him the rude and crude, but rather cleverness
and charm to keep his audience in fits of mirth throughout the show.
So what does WHAT WHAT mean?
Is it a statement of surprise, or an expression of awe, or maybe just an
indication of a lack of interest?
This is what Van Vuuren sets out to explain. Telling stories about
topics as varied as Koala Bears, being lost in Sandton City, gay slang,
parenthood, Australians, and his dog Bella, he always manages to weave his way
back to the statement What What.
Then as a change of pace, he has a serious moment as he describes the deep
and loving relationship he had with his late grandmother, and his recent
adoption of a baby girl. This gives an insight into the depth of the character
that is Rob van Vuuren.
van Vuuren is a Comedy Rock Star. WHAT
WHAT, along with the rest of his body of work, has established him as a leader
in the field of comedy. If you get the chance don’t miss Rob van Vuuren in
performance. What what? – Keith Millar
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