(Michael
Naicker/Kevin Perkins)
Kevin Perkins will be saying Chow For Now to his alter-ego, Michael
Naicker, at The Barnyard Theatre at Gateway this evening (November 4). After
two sold-out shows at the venue in June, he thought he’d do a final encore of
this show and character when he takes to the stage for one night only.
After 12 years of building one of the top
international South African stand-up comedy acts, Kevin Perkins is
"retiring" his Michael Naicker character with a worldwide tour as
only he can deliver.
Chow
For Now is a show full of old favourites, new
material and some stuff his brain will create on the night, and will never
repeat again. Thought-provoking and hilarious, Kevin probes the subtleties of
human existence and bludgeons the delicacies of acceptable etiquette with an
"intellectual mallet". Re-creating himself as himself, Kevin says a
fond "Chow for now!" to Mike, and a hilarious "Hello" to
Kevin. Don't miss this comedy icon in his superb Mike Naicker anthology!
40-year-old Kevin is a born and bred
Durbanite, who can add mechanical engineer and cancer survivor to his
credentials before taking up comedy as a career in 2001. Since he grew up in Durban,
it was inevitable that the Indian culture and humour would rub off on him.
Kevin originally created the character of Michael Naicker for a competition at
a popular Johannesburg comedy club, and that five minute set laid the
foundation for one of South Africa’s most popular comedic figures.
Today, Michael Naicker has achieved astounding
popularity across many of South Africa’s diverse audiences, especially among
Indian people, some of whom have even offered to adopt him. Michael Naicker, or
“Super Mike” to his friends, is super-cool and quick-witted. “Iron Mike”, as he
sees himself, thumbs his nose at acceptable norms, rebels against religious
dogma and even Kevin admitted that the character has a life of his own saying,
“I’ve created a monster!”
No-one could introduce Mike’s character as
well as Kevin Perkins. “I always used to joke that Michael Naicker is the
Indian counterpart to Michael Knight from that old TV show Knight Rider,” he explains. “The character I’ve created was born
out of my life experiences. Mike Naicker is a working class Indian male. He
loves fast cars, big sound systems, gambling, hot food and hot women. He
fancies himself as a bit of a gangster and ladies’ man, and is very cocky and
assertive. He loves nothing better than ‘sticking to the man’ and spends more
than he should on modifications to his car. But, that’s the kind of guy he is –
image is everything.”
Kevin admits that, “Mike is a part of me
and sometimes our relationship is really schizophrenic.” So don’t miss this chance
to experience Kevin Perkins’ split personality!
Tickets R150 pp booked through The Barnyard
Theatre on 031 566 3045 or visit www.barnyardtheatres.co.za/gateway
For further information e-mail gateway@barnyardtheatres.co.za
or visit www.facebook.com/gatewaybarnyard
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