Cape Town’s comedy festival rakes in the laughter.
A Greek-Canadian, a Russian-American, an Egyptian, a New Yorker and a Gautenger are just some of the funny men and women that are raking in the laughs at this year’s Cape Town Comedy Festival.
Angelo Tsarouchas is the larger-than-life Greek-Canadian host that uses his ample girth to poke fun at himself and other obese people. Mutlitple-award winning Tsarouchas has an American one hour show named Bigger is Better, and he jokes that in America he is actually perceived as quite slim, even athletic. Well he actually isn’t, and though he’s intercultural observations are quite sharp and even funny, one can’t help but feel quite concerned for his well-being, and that of the audience members in the front rows.
Loyiso Gola for President!
At this festival the limelight certainly belongs to the black boys and one white girl. Our own Loyiso Gola has a refreshing way of looking at the world and his observational commentary has quite a sting to it. From Gugulethu, he asks the audience if they know where it is. Before they can answer he hollers, ‘You - insert lots of expletives here - should know where it is since you, - more vicious swearing - put us there!’ At this point it is good to note that there really is a lot of swearing during the show. It works. Rather than coming across as vulgar, demented and a cheap ploy to get a reaction, most of the comedians effectively use it as expressive punctuation in their jokes. Gola makes some unsavoury comments about the very unfortunate Caster Semanye saga and parts of the audience giggle shyly; others are shocked into silence. Following Gola, the British Simon Clayton, makes a similar scathing remark about Semanye and the audience hiss and boo at him. On cue Clayton says, “Oh it’s fine if one of your own makes fun of her, but not a foreigner, eh.” - followed by embarrassed laughter.
Kira Soltanovich was born in the former Soviet Union and raised in San Francisco. Her brand of female immigrant humour is intelligent, vulgar and very funny. Her good looks and eloquence is a boon. She plays a leery female, does a little mini-pole dance that looks like a cat scratching its bum against a pole, and she shares an evocative slice of Russian culture.
Then of course there is the German comedian, which in itself is very funny. It’s not often we find funny Germans on our shores. Michael Mittermeier, who has performed with U2 and has had more than 3000 solo performances since 1987, accurately picks up on some of our typical South African traits. His skit involving a Mexican pot smoking cockroach that lives in Woodstock and is immune to insect repellent is hilarious. His strong German accent comes across as very camp and it is enough to make you giggle uncontrollably.
The Russian-American, Kira Soltanovich
Loyiso Gola’s comic brilliance is a reason for even the most sceptic South Africans to feel very patriotic. Catch Gola on his one man tour across the country named, Gola for President. Can you imagine what South Africa would be like with a comedian for president?
Hurry - the Comedy Festival only runs until 4 October at Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre, before moving to Durban! Tickets are from R120 - R150.00. Discounts are available for block bookings. Book online through Computicket.
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