South Africa’s most famous “woman”
Posted on
June 29th, 2009
by Astrid Stark
Darling is a tiny village (blink and you’ll miss it) about an hour’s drive from Cape Town along the West Coast road. Here you will find satirist and performer extra-ordinaire Evita Bezuidenhout’s Perron (station platform), with a museum or as Evita calls it, ‘Nauseum’, that is probably the biggest collection of apartheid era pictures, posters, symbols and letters in existence (unless there is more, buried in shame somewhere). Evita is the alter ego of South Africa’s most renowned political satirist, Pieter Dirk-Uys: our own Dame Edna, and she presents biting political satire shows at her very own theatre.
In her gardens you will find a Boerassic Park filled with statues and kitsch objects that reflect the ridiculous side of the political world. The most memorable being a statue of the AWB (right wing) leader, Eugene Terreblanche falling of his horse (an actual event).
Once you’re done with reflection and laughter, you can sit down to a wholesome plate of South African boerekos and a show. During flower season you can take a slow drive through the Darling region and enjoy the spectacular fields of indigenous flowers and fynbos. It is recommended to stay over for at least a night at one of the cosy guesthouses and allow the tranquillity to saturate your soul before continuing your journey.
