Peru and Bala are back!
Harry Mama chats to JOLENE MARRIAH about Peru and Bala and their upcoming show, Harry and the Uncles, at Sibaya Casino’s iZulu Theatre, October 21-22.
What can audiences expect? Also, the characters are always complaining. What’s the reason this time?
Check here – I just got out of prison, right. So I’m not really complaining. I was inside for six months for selling pirate DVDs of Peru & Bala… plus the cops found one-two veggies in my stall that were expired! But I swear that I had nothing to do with those things. I have no idea how those Captain Jack Sparrow DVDs ended up under my mattress, or how those veggies went off. I bought those potatoes fresh-fresh from my Clairwood boys, and they told me that if I freeze the potatoes every night, they would last at least three months on my shelf! Wait until I find those boys again…
So anyway, in this show I’m just popping in to Uncle Peru’s house to see what he’s been up to. Plus maybe I’ll score one free lunch. You heard he just got back from India? The good news is that Uncle Peru’s Amma is doing much better. But Aunty Pathma… I heard she’s in a coma now. She’s critical, eh! So I rather go pay my respects, before she kicks it!
What have the uncles been up to since their retirement from Lotus FM?
My boys in the jail reckon that Uncle Bala has been doing odd jobs around the house, just to score some brownie points with Aunty Sours. But apparently that plan hasn’t been working out too well for him. And word around town is that Uncle Peru has put up CCTV cameras all over his house. But you’ll have to come to the show to find out why.
Are Pathma and Savithree keeping the uncles busy?
See here – I just told you that Aunty Pathma is in a coma. Which part of “in a coma” didn’t click for you? Never mind. You heard Uncle Peru went and hired one professional nurse to look after Aunty Pathma? Ja. I heard the nurse has become so close to the family that Uncle Peru even calls her “Lovie” now! And as for Aunty Sours, don’t even talk. My heart bleeds just thinking about it. I don’t know how Uncle Bala is managing. Nothing right he can do. Whole day she’s barking-barking by him and staying!
What does Heritage Month mean for Harry and the uncles?
I heard the uncles saying that Heritage Month means that it’s a time to celebrate your roots – or something like that. But I really don’t know what they know about roots. All I know is that I got arrested because the beetroots in my stall was also expired.
How will you celebrate Heritage Day tomorrow (Thursday)?
Well, not to speak a word of lie, I’m not very flush at the moment, right. So I had a brain wave – I’m going to take my wife Saras and gatecrash my inlaws’ function. We never get an official invitation or anything, but I’m sure they must have been thinking of us. Imagine what a nice surprise it will be for them to see us tomorrow. I’m sure they won’t be able to contain their emotions. That look on my mother-in-law’s face when she sees me by the gate. It will be priceless.
What makes the uncles proud to be Indian?
Okay, picture the scene. A nice thitha mutton bunny… a double spoek-and-diesel… a game of thunee with the boys… some chutney music playing on the sound system… all the connections laughing and sharing stories. That’s how we roll. You feel me? How can you not be proud to be Indian?
What specials will Pathma and Savithree be cooking for Heritage Day?
For the third time – Aunty Pathma can’t cook because she’s in a coma! But I heard rumours that Aunty Sours is going to take out her special party plates – you know, the ones that only come out when visitors come by the house. No, not because she’s planning to cook or anything. She’s taking them out so that Uncle Bala can wash them again! Not nice to laugh by other people’s problems.
Are the uncles fasting or will they be going to some braai in the Lugs without Pathma and Savithree’s knowledge?
What fasting? At their age, the uncles can’t do anything fast. In fact, I think they’ll probably sneak off slowly to Prem’s Tavern to have onetwo shots of courage with the boys. And by the way, I was behind bars for the last six months right – nobody told me that Lugs is open again!
How’s the uncles’ heart, sugar and pressure?
Not bad eh. They got liver and kidney now too…
Why should readers attend the show?
Who doesn’t want to laugh and have a good jol? The uncles retired from radio, but they never retire from entertaining their millions of fans. If you want your stomach to hurt with laughter, be there!
There will even be a show at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg on October 3. Book through Computicket.