Comic to give a taste of ‘Here After’ in latest act
Funnyman aims to prove you reap what you sow in hair-raising show
OLLOWING the success of Evolved in 2012 and Mixed DNA last year, local funny man Joey Rasdien is back with yet another one-man show.
In two weeks time, the Joburg comedian will be debuting The Here After show for one night only at the Lyric Theatre on November 15.
The thought-provoking stand-up comedy will see Rasdien impart his take on the result of almost anything from dating, voting, drinking, driving, drinking and driving, to war and the day of judgment.
The Saturday Star caught up with Rasdien this week:
FQ: What can you tell us about your upcoming show,
A: I can tell you a lot but that would take up at least five pages. So all I will say is it’s comedy about cause and effect. Action and reaction. Drama and karma. What you sow is what you reap. Heaven and hell. What can my fans expect from the show? Laughter and hilarity with a drop of reality and a pinch of soul provoking.
Q: How did you come up with material?
A; The same way you come up with your questions for your interviews. It's our secret. But if you have been to any previous shows you will know that it takes lots of TV watching, reading, googling, chatting, Skyping, tweeting, Instagraming, face booking, whatsapping etc.
Q: Slightly off the topic, we would like to hear your thoughts on the sentencing of Oscar Pistorius. Do you think it was a fair sentence? And what do you think of South Africa's justice system?
A: This will actually take 100 pages to answer. But it's suffice to say that Advocate Barry Roux did his job. The judge did her job and the prosecution, theirs. What was put in front of the court (action, sow, cause) resulted in the judgment and sentencing (reap, effect, reaction). I believe that if we replace the name Oscar Pistorius in all the court records with John Doe and you read it from start to finish you will say wow the justice system in SA works. But somebody died. Not just anybody. Reeva Steekamp. You can’t bring her back to life. So Oscar will get what he deserves eventually. As will everybody else for that matter. Drama and karma.
Q: Does Joey Rasdien have any rituals before stepping out on to stage ? If so, what are they?
A: Yes, I pace with a ciga- rette. I never saw this as a ritual until a NY comic Ross Bennett made me aware of it. He used to count his money before he went on stage. One day I asked him and he said it’s the same reason why I pace around with a cigarette.
Q: You’ve done stand-up comedy for several years. Do you have a favourite show?
A: Most recently, Colour Blind, but the one I enjoyed the most was when I was on stage in London performing immediately before Chad Le Clos won the gold medal. The entire crowd began to sing Shosholoza while leaving the theatre walking towards the big screen outside. It was just happiness all round.
Q: If Joey Rasdien wasn’t a comedian, what would he be?
A: Maybe a Imam? Who knows? Maybe working in some corporate wearing a suit and a tie. Who knows?
Q: Who is your favourite South African comedian and why?
A: Is this a trick question. Who is your favourite writer and why?
Q: You’ve starred in a good few movies. What was the experience like acting in these movies and can we expect to see you on the big screen in the future?
A: The experience was like acting. That was the experience. Acting. And hopefully, yeah, I will be on the big screen again in the future. Shukran to you boeta and baie trama kassie for always supporting us. You have been there from the start.
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