Darren Maule gets it right on two very different fronts
Radio jock lays on hilarious jokes while celebrating sponsorship accomplishments
ENDORPHINS flooded the Grill Room at the Durban Country Club on Tuesday night thanks to comedian Darren Maule.
An evening with the entertainer and popular East Coast Radio morning jock was the reason that about 60 guests turned up at the posh place.
His effervescent manager, Claire Clarke, who doubled as programme director on the night, explained that the evening was to remind the guests — including event and marketing managers — about the comedian and create awareness about his sponsorship accomplishments. He is the South African brand ambassador for a brand of coffee (on hand to supply cups of the brewed bean of your choice) and a type of the electronic cigarette that has become the latest trend.
In between a number of words from some of his other sponsors — the host venue, a cycle shop and a diving school — there was a teary moment when a sixyear-old fan read out his e-mail to the jock with the words “I want your job” as the subject line.
Maule clocked up shrieks of laughter for his Julius Malema and Jacob Zuma impersonations, as well as his one-liners, including “Do homeless people get knockknock jokes?”, “Do bald men get hairline fractures?” and “Can fat people go skinny dipping? Well they can, but they shouldn’t.”
eThekwini speaker Logie Naidoo, who arrived late — I had seen him earlier in action at the official launch of The Pavilion shopping centre’s food court when he introduced the keynote speaker, newly re-elected MEC for economic development, tourism and agriculture Mike Mabuyakhulu — was also a target for Maule’s ribbing, but took it in his stride.
When he realised Naidoo had made a late appearance, Maule commented that it must be an important event because of his presence. The sentiment had been echoed earlier by Mabuyakhulu at the food court launch.
The evening was a hoot and a great way of reinforcing awareness of Maule’s comic prowess.
On the subject of food, plates of sublime nosh were dished out to the starving guests at the launch of Café Vigour at Suncoast casino on Thursday morning. The new café at the entertainment spot is the latest in the Tsogo Sun group’s roll-out of caféculture chain restaurants.
Suncoast casino’s marketing communication managers, Louise Howell and Kelly Graham, handled the formalities and introduced food and beverages manager Puroshini Naidoo.
The newly appointed Naidoo, along with executive chef Justin Oliver (move over, Jamie) came up with an interesting menu.
Our taste buds were treated to a platter of mini lamb and butter bean bunnies, smoked salmon wraps, Thai noodle and fish cakes, tandoori lamb and lentil pizzas and bacon and banana French toast.
The proof of the pudding — a crunchy waffle with ice cream and sweet toppings — was truly in the eating.