Karinda Jagmohan
APROMINENT comedy couple’s hilarious take on love and family, related to their own world, is what sparked their upcoming theatre production Aya’s Boy at Sibaya izulu Theatre, set for Human Rights Day (March 21).
Aya’s Boy has been on circuit at various theatres across South Africa since 2013.
The play, produced by husband-wife duo Shika Budhoo and Dhaveshan Govender, revolves around a young man who is sent to his aya’s (grandmother’s) house after his naughty behaviour lands him in hot water.
Aya is determined to find a wife for her grandson to help mend his ways, or “set him straight”, according to Budhoo.
She and Govender are not just life partners, but also scriptwriting and acting buddies.
The pair wrote the script for Aya’s Boy together, developing it as they took interesting people and moments that existed within their lives and moulded them into hilarious characters and lines for their play.
“The script evolves as Dhaveshan and I rehearse together, so it’s never the same play as we’re always altering stuff when we find that spark of comedy,” Budhoo said.
She previously starred as Jackpot Julie (The Casino Queen) in a number of standup shows and voiced Mrs Singh Song in Lotus FM’S radio soapie Lollipop Lane.
Govender, an awardwinning actor and writer, received critical acclaim for his one-man show, King of Old Trafford.
Both step into the shoes of several characters for Aya’s Boy, including Aya, Thatha and Pooven, “The Fresh
Prince of Montclair”, and Vaneshree, “The Gadhra Bean Aya’s Boy. Queen”.
Budhoo said it was important for audiences to continue visiting theatres for their dose of comedy: “When our characters interact with the audience, for example when Aya calls an audience member to show him how to propose and he has to find his ‘Pushpa’, it’s great watching people laugh until they turn red! It’s something unique.”
The play is a mix of young and old, displayed in one scene where Aya is taught a remixed version of the popular Fresh Prince of Bel Air rap song. (Scan the AR code to watch the video.)
Tickets cost R120 and are available from Computicket and the Sibaya Casino box office.