Laughter guaranteed at Arts Fest
Family-friendly chuckles, wicked smut await
THERE is an entire chuckle fest ahead next week when the National Arts Festival opens in Grahamstown on Thursday June 30.
If you are in search of a good belly laugh here are a few suggestions, ranging from wickedly smutty to family-friendly:
Marc Lottering’s Hashtag Lottering is likely to be sold out, especially as he only has four shows from June 30 to July 3 at 9.30pm, so if you are a fan book today to avoid disappointment.
Festival favourite Rob van Vuuren this year is involved with several productions. If you haven’t seen him in action before, try The Best of Rob van Vuuren, a retrospective of his best stand-up comedy over the last 10 years. Van Vuuren is also the host of The Very Big Comedy Show on Wednesday July 6 at the Monument, which is his selection of top SA comics pulled into one show.
Don’t Burn Your Sausage was a hit when it opened last year, and the beefy boys who make it such fun are comedian Chris Forrest and chef Pete Goffe-Wood. Last year they stripped off down to the buff for their final show so who knows what this year will bring! Don’t Burn Your Sausage is at 6.30pm from June 30 to July 9 in a new venue at Eden Grove.
ý The title of Daniel “Deep Fried Man” Friedman’s show may be Deep Fried Man – In Good Taste but be warned he is edgy, wicked (and extremely funny). You might also enjoy the more aptly named Apologies in Advance with Deep Fried Man, Chris Forrest and Mojak Lehoko at the Rhodes Club each night at 9.30pm.
The musical Brothers Streep have three shows this year: Same Streep Different Day, Stand-up Musicians Plugged and What’s Up With Streep. Similar style to Deep Fried Man but not quite as evil.
Anything by Follow Spot Productions featuring brothers Ash and Brad Searle is likely to go down equally well with the teenagers and the parents. Big Boys The Third is their latest, and you may also enjoy Bon Soir 1.5, which is less of a straight comedy and more of a kind of mini-Cirque du Soleil show. It was nominated for the Circus Award in Perth.
The star of Defending the Caveman, comedy actor Tim Plewman, will premier his new offering, Gym and Tonic: The Memory of an Old Muscle at the Thomas Pringle Hall at the Monument from Thursday, June 30 to Monday July 4. The play delves into the lives of three over-50 friends.
Families should not miss the latest instalment in Raiders from Nicholas Ellenbogen. Raiders Spaced Out: The Moon Rock Musical is on every day at a new venue (Thomas Pringle) 10am. This hour of corny slapstick humour with imaginative props is always fun.
The Oxford Imps are an improvisational comedy troupe associated with Oxford University, made up of students and locals who do comedy similar to Whose Line Is It Anyway? If you enjoy Brit humour with a youthful twist this could be just the ticket for you.
Not sure even where to start? Each night at 11pm the Bowling Club in town will host stand-up comics, so take a chance.
The full programme is available at www.nationalartsfestival.co.za