< previous next >
REVIEW of AN AUDIENCE WITH PIETER-DIRK EISH! in JOHANNESBURG
— SEPTEMBER /OCTOBER 2015
**** Bear the brunt of genius
– Leon van Nierop, The Citizen, 23 September 2015
There is simply no one better than Pieter-Dirk Uys for the times we find ourselves in.
In this time of load shedding, a weak rand, political corruption, incompetence and the devastating Springbok loss, we desperately need humour — more specifically, Pieter-Dirk Uys’s special brand. He is the only comedian who can still make us laugh at the problems that beset our country, although it may feel as if you are swallowing barbed wire.
I have seen several versions of this show before, and the opening night I attended, Pieter-Dirk was in top form. To be honest: I have never attended a show of his where there wasn’t a standing ovation and this one was no different. I was also privileged enough to have attended his earliest ground-breaking shows in the Space Theatre in Cape Town in the early ’70s, so I have indeed witnessed the evolution of his genius as a comedian.
Like his previous shows under the same name, there are about 15 boxes on stage with numbers on them. Pieter walks onto the stage, nonchalant, charming, smiling and energetic in spite of his 70 years and asks the audience to choose a box. But beware if the house lights go on. He will spot you if you try to hide! On the particular evening I attended, he suddenly asked: “Who here is proud and out and gay?” Interestingly enough several hands froze in mid-air with only one brave gentleman in the front row putting up his entire hand to choose a box.
The success of Uys’s performance lies in his wit and ability to improvise and keep the show in line with what is happening. Heaven help the Springboks in his forthcoming shows! One by one Pieter pulls out costumes and changes into well-known characters in front of our eyes. But it is tannie Evita that is his and the audience’s favourite. She comes off spectacularly, to say the least.
So if you are in the doldrums for whatever reason, this brilliant show will console, entertain and invigorate you.
< previous next >
top
__________________________
next >
