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An  Audience with

Pieter-Dirk Eish!

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REVIEWS OF AN AUDIENCE WITH PIETER-DIRK EISH!  in DURBAN — FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013

* * * * *  EVERY LAUGH IS TRULY SOUTH AFRICAN

Master satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys brings a fresh take to theatre in his latest show currently touring Durban AN AUDIENCE WITH PIETER-DIRK EISH!

– Latoya Newman, Daily News, 5 March 2013   

Something of a nostalgic offering, the show journeys through 65 years of South Africa, touching on a host of areas — from politics and politicians to how apartheid affected South Africans and our behaviour; to freedom of speech and expression. Celebrated for his popular no-holds-barred alter egos, Uys brings all these characters to the party; each offering their own unique story of how they fit into South Africa, and each a reflection of the country’s political and social make-up.

See Evita Bezuidenhout as a new ANC cadre, or Nowell Fine celebrating 40 years in the public eye, Malema in Gucci or chains, one or two Mandelas, a Tutu, a PW or a Pik, a Boeremag character in his glory days and in the now — and so many more. The best part of the this show, though, is its concept, moulded on a reality entertainment show, which sees the audience actively participating. Of course the difference with AN AUDIENCE WITH PIETER-DIRK EISH! is that it is far from being purely entertaining. Yes, Uys will keep you rolling in the aisles with his humour and in performing his alter egos, but the show is also a thought-provoking one. It guides the audience on a journey through South Africa’s history and how this has effected change — for better and/or worse — resulting in the South Africa of today.

Every night sees a different show of 90 minutes being staged, because the audience decides what they want to see. With a choice of 15 boxes on stage, a member of the audience chooses a number. Out come characters and entertainment that could be either a drama, a comedy, a farce or a shocking expose. Uys’s promise that “every box holds a familiar secret … every laugh truly South African” proves true. And as he explained on opening night last week, the show is similar to the old TV show Pick a Box, but here the boxes aren’t full filled with prizes, but a politician … so often we call it “pick a doos” — a comment that had the audience in stitches.

But the show does not only focus on South Africa, and Uys often puts the spotlight on pressing issues elsewhere in Africa. AN AUDIENCE WITH PIETER-DIRK EISH! is one show that should not be missed, particularly for the youth. This offers a broader perspective on the history of South Africa, changes in the political and socio-political climate, and how these have and are affecting our present and our future. When I was in high school, my history teacher, Mrs Martin, ensured that we always consulted a range of text books, not just the prescribed ones, in order to be exposed to the different ways in which South Africa’s history was interpreted over the years. This, I gather, was her attempt at helping us develop more informed opinions. Shows like AN AUDIENCE WITH PIETER-DIRK EISH! should also serve as a development aid for all — including our youth.

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UYS’S PICK-A-BOX SHOW IS UNPREDICTABLE AND BRILLIANT

– Estelle Sinkins, The Witness, 7 March 2013

I am, and probably always will be, a huge fan of master satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys, but I was intrigued to see what my (much younger) friend would make of him, especially after she revealed she knew little, or nothing about Uys’s work. Uys himself is used to young South Africans who view our collective past as history and he happily invited people to keep their cell phones on so that they could “Google things they don’t know”.

In AN AUDIENCE WITH PIETER-DIRK EISH! there are 15 boxes on stage and random members of the audience get to choose a number without knowing which of Uys’s characters will make an appearance. It is, he says, a kind of pick-a-box show, or as he calls it, “pick-a-d**s”. First of out the box was Winnie Madikizela-Mandela complete with chic ethnic outfit, tyre bangles and handcuffs. As he transforms into the former first lady, Uys shared a couple of anecdotes, including one in which he provided the entertainment for the ANC  at a party in Bloemfontein on December 16 1994. Not realising his target was in the audience he “did Winnie”, only to spot her a little while later. It was, he said, a hairy moment, especially when he was approached by her bodyguards afterwards. Instead of being beaten to a pulp or hauled off to the nearest lock-up, the bodyguards congratulated him on having the guts to impersonate her. As for Madikizela-Mandela, she reportedly loved it.

As the evening progressed, Uys transformed into: Grace Mugabe singing “Grace Mugabe wants a farm” to the tune of Old MacDonald; an angry rightwing Afrikaner bemoaning the changes to his country; a coterie of National Party leaders, including Hendrik Verwoerd, JG Strydom, PW Botha and FW de Klerk; ANC leaders, Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Motlanthe, and Jacob Zuma (complete with showercap); and everyone’s favourite kugel, Nowell Fine, who was getting ready to go to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to support her gardener.

My favourite sketch, however, involved Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who is himself a huge fan of Uys’s work, so much so, in fact, that he and his wife often visit Evita se Perron in Darling, and actually request to satirist to do a Tutu skit. The affection Uys feels for the ‘Arch” was clear to see. As he says: “If you practise humanity long enough, you get to be a pretty decent human being.”

There was no Evita, Pik Botha or Julius Malema on press night, but that’s the magic of AN AUDIENCE WITH PIETER-DIRK EISH! — you simply don’t know who will make an appearance. And underlying the sharp wit and humour, there remains Uys’s genuine concern for South Africa’s fledgling democracy, in particular threats to freedom of expression and the seemingly endless corruption, which is slowly but surely eating away at the goodwill of the people. He also expresses his distaste for the 2011 census question about race, saying it reminded him of the classification system used in apartheid times.

Watching AN AUDIENCE WITH PIETER-DIRK EISH! is a reminder of just how important Uys’s role as a thorn in the side of those in power has been over the past 45 years and how important it still is. As for my young friend, she thought Uys was brilliant. He certainly is.

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 EISH — UYS IS ACE!

– Patrick Compton, The Mercury, 28 February 2013

Our national treasure, still pulsing with vitality at the age of 67, has found a new way to project the full range of his concerns, artistic and political, as well as offer his audiences a kind of autobiography.

Pieter-Dirk Uys’s method is simple as he exploits the television game show Pick-a-box theme. Fifteen of them are lined up on the stage behind him and members of the audience are invited to pick one.

Each box contains a few pieces of costume, maybe a few items of jewellery. They are built into an identity, freeing memories (his and ours) from the past and a political or social theme, serious or farcical, is quickly constructed. It’s a lovely idea because it offers the audience a way of shaping his shows, creating a new rhythm for his performance.

Half a dozen boxes remained unopened on opening night, creating a tantalising sense of anticipation over what you’ve missed as well as what you’ve experienced. The obvious solution? Attend the next show!

The boxes represent, of course, a glittering array of Uys’s past triumphs in the field of political satire. There are portraits of PW Botha and his wagging finger (of course), Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (a tingling mixture of admiration and deep concern), the terrifying depiction of the wife of Africa’s Pol Pot, Grace Mugabe, and a brilliantly achieved, mocking portrait of a succession of former NP presidents chanting the old national anthem.

But although apartheid is dead, and God is no longer an Afrikaner, and Uys can finally celebrate that he is a South African, his concerns for the present and the future are no less urgent. Huge dangers still oppress our fledgling democracy. Uys remains a street warrior on the issue of HIV and Aids, and he continues to fiercely defend freedom of speech — on and off-stage. His most positive thoughts on opening night were contained in his witty, warm portrayal of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond tutu — a man he clearly loves and admires — who has never taken a backward step when he has needed to speak out against some of the iniquities perpetuated by the ANC, not least the “Zumafication” of the country.

Woven through all the material is a touching portrait of the man himself, including a fascinating journey into his past when he first fell in love with the theatre as he heard the hissing of the rising curtain. What must he have thought, in his early days as a youngster, when he saw Shakespeare’s ‘Richard lll’ in Afrikaans? (“’n perd, ‘n perd, my plaas vir ‘n perd!”)

On opening night we also touched base with the ultimate kugel, Nowell Fine, the luminous Madiba and other players, contemptible or otherwise, in the rainbow nation. Perhaps tonight you will meet Evita Bezuidenhout, Mother Theresa, Bambi Kellermann and Pik Botha. Whoever your companions are, Uys had made sure that each evening will be unique.

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AN AUDIENCE WITH PIETER-DIRK EISH

– Keith Millar, artSMart, 28 February 2013

Words such as icon, legend or idol are far too easy to use when describing popular sportsmen, musicians and performers. However in the case of Pieter-Dirk Uys, they seem almost inadequate to describe the enormous impact this author, actor and social activist has had on the entertainment industry in our country for the past 45 years.

This much loved master satirist is undoubtedly a national treasure.

An Audience with Pieter-Dirk Eish starts with 15 numbered boxes on stage. Random members of the audience are invited to select a number and out of each box appears one of the many characters made famous by Uys. The result is that the show is different every night, but rest assured it will always be topical, relevant and hilariously funny.

First on stage last night was Winnie Mandela. Dressed in her usual ethnic outfit and with small car tyres as bangles, she relates her role in the history of our country. She then morphs into Robert Mugabe’s wife Grace, who sings Old Mugabe Wants Your Farm, He Hi He Hi Ho to the tune of Old MacDonald.

Out of Box Number 1 came an angry Boeremag member who is struggling to survive in our modern democracy. He was followed by Nelson Mandela who was portrayed with not a little reverence and respect. He is accompanied by the other ANC State Presidents, Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Motlanthe and finally Jacob Zuma in a shower cap.

Uys’ impersonation of Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu is one of his best. He depicts this great humanitarian with obvious affection and considerable humour. Not much affection was weighted, however, for the parade of National Party leaders which were next. All chanted their rhetoric and hate speech to the tune of the old national anthem. We also met white liberal Kugel Nowell Fine who was preparing to appear before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. She seemed confused by what is happening in her beloved ANC and country.

Finally Uys offered a tribute to the much-loved Helen Suzman as she faced and bettered the mighty National Party in Parliament.

All that and we didn’t even get to see Tannie Evita, Bambie Kellerman, Pik Botha or Julies Malema! It certainly seems as if another visit to this show is in the cards.

In a celebration of free speech Pieter-Dirk Uys, helps us laugh at our sacred cows, our uncertain future and to embrace our young democracy. At the same time he voices real concern for issues such as HIV AIDs, threats to freedom of expression and the Protection of State Information Bill.

An Audience with Pieter-Dirk Uys will always be hugely entertaining and very funny. However, you will also be educated in matters which are highly significant and thought-provoking. The show runs at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre at UKZN until March 10 with shows Tuesdays to Saturdays at 20h00 (Sundays at 15h00). Tickets R140 booked through Computicket on 0861 915 8000 or www.computicket.com

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OUT THE BOX MAGIC!  

Veteran social commentator and satirist supreme holds the audience in the palms of his hands from start to finish in his latest offering An Audience with Pieter-Dirk EISH! The evening’s entertainment depends on choices made by members of the audience who ‘pick a box’ and voila! out pops a character, a skit, a piece of burning satire, a joke. Only Uys could carry off such a coup with such aplomb and graciousness!

– Gisele Turner, Going Places, 28 February 2013

Since he started working with the endlessly ridiculous material provided by the leaders of South African government, Pieter-Dirk Uys has gathered an enviable repertoire of characters and skits. So his latest production shows off just how much he has to offer: his characters lie in a series of boxes and the show is uniquely created by the audience for the audience. Now 67 years of age, Pieter has honed his skills to perfection and lost none of his sharpness along the way. What a testimony to the decades of brilliant satire and dedicated comment that he has given to South Africa!

“People have a lot of trouble pronouncing my name these days,” he says his blues eyes twinkling with wicked glee as he explains the title of his show.  “They say Pieter-Dirk what? Uys. What? Uys? Oh! Eish! Yes, that right.”  Uys is dressed in black T-shirt and pants, his balding head shining under the spotlights and apart from the fact that his posture is good and his energy huge, he could be any hip pensioner. But, he immediately engages with his audience with a level of enthusiasm that is riveting; and his multiple transformations leave us in no doubt as to how young and together his thinking is. Totally au courrant with the latest and brimming with dangerously truthful comments, he moves effortlessly from direct communication with the audience, to inspiring history lesson, to pure theatricals. And he plies his trade with the air of a man who truly loves his work.

Creating magic by talking about his early experience as a school-boy entranced with a production of Shakespeare’s ‘Lear’ he launches into an introduction about himself and his work that simmers with passion. Having set us up, he asks the first member of the audience to pick a box out of the tantalising 15 lined-up mid-stage; and while he unpacks the costume he keeps up inspired patter; like a magician or a master chef he talks as he goes and before we know it wham! the character has arrived. It’s Winnie Mandela and she doesn’t stay long which is a wise move. He follows her up with a little encore; a sizzling portrayal of Grace Mugabe as the lethal power behind the throne in Zimbabwe and we are left with her grasping a little piece of Stellenbosch’s primed farm land. Eish!

From Box Number 1 comes a white South African male, heavily accented, past and present. Nothing much has changed in terms of attitude and the point is clear. Now he pulls a Kgalema Motlanthe out of the bag and follows this with a lightening sketch of Jacob Zuma (with his ‘gang bang of first ladies’) and a speedy reference to showers. Out comes a purple dress, a golden hat and we are in the dizzy presence of Desmond Tutu. Later we are treated to short sharp snappy moments with Malan, Vorster, Botha and de Klerk, amongst others. Eish!

Another box and the towel is swathed around his head as Uys transforms into outrageous kugel Nowell Fine, earrings dangling, false eyelashes flapping and tongue wrapping itself around some very biting material.  90 minutes fly by, the laughs come rolling out. His energy does not flag. Suddenly he’s bidding us good night and thanking us and we are queuing up and shuffling up the stairs out into the warm Durban night. I can’t imagine a better way to spend an evening!

An Audience with Pieter-Dirk EISH! plays the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre until 10 March. Tickets are R140 and are available through Computicket.

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An Audience with Pieter-Dirk EISH

– Dawn Hayes, Livewire, 27 February 2013

Opening at the Sneddon Theatre last night, Pieter-Dirk Uys makes a welcome return to the Durban stage. While the characters are familiar, the tone of this performance is something refreshingly new.  We are not spectators but participants and the audience is an integral part of the show.  There are 15 boxes on the stage and as the house lights are turned up, Uys chats to his audience and draws everyone into his world.  Various members of the audience are asked to “Pick-a-Box” and the character inside that box then comes to life. This means that every performance will be different. We were treated to 8 of the 15 possible characters including Archbishop Tutu, Winnie Mandela, Nowell Fine, the White South African and an array of prominent politicians from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Although many of the episodes are familiar, Uys keeps his show up-to-date by referring to today’s news and his witty one liners are, as to be expected, cutting edge and loaded with double meaning, as well as superb satire. A word of warning — concentrate on every word!  It is the quick and clever asides and comments which had the audience in stitches, just as much as the character sketches. You don’t want to miss a word!

A truly South African star, Pieter Dirk Uys continues to expose on stage the colourful South African characters we love to hate and as always, he gets away with it! Off stage he would probably be arrested for his comments; on stage he is nothing short of brilliant!

Don’t miss “EISH”!!

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