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The Very Big Comedy Show — Cape Town
GENRE: Comedy
FORMAT: Video
DURATION: 60 mins
AGES: 16 +
LANGUAGE: English
AVAILABLE FROM: July 9
We could all go blue in the face repeating just how different, odd and maybe even “lacking” a live-streamed performance can be, but the first installment of the National Art's Festival's The Very Big Comedy Show proves that there is definitely some merit in having the ability to bring laughter into our homes with the simple click of a button.
The show, created by multi-talented South African comedian Rob van Vuuren and TaylorMade productions, has three shows on the virtual NAF this year — all three of which will be presented as a live-stream performance and then made available as videos on demand on the festival website.
Kicking things off with the Cape Town segment of The Very Big Comedy Show, Cape Town funny man and accomplished host Alan Committie was joined by popular stand-up comedian Marc Lottering, energetic entertainer Mel Jones and Comics Choice Award winning stand-up comedian, KG Mogadi.
From lockdown stories to family politics and delving into the many conversations South Africans are having at the moment — to take the jab (vaccine) or not to take the jab — the three zany comedians share their experiences, one liners, advice and more all the while eliciting some much-needed belly laughs.
If Lottering's comical tales of adopting his rescue pup Hamilton are not for you, then maybe Jones's brutally and hilariously honest account of what being a single woman in lockdown is like may be the thing you need to forget about the fact that you're stuck at home — with no booze — once again.
Telling us about their personal trials, misfortunes and even milestones over the past year, Lottering, Jones and Mogadi give us a way to crack up about our shared experience as South Africans and look at all the bad — and the good — through a lens of giggles and snorts.
Introduced by Committie as the “comedy dwarf”, Van Vuuren also makes an appearance in this performance offering up some healthy banter and a couple of lighthearted laughs.
Honestly it's a breath of fresh air to be given a reason to laugh at and make light of everything we've been through over the past 20-odd months; from lockdowns and the closure of iconic SA businesses like Greyhound and Musica to Zuma's recent jail sentence.
This year, The Very Big Comedy shows will see 12 comedians from three different cities around SA, namely Cape Town, Makhanda and Johannesburg, take to the virtual stage.
And no, it is not the same; we're not all laughing in a room together and if you'd like to show the performers how much you're enjoying yourself you'll need to type up some version of “hahahaha” or “lol” in the zoom chat box, but there is still great fun to be had and great laughs to be shared.
The Very Big Comedy Show — Cape Town live stream was easy to watch and while interaction with the performers is limited to an on screen chat pop-up window, enjoying a stellar line-up of comedians in the comfort of your living room is not a bad way to spend an evening.
The second installment of The Very Big Comedy Show — Makhanda was live streamed on Saturday and is now also available as a video-on-demand. The third installment will live-stream from Johannesburg on July 17. Tickets are available on the NAF website.
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