I have learnt over the years to expect the unexpected at the Jive Cape Town Funny Festival. The show is always well produced and elegantly turned out, and this year goes down as a vintage year. But expect to be surprised.
Artistic director and festival producer Eddy Cassar, has crafted a selection of top international variety acts to complement a stellar local line-up of comedians. The result is a smorgasbord of vaudeville variety and comedy, which manifests itself in a 100-minute marathon of belly laughs.
The variety acts shine on the show and are so different from each other that as soon as they leave the stage, you want them back.
Expect contortionism, juggling, balancing and magic. These arts make up the vaudeville acts. However, you’ll be surprised by the audience surf, the shadow puppetry and the tennis racquets.
Performed by artists at the pinnacle of their craft, the gala show can be best described as an evening of five-star entertainment which is not to be missed.
Mario: Queen of the Circus from New York, Captain Frodo from Norway and Londoner Paul Dabek make up the international contingent.
Crowd favourites, Alan Committie and Marc Lottering do not disappoint. Committie is masterful in warming the audience and preparing the stage for the acts. His rapport with specific audience members is charming and hilarious.
Lottering is topical, clever and animated. His fan base spans every family in Cape Town and they were at the Baxter Theatre in their numbers to watch him live.
Mel Jones is refreshingly hilarious and one can’t help wondering why this comic is not up there with the greats of the industry. Her take on growing older as a single mother, is classical.
Gauteng comic Loyiso Madinga's material is insightful, giving a look into the music played in Johannesburg clubs. It’s hilarious.
The Cape Town Funny Festival delivers on its slogan, as "Cape Town’s winter comedic tonic".
I certainly agree with that. Actually, it’s a great night out and is highly recommended.
* The Jive Cape Town Funny Festival delivered by Turkish Airlines runs at the Baxter Theatre from July 10 to August 6. Tickets cost R190 each and there are generous bookings with group bookings. Book at Computicket.