Cheese and Wine. Izikhothane and Ultra Mel custard. Some things just go well together. Music and comedy have also been found to be a good match.
From short-lived initiatives by big brands like DStv to long-standing festivals such as Rocking the Daisies, it seems that wherever there is someone dancing, a space can be made for that person to laugh too. The Market Theatre in Newtown, Joburg, is the latest venue to come to this realisation. So from this week to December 9, you can attend the Comedy and Music Extravaganza, sponsored by Metro FM.
Unlike other music and comedy shows, the extravaganza will separate the two and host comedians on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and showcase musicians from Thursday to Sunday. The extravaganza began with veteran funnyman Mark Banks and comedian/actor Alan Committee and saw Thandiswa Mazwai blaze the stage.
On Tuesday night, a cappella group The Soil and new kids on the block The Muffinz will share the stage. In the coming weeks you can expect to see Eugene Khoza, Trevor Gumbi, Tumi Morake and Siv Ngesi represent the comedy side while musos such as Zahara, Zakes Bantwini, Lira, Paul Hanmer, Thebe, Trompies, Rebecca Malope, Hip Hop Pantsula and many more perform.
An avid fan of South African comedy, HHP aka Hip Hop Pantsula, aka Jabba, says he plans on jamming with a diverse audience at the extravaganza. He said: “I’m going to be giving people that live Jabba as well as elements of me with a DJ and backtrack just so I can cater for different people. And there will be lots of dancing.” Although Mpho Popps Modikoane won’t be on the comedy line-up, HHP says Popps is one of his favourite comedians in the country.
“That guy right there,” exclaims the Bosso Ke Mang motswakolista, “he has this realism. He could be that guy from your workplace who you meet at the water cooler and he just makes you laugh. Or even that guy you meet at the club. He’s just that believable. He doesn’t get up there and put on a comedian face and accent. That’s just him all day, every day.” If The Comedy and Music Extravaganza is successful this year, maybe next year they could book Popps for the silly season.
For now, though, they have more than enough stars to make you move your body or keep you in stitches.
• The Comedy and Music Extravaganza is at The Market Theatre in Newtown until December 9. Tickets from R75. Book at Computicket.