WHEN the infamous Karou Charou first staged his comedy show Kama Sutra a few years back, many had assumed it would not go down well with what was perceived as a largely conservative audience.
But he’s proved naysayers wrong and returns to the stage with a sequel, Kama Sutra 2: Come Again following the soldout run of the its prequel.
In a press release, Karou describes what now seems to be headed into the “franchise” category of comedy as a show that has raised the bar as far as Indian adult comedy is concerned.
He said he’ll be tackling many aspects of sex and sexuality, with the intent being “to build healthier sexual relationships between couples, and as such he takes on the role of a sex coach”. He said he will encourage “talk”, advising couples to “ask and thou shall receive”; plans to introduces the “art” of role play and will apparently expound on the pros and cons of internet porn, among other aspects.
We caught up with the self-proclaimed sexpert to find out more about his brand of adult comedy.
Asked if he was apprehensive about how this kind of comedy would be received by his audience, Karou said: “I would say that as an entertainer I was in touch with the people on the ground. In my previous shows I was pushing the envelope, testing the waters, and the audiences responded positively. I had a sense that they were ready for this. The self-appointed spokesmen for the (Indian) community, who spoke out against the show, were “old farts” who were out of touch with the community. The thousands who passed through the theatre doors were proof of this,” he said cheekily.
But when he walked out on stage for his first Kama Sutra performance, was he nervous?
“Actually, I wasn’t nervous at all. I was confident that I had done my research and that the production would go down well. How well, was what I was eager to find out. As the laughs came flooding in I was quietly smiling to myself. I was right, the Indian audience had evolved. They were ready.”
With Kama Sutra having sold out wherever it toured, we asked him what about the show does he think was key to its success?
“It’s actually a combination of factors. I tried to keep it real. The audience could relate to my stories and anecdotes. Many had ‘been there, done that’, so the material resonated with them. Comments after the show also revealed that they found it very educational. In fact, an educator once remarked that, bar the f-bombs, the show could be used in schools as part of sex education. And, of course, the humour was brought in at just the right moments.”
Kama Sutra 2: Come Again is rated for over 18s and adults only, but Karou adds that being over 18 does not necessarily qualify you as an adult. He is also adamant that “sensitive people, with no pulse” should stay at home.
The show stages at Izulu Theatre at Sibaya Casino from March 13 to 15, with shows at 8pm on Friday and Saturday, 3pm on Sunday. Tickets: R80 to R150 from Computicket and Shoprite/Checkers.