When comedy meets music

A stand-up comedy show with a musical twist. This is what Durban columnist, comic and filmmaker, Masood Boomgaard (pictured), says about his debut solo stand-up comedy venture that is set to wow audiences this weekend at Suncoast Supernova.

Titled Choons and Tunes, the show is a semi-autobiographical account of growing up and living in what he describes as a “tran- sitional South Africa”.

During our chat, the witty comedian elaborates on his comedic background and what people can expect.

“I’ve always liked comedy in the movie format and as I got older, I started watching a lot more stand-up comedy. I could always make my classmates and family laugh. I wasn’t a big practical joker or the class clown, but I was more of the person who always had a wisecrack for every occasion.”

Describing himself as ambitious, impatient and resilient, Boomgaard caught the comedy bug in 2007 when he auditioned for a stand-up competition at Sibiya and walked away with second place. “On that night, I didn’t really have an idea of what I was doing. I realised later that wasn’t the stuff I wanted to do. I wanted to be a lot more accessible to people, so I’ve toned down my act a lot since then. That was the first time I experienced the adrenaline rush and the feeling of being able to make someone laugh and hearing that laughter around you. It was so much fun. I think every comedian/artist gets butterflies before a gig, but once you’re up there and get that first laugh, you just go for it. Being anxious is all part of the experience of being on stage,” he says.

An exciting twist to the show is that Boomgaard will be joined on stage by the legendary Durban band, The Dukes Combo.

On what inspired the idea of a live band in the show, he says: “I wanted to do something different and give people some production value and variety. I wanted to have a live band as the opening act and make them part of the show as well. The idea came to do a couple of parody songs. I think the show will have a feel of a variety show opposed to a straight up comedy show. I like what Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien do on their talk shows with a live band. And we’re also doing parody songs, which are always fun. You use songs people are familiar with and take it in a different direction.”

According to the entertainer, audiences can expect an enjoyable night out.

“It’s not a show purely for comedy lovers. It’s a very interactive experience and a lot of the material is about everyday life and things people can relate to,” he says.

• Choons and Tunes is at Suncoast Supernova on Friday and Saturday. For tickets, call 0861 246 300.