Cape Town - British comedian Russell Brand will favour local audiences with his trademark comic style – erratic, volatile, unpredictable to the point of manifesting attention deficit disorder – during his first world tour later this year.
Brand’s Messiah Complex show stops off at the Teatro at Montecasino in Johannesburg (November 15, 16 and 17) and then Artscape Opera House (November 19 and 20).
The comedian has dedicated this show to four men identified as manifesting the syndrome evoked in the title: Che Guevera, Gandhi, Malcolm X and Jesus. He notes, deadpan, in a press statement promoting the show: “I know this is what they would have wanted.”
A messiah complex, in case you didn’t get it, is a diagnosed mental disorder in which you think you are the appointed saviour of the human race. Not Brand, you understand, but the historical figures who provide his subject matter.
Last week, Brand spoke to Weekend Argus before dates in Ottawa and Toronto.
“These four men came from minorities and overcame and overturned the odds.”
And then, the way Brand sees it? Well, you’ll have to watch the show to find out.
The 38-year-old believes he has developed the skills necessary to talk about a serious subject like human rights activists, while keeping it humorous and challenging at the same time.
“What about their lives? Did you know Malcolm X was a golfer? Did you know Che had a hygiene issue? Did you know Gandhi had a peculiar relationship with his wife? This helps us look at our own flaws,” he says.
Brand says he counts these four men as great personal heroes.
Describing his research for the show, he says: “I have read their writings and spoken to people and academics about them.” He admitted to reading the Bible in preparation for this show.
“People have been very positive about the show,” he notes. Then he is back in character again – or is he?
“We can reconcile ourselves to greatness,” he says on the strength of audience responses to the piece in Nevada and at the Just for Laughs Festival in Chicago.
This will be Brand’s first trip to South Africa.
“I believe you have beautiful wildlife and urban conflict. I believe you are a country looking to reform yourself. But you have one of the greatest leaders in the world: Nelson Mandela… You also play good rugby and cricket.”
Brand is one of a few British stars who have a following in the US, having once been married to American pop star Katy Perry.
The erstwhile Mr Perry’s comedy, he says, is that of ”a trickster, a character that can be found in Native American culture, Aboriginal culture and in cartoon characters like Bugs Bunny”.
It is sometimes joked that Brand looks like Jesus. He told The Good Weekend he likes the comparison and will therefore keep his beard.
Now a divorced man, when asked if he sees himself married again one day he replies: “Yes, I do see myself married. I could get married to someone who thinks I am gorgeous in Cape Town, man or woman. I could get married to someone who thinks I look like Jesus.”
* Tickets for Brand’s Messiah Complex are available for between R300 and R500. Book at Computicket on 0861 915 8000 or at www.computicket.com or call Artscape Dial-A-Seat on 021 421 7695.
Weekend Argus