Valencia Govindasamy
IF there’s one guy who is hilarious, yet cray-cray at the same time, it’s South African comedian, Dusty Rich. He never gives you a straight answer, but that’s what you get for chatting to a comic who is known for leaving his audiences in stitches. So for those of you who enjoy Rich’s humour, you can see him over the next few days as he returns to his hometown for The Durban Comedy Tour.
Taking place tomorrow at Amsterdam Comedy Club and Mozambique, Gateway, on Thursday at New York Comedy Club and on Friday at Home Bru in uMhlanga, some of Durban’s favourite comedians are on the bill including Carvin Goldstone (back from his sell-out Australia/New Zealand Tour), Ryn Whittal, Neil Green, Masood Boomgaard, Liam Johns, Jem Atkins, Vanessa Morton and Mohammad Vawda
During our chat, Rich tells Tonigh t about his technique as a comedian. Actually, it was more like kidding, I think: “You have to see it to believe it. I don’t plan my sets because then I have to pay tax. My comedy sets are like a pebble in a pond, it’s cheaper by the dozen. Do you know what I mean? I bury the hatchet under a flag pole. That’s pretty self- explanatory. It’s like a bird in the hand is worth water under the bridge. My comedy can only be explained with astronomy. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but there is probably alien life out there. It’s like trying to put chaos in a Tupperware.”
As the headliner for all three gigs taking place this week, Rich says he is glad to be working with the other comics on the bill: “They are all very funny and incredibly creative individuals. I love them, but in a family way, not in a sexual way.”
Having toured with Trevor Noah over the past two years, he also features on Noah’s latest DVD, Nationwild. He has appeared on Comedy Central in his own half-hour special.
So what can audiences expect from his gigs in Durban?
“Loadshedding, petrol price changes, some light rain on the escarpment… your regular scheduled programming. And me spitting the hahas,” he adds.
The Amsterdam gig will feature Rich alongside Green, Whittal, Shannon Rice and Alvin, while Mozambique in Gateway includes Whittal and Boomgaard. Goldstone, Green and Morton can be seen at New York Comedy Bar, while Atkins, Johns and Mo perform at Home Bru Graft Café in uMhlanga
l The Durban Comedy Tour with headliner Dusty Rich tomorrow at Amsterdam Comedy Bar and Mozmbique, Gateway. On Thursday at New York Comedy Bar and on Friday at Home Bru. For information on the gigs, visit www.onfirecomedy.co.za.