KNOWN to leave audiences in stitches from all the laughter are comedy heavy- weights, The Dingalings. Over the years, fans have come to expect nothing less than a well-scripted and performed production from these entertainers and so far, the guys seem to be holding the flag high.
And now, with Women’s Month in full swing, The Dingalings bring their latest offering to the Sibaya Izulu Theatre this weekend, A Woman’s Place. Featuring Henry Ramkissoon, Koobeshen Naidoo, Melvyn Davids, Niel Green, Ravi Soobramoney and Kumseela Naidoo, the show is a tongue-in-cheek look at the battle of the sexes in the 21st century and examines the place of a woman in our competitive society.
During our chat, Kumseela tells Tonight what’s in store for audiences this Women’s Day: “It’s a stand-up comedy hosted by The Dingalings’ famous Twisted Sisters.
“We are showcasing KwaZulu-Natal’s favorite comedians alongside these two hilarious, candid, sharp- tongued ladies (Koobeshen and Henry) who say only what you would think and never dare speak, making them an instant hit with the audience.”
Touching on some of the issues that the show addresses, Naidoo says the “twisted sisters” offer advice on relationships, politics, business and family matters. “In honour of Women’s Day, the performers are creating a platform for some of KZN’s finest up-and-coming women comedians.
“It’s always very difficult breaking into the big stand-up comedy stages so the real treat this August is to see a bevy of amazingly talented women alongside the Dingalings, namely, Melo Gilbert, Shabnam Baron, Kamini and Annaluxmi. We look at the roles of women as a wife, girlfriend, mother, mother-in-law, woman next door and work colleague. The hilarious Twisted Sisters are two mystics who foretell the future of the comedians and members of the audience,” she shares.
Shedding light on the challenges on a show such as this, Naidoo reveals: “The only challenge with directing any Dingalings show is that the guys who have been working together for the past 10 years are so in sync with each other that they never stick to the script. Perhaps this is a good thing as they are spontaneous and creative and come up with ideas that always astound me.
“Our director, Yugan Naidoo, is a creative genius who creates the concepts of the shows and Koobeshen, Henry, Ravi and Melvyn just run wild with these ideas. So audiences can expect the usual quality of enter-tainment such as clever, relevant material that everyone can relate to.
“The show is a perfect outing to celebrate the long Women’s Day weekend.”
l The production runs at Sibaya, Izulu theatre from Friday to Sunday. For tickets, book at Computicket outlets, online or at Shoprite Checkers stores.