The one-man show. It’s a rite of passage of sorts in comedy. Some of your favourite stand-up comedians have mustered the courage to go beyond the usual 15- to 30-minute sets, where they are safe in the knowledge that there are other comedians on the line-up to cushion their fall – and go it alone.
For some, it’s worked out so well they have thriving careers abroad. And for others, well, let’s just say they’ve graduated to host, but they won’t be rushing to film a DVD anytime soon.
David Kibuuka has taken the plunge and embarked on the one-man show journey. Until Monday, you can see David Wasn’t Built in a Day at the Joburg Theatre.
The Ugandan-born South African-based comedian has made us laugh for years with his signa-ture “sho-sho” gag. But he’ll be retiring that joke after next week.
While on the set of Kagiso Lediga’s Blitz Patrollie, Kibuuka told us why.
So, you’re on the set of Blitz Patrollie. What role do you play?
I’m the person who tells the sniper where to shoot. I’m a spotter, along with Chris Forrest. It’s a lot of fun on set because whenever you work with comedians, it’s like a playground.
Tell me about your debut show, David Wasn’t Built in a Day.
It’s taken 18 years to put together. No, I’m just kidding. This show is a combination of old material and new material. After I perform it, I’m not going to do it again.
Why?
Because otherwise it starts to get boring. Look, it’s still good material, but a lot of people haven’t heard it yet. So, I spent the past nine months beefing it up.
I always tell young stand-ups – when they do listen to me – about not writing new material all the time. Sometimes you have old jokes you haven’t squeezed all of the juice out of.
Sometimes it’s like having a verse and a chorus, but the song is still incomplete. It’s not just talking for 15 minutes.
Does this mean you won’t perform your “sho-sho” joke after David Wasn’t Built in a Day?
You know, the funny thing is I only started doing the “sho-sho” thing at my second stand-up gig and there are still people who haven’t heard it. The problem with comedy is it’s very niche, so we tend to get the same audience all the time.
How are you going to make sure people who haven’t seen it come out and see this show?
Look, you’ve never seen me talk for an hour. You’ll know maybe 20 minutes of the show, but then there’s 40 minutes of the show you’ve never heard before and that’s how I will ensure the customer stays satisfied and there is no rioting in the theatre.
You spent a while working on this show, are you a perfectionist?
There is only 50 percent of the show that you can be perfect at. The other 50 percent lies with the audience. Their mood is also important. You do the best you can, but performing is a conversation. If they just wanted to hear jokes, they could read a joke book. But you’re giving them an experience and can’t decide to make it perfect.
It’s not like an album, even live music performances are not perfect.
Why is there a chicken in your hands on your show’s posters?
My love for chicken is so enormous I couldn’t have done something so big without them present. The chickens would have probably said: ‘Oh, why didn’t he invite us?’
So this is just a gesture to them to say: “Thank you, I couldn’t have done this without you.”
You won’t eat them then?
Oh, we ate that chicken in the picture that very day.
Gigs
l Bafunny Bafunny starts its newest run, The Odd Shaped Ball, featuring Eugene Khoza, Mark Banks, John Vlismas, Stuart Taylor, Loyiso Gola, Barry Hilton, Trevor Noah and Nik Rabinowitz at the Durban International Convention Centre on October 5 and 6. Tickets from R120 at Computicket.
l The Durban Comedy Jam, featuring John Vlismas, Mark Banks, Felix Hlophe, Tumi Morake, Mpho Popps and Kaseran Pillay, is at Sunzone ,inside Suncoast Casino, North Beach, Durban, today. Tickets are R120 at Computicket.
l Laugh Out Durban is at iZulu Theatre, inside Sibaya Casino, today. Comedians include Neville Pillay, Neil Green, Dusty Richards, Lil Paul, Gareth Woods and Masood Boomgaard. Tickets are R110 at Computicket.
l The fifth annual Soweto Comedy Festival runs at Maponya Mall at 8pm, until Sunday. It will feature the likes of Kedibone Mulaudzi, Lwando Mhlakatha, Lihle Lindzy, Simmi Areff, Celeste Ntuli, Nina Hastie and more. Tickets are R80. For more information see www.sowetocomedyfest.co.za
l Barry Hilton performs at Johannes Stegmann Theatre in Secunda tomorrow at 7pm. For more information call 079 515 8168.
l Be at The Comedy Underground at Cool Runnings in Melville on Sunday to see Brent Palmer, Wayne Hawkey and more. Cost is R30. Call 011 326 0021.
l John Vlismas performs his one-man show, One Dark Night, at The Lyric Theatre on Saturday. R95 at Computicket or the theatre box office.
l Every Monday, be at C.O.M.E (Comedy On Monday Evening), which features local acts at Zula Sound Bar at 98 Long Street, Cape Town, from 9pm. R40. Call 076 392 8734.
l Joe Parker, Ron Vaudry, Vittori and Siya B are at Parker’s Comedy and Jive inside Montecasino in Joburg today. Tickets priced from R90. Call 011 511 0081/2.
l See comedy at Pakalolo on Main Road, Hout Bay, at 8.30pm. R50 gets you in. Call 021 790 0700.
l Masons Comedy Night takes place at Masons Restaurant in Kloof Street, Cape Town, from 8.30pm. Tickets are R20. Call 084 527 0286.
l Comics@Work is a platform for newbies and new jokes in a laid-back atmosphere at Armchair, Lower Main Road, Observatory, every Sunday from 8.30pm. Cost is R20. Call 079 538 3695.
l To be featured in this guide, e-mail all comedy gig details to [email protected] with “Comedy Guide” in the subject line.