4 TONIGHTSTAGE
SIFISO
Comic’s career hits high note
LATOYA NEWMAN
RACEY-Lee Oliver has a lot
T on the go in entertainment.
She’s an amazing singer
and a two-time Naledi
Awards nominee for her role as
Deena Jones in the South African
production of the Broadway
musical, Dream Girls.
You may remember her as the
supporting actress opposite David
Kau and Joey Rasdien in the action
comedy, Blitzpatrollie, and she stars
in the popular TopTV reality series
Sugarushed.
But the reason we wanted to
speak to Oliver is because of her
growing popularity in stand-up
comedy. She will be among a host
of comedians who are touring the
country with the Kings and Queens
of Comedy Show and brings with
her a fresh take on the musical style
of comedy.
In an interview with Tonight
the Joburg-based, proudly Cape
Town “farm girl” told us a bit about
where it all began.
“In the beginning there were the
Goliaths…” – just joking – what she
actually said was:
“I met Jason Goliath (popular
comedian and one half of the
Goliath and Goliath comedy
franchise) at a gig we did together.
He saw me perform and came up
with this awesome idea to come up
with funny lyrics for parodies to
popular songs. Later, when I met
with him and Donovan Goliath (no
relation to Jason), we got to talking
and I told them that I also do singer
impersonations. So I had to do
some for them, which was very
intimidating, but they laughed
and that was how it all began,”
she explained.
Oliver said that since childhood
she has sung and performed her
impersonations in front of the
mirror: “It just came naturally to
me. I also love to make people laugh
and now I’m doing comedy.”
But taking that plunge into
comedy wasn’t as easy as it sounds,
said Oliver, as she recalled her
first stand-up gig at the popular
AWEdnesday Comedy Jam
in Joburg.
British cellist brings music of the heart home
VALENCIA GOVINDASAMY
“WHEN I was 19, I got to meet
Princess Diana, Prince Charles and
the rest of the royal family,” says
British-born cellist Michael Jones
(pictured). He is in Cape Town and
we are chatting over the phone
about his upcoming performance
in Durban.
During his college years, he says,
he was chosen to play for the British
royal family and he got to chat to the
late Princess of Wales on the couch
for a few quick minutes. Still, that has
to be one of the coolest honours ever.
“And the wine was quite amazing
too,” he laughs.
Jones is easy-going and delightful
with a real interest in South Africa.
He asks me about Durban, the
weather and interesting places he
can see.
Jones was three when he
discovered his passion for music.
“When I was a toddler, my parents
came to South Africa. My dad worked
MAKING WAVES: Tracey-Lee Oliver.
“After Jason and Donovan
discovered I could do impressions
they booked me for AWEdnesday…
my stomach turned immediately. I
thought I was going to crash and
burn in front of that crowd.”
But crash and burn she did not.
We caught part of Oliver’s set from
that night on YouTube. Judging by
the audience who were rolling with
in a business in Joburg, so he took
my mum, sister and I to Mozambique
for a weekend. I was only three, but I
do remember a swimming pool and
there was a piano in the room where
we stayed. And I reached up to get the
keys. My sister and I were playing
with it and I was hooked from that
moment. So I have a South African
start to my roots.”
For the popular UK cellist, music
has the ability to touch one’s heart.
“During my stay in Cape Town, I
went to a less fortunate community
with a family who is hosting me here.
They opened their home to me and
we visited an area where there are
people who don’t have a daily meal.
A lot of them have never seen a cello
nor heard one. I played Bach and it
was like complete contact with them.
“I didn’t have to speak in English,
Afrikaans or any other language. The
music itself is a direct language to
people’s heart. It’s a way to communi-
cate without expressing it in words.
That was truly amazing. It proved my
laughter we believe she was a hit.
“I’m a singer. I’ve been singing
live and professionally for nine
years. With singing you rehearse,
you know the songs. And then
along came stand-up comedy. That
moment when you are basically
naked on stage and exposed. But
I got a standing ovation and it was
so much fun,” she laughs.
point with the reaction from those
people who haven’t eaten the entire
day. They were silent and they were
touched. I could see their expression
and it made it worth it.”
He has performed across the
globe, from New York and London
to Japan and Hong Kong, but Jones
is extraordinary and humble.
“I just want people who watch
me perform to feel better about
themselves and walk away with a
kind of well-being feeling, sort of
how they feel after a massage.”
He performs tonight along with
the Friends of Music at the Durban
Jewish Centre. The programme
features a selection of Bach suites
and Rodrigo’s Fantasia.
● Michael Jones performs tonight
at the Durban Jewish Centre with
Friends of Music. The show starts
at 7.45pm. Tickets are R60 for
members, R70 for non-members
and R20 for orchestral/students.
Visit www.friendsofmusic.co.za
PICTURE: GOLIATH AND GOLIATH
Having now also had a crack at
acting and comedy, Oliver said she
is hard pressed to state a favourite.
“It’s difficult for me to separate
the three because they all relate to
performing and I love performing,
especially live – having that
immediate response from some-
one watching me there and then.”
The Kings and Queens of
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 4 2014
SKHUMBA HLOPE
WIN! WIN! WIN!
Tonight is giving away five double
tickets to the East Coast Kings and
Queens of Comedy. To win SMS King
DN, your name and area to 33963.
SMSes charged at R1.50. Winners
will be contacted telephonically.
Comedy marks Oliver’s first major
stand-up tour: “I really owe Jason
and Donovan. They’ve given me
such a massive break. The type of
comedy I do is a formula we figured
works. I’m blessed to know a lot of
comedians personally and it’s a bit
intimidating as a newbie in the
industry to be touring with guys
who’ve been doing this for 15 or 20
years, such masters of their craft.
I would just be happy to be with
them, even if I wasn’t performing…
even if I was like a runner or
something,” she laughed.
Some of the big names Oliver
will be rolling with on this tour
include Marc Lottering, Riaad
Moosa, Darren Simpson, Darren
Maule, Anele Mdoda, Celeste
Ntuli, Mark Banks, Trevor Gumbi,
Tshepo Mogale, Muthu Murugan,
Kurt Schoonrad, Stuart Taylor,
Ndumiso Lindi, Mel Jones, Rob van
Vuuren, Donovan Goliath, Simmi
Areff, Chester Missing and Conrad
Koch, Jason Goliath, Deep Fried
Man and many more.
The show starts in Cape Town
on Saturday at The Grand Arena,
GrandWest, is in Durban on
February 14 at The ICC; Port
Elizabeth on May 24 at The ICC
and in Joburg on May 30 and 31
at the Centre Court at Emperors
Palace.
“This show will also mark my
first professional comedy show in
Cape Town since leaving there nine
years ago. I’m looking forward to
seeing everyone from my home
town, Grabouw, so they must please
get into their cars and come over
the mountain and see the show,”
Oliver laughed.
● Tickets for Kings and Queens
of Comedy start from R160 at
Computicket.
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 4 2014
NENE
A better laugh for all in Zulu comedy show
HELEN HERIMBI
SHE STANDS behind a black
podium, a colourful patterned
doek on her head and a glittering
black jacket that has patches of
kente cloth under the lapel. She
clears her throat, greets all
“ladies and gentlemen, Members
of Parliament… skhothanes and
pantsulas”, before she goes into a
lengthy speech announcing her
intention to run for president.
She is Nkosazana Zoomang – not to
be confused with former Minister of
Health Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
Zoomang is satirical and the
funny brainchild of comedian
Celeste Ntuli, who is one of the
headliners of 99% Zulu Comedy
Show, which takes place at the
Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City
on March 7 and 8.
An energy injection
for touring Othello
LATOYA NEWMAN
THINK Theatre’s annual produc-
tion of Shakespeare’s Othello will
showcase the talent of two young
actors in the roles of Othello and
Desdemona this year – Durban’s
Nhlakanipho Manqele and Joburg’s
Cara Roberts, who was most recently
seen in the movie Durban Poison.
Director Clare Mortimer said
the duo have brought an energy
injection to the show.
“As much as we miss our friends
of old, it’s been exciting having two
new people in these leads.
Especially in our sixth year (of the
production), it’s given us an energy
injection of having to start from the
beginning in some circumstances.
They bring a fresh energy to how
they portray their characters and
in some circumstances this affects
how we (the old cast) portray our
characters. So it’s all fresh and
exciting.”
Manqele has appeared in
Rajesh Gopie’s The Coolie Odyssey,
which won him best newcomer
and supporting actor awards;
Neil Coppen’s Abnormal Loads;
TONIGHTSTAGE
The show’s theme is “A Better
Laugh For All” – sound familiar? –
and although Zoomang may not
be making it on to that stage with
Celeste, there’s no doubt that there
will be plenty of laughs at the
expense of some of our politicians.
“Political analysis or jokes about
politics are obviously about who is
in power,” says Ntuli. “But I’m more
about the social side. Politics doesn’t
interest me much, as I gravitate
towards social issues. But I know
that (political) things are going to
pop up in my set.
“There’s also the obvious things,
like talking about Bafana, but when-
ever I do shows where there is a long
line-up, I try to not talk about what
everyone else has already talked
about. I like to stay different.”
Although, as the name of the
show suggests, the main language
KickstArt’s Don’t Dress for
Dinner; and Waiting For Godot,
among others.
Roberts has landed a role
in Fynbos (Harry Patramanis),
in Slabolepszy’s Over the Hill
(Dominique Gumede) and she
played Petrus in The Guards
written by Ian Roberts and
directed by Josette Eales.
We caught up with the duo to
find out how they’ve settled into
their new roles.
“I always knew it would be a
challenge because I’ve never done
it before,” Manqele said, “But the
cast who’ve been doing Othello for
a while have helped us get along…
If anybody else but Clare had been
directing, I wouldn’t be where I am
now with this character, which is
confident. Clare has a passion for
Othello and she is hands-on.”
Roberts said landing the role
means she gets to perform in a play
she’s fond of and that’s directed by
a woman.
“I’ve always liked Shakespeare
and Desdemona is often an
underrated character. I’ve also
always wanted to work with a
5
CELESTE NTULI
that will be used on the night is Zulu, a sustainable manner. Awards – created the Mass Hysteria
the comedians come in different “There’s also Blacks Only, but travelling comedy show, which turns
shapes and funnies. it’s primarily based in Joburg. It’ll a group of stand-up comedians into a
Expect to see the likes of travel one time to Durban, and kind of parliament all of its own.
Skhumba Hlope, Sifiso Nene and another time to Cape Town, but Obviously, a person’s vote is their
Simphiwe Shembe at the Joburg not regularly.” secret, but that’s when it comes to
show, and Tips (aka Shampoo), Like Blacks Only – which was electing a government that has the
Mpukane and others at the Durban devised by David Kau – 99% Zulu best interests of the nation at heart.
leg of the event on February 14. Comedy Show has themed shows. What about when it comes to
Durban is actually where it all With Valentine’s Day just around comedy? Who would you pick for
started back in 2005. Now the show the corner, Grootboom says the president?
travels to Mbombela (formerly Durban show will task comedians Grootboom lets out a belly laugh
Nelspruit) and Witbank regularly, with writing material around and, without a second thought, says
and there are plans to take it to love and relationships. “It’s also he would give Skhumba his vote.
Bloemfontein this year. an election year,” he explains, “Just for being random and crazy…
The show’s founder, Monwabisi “so, with the Joburg show being so he’s really unpredictable.”
Grootboom, says: “We started out in close to voting time, it’s fitting that
Durban, and sometimes we have the we should make that the theme.” ● Don’t miss 99% Zulu Comedy
shows at the ICC, but we always sell Politicians are never safe when Show on February 14 at the
out at the Playhouse.” it comes to comedy. Just recently, Playhouse in Durban at 8pm. It
He continues: “We’re also Whacked – the company co-owned by then heads to the Lyric Theatre at
the only comedy brand that comedian John Vlismas, and which Gold Reef City on March 7 and 8
takes residence in provinces in organises the annual Comic’s Choice at 8pm. Tickets at Computicket.
female director and Clare’s passion
for Othello is so strong that it’s
almost as if it bleeds into you
as the performer.”
Clinton Small resumes his
award-winning portrayal of the
villainous Iago with Mortimer as
his wife Emilia.
The production also features
Michael Gritten, Daisy Spencer,
Marc Kay, Bryan Hiles, Rowan
Bartlett and Darren King
● Othello runs at the Hilton
College Theatre from February 7
to 14, the Playhouse Drama in
Durban from February 17 to
March 20, the University of
Johannesburg from May 5 to 16,
and at Pretoria’s Brooklyn
Theatre from May 18 to 22.
School performances are 9am
and 12pm daily, Mondays
to Fridays, with a public
performance on Tuesday
February 25 at 7pm. R55
(R80 for adults at the public
performance). Book through
Doreen Stanley at 033 343 4884 NEW FACES: Durban’s Nhlakanipho Manqele and Joburg actress Cara
or 084 556 0668, or e-mail Roberts are Othello and Desdemona in Think Theatre’s Othello.
doreen@thinktheatre.co.za PICTURE: VAL ADAMSON