There is a fine line for any comedy producer when assembling a festival, which includes top echelon international performers, together with regular local comedy club artists.
The balance must be right. The Jive Cape Town Funny Festival presents exactly that and has found a way of presenting a fine-tuned body of work. The result is a highly entertaining show of comedy and variety of the highest order.
It is a must see!
The international performers boast pedigrees that will get them the most prestigious jobs in the entertainment world. Spaniard Dani Airhead gets the show off to a surprising start, which involves a huge balloon and ElvisPresley.
All the overseas artists shine brightly, especially Britain’s Got Talent finalist, Michael Woodhams, whose unique voice impressions are unbelievable to witness.
It takes the audience thirty seconds to realize that Woodhams is singing and not Kate Bush or James Blunt. His act is worth the ticket price alone. The other stand-out performer is Italian shadow puppeteer, MatteoFraziano, whose act is true to the musical theme.
He takes the audience on a voyage of the hits of the musical and movie giants like Elvis Presley and Elton John, Bat Man and the spaghetti western epic movies. His talent is beautiful to witness.
The finger puppetry is presented with charm, but his fluid body movements make his act seem like a ballet production. His presentation is captivating. Master of ceremonies, Alan Committie plays his role with panache and professionalism. Arguably, the best MC in the country, Committie’s banter with the audience is priceless and the manner in which he stitches his jokes together is delightful.
Local Jive Funny Championships joint-winners, Chuma Bentele and Zach Esau presented their sets confidentially.
Both hold their own on the highly entertaining show. Jason Goliath, one of the stalwarts of the Johannesburg comedy scene,presents a very human narrative, which is both hysterical and brilliantly delivered.
His piece is presented in a lecture style, which leaves the audience with valuable lessons in life and humanity. He is way different to any other comedian in the sense that he relates a continuous, hilarious story that could happen to anyone.
Musician, Sean de Vries leads his band with a Welcome to Cape Town rendition at the top of the show and then appears again with the closing actof the night, Emo Adams.
Adams never fails to deliver a combination of movement, song and expressive comedy, he is well known for.
The Jive Cape Town Funny Festival is firmly entrenched in Cape Town’s psyche. This year’s production, the 27th , is certainly up there with the best.
Miss it at your peril.
The Jive Cape Town Funny Festival runs till Sunday June 21 at The BaxterTheatre. Book through Webtickets.