And just like that...

The year is over. Well, for me at least. Going to be taking a break till the 17th of jan next year with some exciting changes. But I do leave you with this. 


My top 5 comedians for 2011.


Before I start this list I need to add a little disclaimer. These are just my personal choices. There was no voting or anything like that. Also, the list is in no particular order. So lets go! 


5. Werner Weber 

First time I saw Werner Weber was at the Graca Comedy festival earlier this year which is round about the same time I started this blog. He didn’t place in that competition but didn’t let that slow him down. He went to create his one man show Devolution which was not perfect but for a first try was damn well close to it. The main reason why I like Werner is his jokes. Sure he does the delivery and all that stand up stuff with great technique but as do everyone on this list. But his jokes are what set him apart. He is a shot left of wrong, especially if you read his tweets on twitter(forteeseven, two e’s not a y). He won’t be for everyone but he tickles my funny bone. 


4. Martin Evans 

Can you call Martin Evans a fringe comedian? I can. Martin’s one man show won a silver standard bank ovation award at this year’s Graham’s town festival. When he brought it to Cape Town I went to see it twice back to back and the show, FBPK, didn’t disappoint. Above that Martin is always a hit in the clubs. Especially when he MC’s an event and interacts with the crowd. He has a dangerous wit about him which always entertains, the ones that aren’t in his crosshairs. 


3. Ndumiso Lindi 

This is a special entry. I saw this man once this year. Since he is based in Joburg, us capies don’t get to see much of him. His twitter feed isn’t that funny either. But his show, Here I stand, was something really special. With a ending that made me leap to my feet and applaud. This is one talented comedian indeed and a must see. 


2. Rob van Vuuren 

What can I say about Rob van Vuuren that I haven’t said already? An actor who isn’t afraid to say he is also a comic. His 2011 show, Live, brought tears to my eyes, as did his dvd of his 2009 show Rob van Vuuren is Rob van Vuuren. One of the few comedians that will make you laughs by just standing there. It is all in the face you see. 


1. Piet Potgieter 

Piet Potgieter is one of the view comedians that can go on stage and turn a crowd around. I saw him play Pakalolo once where the crowd were a few guys in the crowd made it really difficult for the rest us to enjoy the show. Piet went on and got everyone laughing again, even the unruly ones. Great, hardworking comedian and funny as hell.

Review: Piet Potgieter – Scheme Jy ek’s Kommin’

Afrikaans stand up comedy is a very small market at the moment. It is basically Casper de Vries and musicians who double as comedians like Robbie Wessels, Wikus van der Merwe and Kurt Darren. Okay... sorry, that last one was a cheap stab, you are right, I am better than that... Nicolus Louw.

Introduce Piet Potgieter, a self proclaimed Dutchman from the klein karoo who came to the cape to make us laugh, and laugh we did. Piet comes on stage with the only light coming from a table displaying any Dutchman’s bread and butter, brandy and coke. He pours himself a drink that will make any mom proud. The lights come on and he breaks the ice with his first joke. 

Piet makes no apologies for who or what he is. He is dressed in traditional Dutchman garb, an overall top with the sleeves cut off, shorts and vellies with rugby socks. This ‘costume’ works for him and helps to bring in some extra laughs from the crowd. Not that Piet needs them. He has an arsenal of jokes that come from animals running over the road dodging his Ford bakkie to wanting a nose hair transplanted to the tip of his penis to help stop that infernal last drop from making a stain on you khaki pants all the time. The man is a genius. Plastic surgeons take notes.

One can be forgiven to be a little weary of the show. A white Afrikaans guy who calls himself a Dutchman on stage with a mic? It could be done in a cringe worthy way. Luckily Piet does it with respect and style. He is the biggest punch line but not in a way that is offensive in anyway. He plays the character to perfection, sipping on his brandy and coke all the way through the show. Piet will throw some one-liners into the mix of storytelling so fast that you sometimes forget to laugh. There are a few Julius Malema jokes in there which I am not a fan off. But that is more because I think Julius jokes are over done by most comics today. It doesn’t make them any less funny though.

Like I previously mentioned, the whole show is in Afrikaans. But if Afrikaans is only your second language don’t be afraid. My fiancee, who speaks minimal Afrikaans, went with me and she was laughing louder than me at some points.  If, like me, you are Afrikaans with an English partner, Scheme jy Ek’s kommin is a great show to take them to. It will be an education.