Pieter-Dirk Uys appears to enjoy visiting Grahamstown all the way from the West Coast town of Darling, and he pays his umpteenth visit next month to present his Desperate First Ladies show, which promises to have audience members in stitches from the time he opens his mouth to the time he shuts it.
Pieter-Dirk Uys appears to enjoy visiting Grahamstown all the way from the West Coast town of Darling, and he pays his umpteenth visit next month to present his Desperate First Ladies show, which promises to have audience members in stitches from the time he opens his mouth to the time he shuts it.
The legendary entertainer – occasionally serious, mostly not – with a myriad disguises and portrayals, will take to the stage of the Rhodes Theatre on March 29 and 30, along with a chorus of legendary lovelies, lekker tannies and dangerous dragons.
The Desperate First Ladies in question aren’t just the many wives of South Africa’s current president, but also a long list of iconic women such as Mother Theresa, Helen Suzman, Grace Mugabe and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
The selection of hilarious, satirical sketches making up the show will see Uys also portraying Jewish-African princess Nowell Fine, Cape Malay firebrand Mrs Petersen, bergie Wilhelmina Opklim and Evita Bezuidenhout’s outspoken sister Bambi Kellerman.
Evita will also make an appearance, but with great care. She flatly refuses to be seen with her sister. “No, skatties, we will never be in the same place at the same time,” she confirmed. To understand this in context, one has to realise that Bambi is not desperate, she’s dangerous!
A former stripper in Germany, now widow of a Nazi general, Bambi is on a mission to unionise sex workers and focus on improving the female condom. “It will save millions of lives,” says Bambi. She continues: “And if we have a constitution that protects us all, why are sex workers seen as criminals? They’re just earning a living. Unionise them, give them health care and let them pay tax!”
The ghost of PW Botha, recently spotted wandering around his Wilderness home, will also make a spooky appearance during Desperate First Ladies, reminding us of where we come from, so we can all celebrate where we are going.
The show is in English, with a touch of Afrikaans, German and Bapeti. Desperate First Ladies will be at the Rhodes Theatre on March 29 and 30 (7.30pm). Tickets are R100 each (R50 for students) and are obtainable from Cathy or Lindsay at 24 African Street (on its corner with Allen Street). For more information phone them on 046 622 7896.
