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BY BILLY SUTER
IT SWEPT the boards at last year’s Durban Theatre Awards, taking prizes for production, lead actor, solo performance and comedy performance – and now it’s returning to Durban’s Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre.
It is, of course, Aaron McIlroy’s Comedy Masterclass, which many have rated as this popular funnyman’s best work to date – myself included.
It has a revival season at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Sneddon from March 21 to 26 after having enjoyed a successful national tour last year.
Comedy Masterclass affords audiences a rare and hilarious peek into what goes on backstage, as McIlroy – the star of Abbamaniacs, The Loser, The Ranga and a host of other hits – delves into the science that underpins the world’s oldest coping mechanism, a sense of humour.
Co-written by McIlroy and Patrick Kenny, and directed by Kenny, the production takes the audience on a surreal, comedic rollercoaster ride into the world of laughter, where the rules are subjective and where what one person finds funny may make another cringe.
Why do we find things funny? McIlroy attempts to answer the question: “Something is often funny because it captures a moment; it contains an element of truth as seen from a new angle, it is something that we have always known and yet are hearing it out loud for the first time.
“I think that our need to feel intelligent comes into play a lot in finding things funny… maybe humour is actually the overwhelming joy at feeling intelligent,” quips McIlroy.
“In any event, as ‘;aughter is the best medicine’, come and enjoy your dose. Because, let’s face it, there has never been a time when we needed it more.”
Performances of Comedy Masterclass will be at 7.30pm Tuesday to Saturday, and at 6pm on Sunday.
Tickets cost R145 (R120 for students and pensioners). Booking is at Computicket outlets
.....SoSuterBill..... 