Comedy comes home
Sep 09, 2010
COMEDY shows have recently been held in bars. It seems easier to entertain an already inebriated audience. It is perhaps for that reason that our comedians are lazy in the creative department.
By Emmanuel Ssejjengo
COMEDY shows have recently been held in bars. It seems easier to entertain an already inebriated audience. It is perhaps for that reason that our comedians are lazy in the creative department.
Yet too many comedians are under pressure to give viewers a good night’s laugh, drunk or sober. The skit writers seem to write for attention spans of only a few minutes. They often aim for distractions in life, rather than the reflections on reality.
The other Thursday, comedy fans witnessed a silver lining on the dark cloud of 7/11. Theatre Factory’s Comedy Nite show was shifted to National Theatre’s auditorium due to security reasons. Apparently, that is the way it is going to be every Thursday at 8:00pm.
When comedy “came back†home to a stage designed for acting, the audience gave it the seriousness it deserved. We were let in on what alternatives comedy can have.
The show was sombre, with a more disciplined audience who respected theatre etiquette. I laughed into my drink, laughed away my hunger and enjoyed so many hugs after the show. There is something about comedy that simply loosens both purse and heart strings alike.
The show started with a teaser of a caricatured street dance. The stage allowed the group to be more creative so we had the Shakespearean balcony scenes although Juliet’s devotion to Romeo was not the stuff that marked the show. Rather it was partly the word play of Pallisa/Paris and Sabrina’s/Sabena.
It was an outstanding show, resonant in its themes and beautifully staged. This cast has only three seasoned actors: Sam Okello Okello’s Stand Up routine was audience-engaging as he threw jabs here and there.
Phillip Luswata had a very good outing especially whenever he seemed torn between confusion and confidence. He did it with a natural step you doubted he was acting.
One or two actors were on the wrong foot. Those over-strained facial expressions can be annoying. I hope the lighting gets better.
COMEDY shows have recently been held in bars. It seems easier to entertain an already inebriated audience. It is perhaps for that reason that our comedians are lazy in the creative department.
Yet too many comedians are under pressure to give viewers a good night’s laugh, drunk or sober. The skit writers seem to write for attention spans of only a few minutes. They often aim for distractions in life, rather than the reflections on reality.
The other Thursday, comedy fans witnessed a silver lining on the dark cloud of 7/11. Theatre Factory’s Comedy Nite show was shifted to National Theatre’s auditorium due to security reasons. Apparently, that is the way it is going to be every Thursday at 8:00pm.
When comedy “came back†home to a stage designed for acting, the audience gave it the seriousness it deserved. We were let in on what alternatives comedy can have.
The show was sombre, with a more disciplined audience who respected theatre etiquette. I laughed into my drink, laughed away my hunger and enjoyed so many hugs after the show. There is something about comedy that simply loosens both purse and heart strings alike.
The show started with a teaser of a caricatured street dance. The stage allowed the group to be more creative so we had the Shakespearean balcony scenes although Juliet’s devotion to Romeo was not the stuff that marked the show. Rather it was partly the word play of Pallisa/Paris and Sabrina’s/Sabena.
It was an outstanding show, resonant in its themes and beautifully staged. This cast has only three seasoned actors: Sam Okello Okello’s Stand Up routine was audience-engaging as he threw jabs here and there.
Phillip Luswata had a very good outing especially whenever he seemed torn between confusion and confidence. He did it with a natural step you doubted he was acting.
One or two actors were on the wrong foot. Those over-strained facial expressions can be annoying. I hope the lighting gets better.