Hot show at Joburg Theatre

Geraldine Naidoo’s comedy has come a long way since its premier nine years ago at the National Arts Festival in GrahamstownThe Chilli Boy is back in Joburg, again cooking up some spicy curries, raucous laughs and mad plots. If you’ve not seen it, now’s your chance; if you have, go again.
AN exceptional script, loaded with funny insights into two vastly different South African cultures, great directing, even greater acting, and you’ve got The Chilli Boy, a hilarious play about the reincarnation of an old Indian lady into the body of a young white gangster from Boksburg.

Matthew Ribnick has the audience gasping for airMatthew Ribnick has the audience gasping for airBouts of raucous laughter are punctuated by touching moments of sincerity as the audience comes to grips with a remarkable story told by a madman with a few hats.

One of the most successful shows in the country, The Chilli Boy is back at the Joburg Theatre Complex’s Fringe until 6 November. Geraldine Naidoo’s comedy has come a long way since it premiered nine years ago at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.

And in 2007, it was selected to join the West End Festival of Performance in London.

At the age of 30, Troy, the hardened East Rand gangster, starts suffering flashbacks from his previous life as an Indian woman. He takes to wearing a sari and cooking delicious curries and biryanis. This is not good for his tough-guy reputation.

Reincarnation is a central belief of many religions, such as Catharism and Alawi, but particularly of Indian religions, such as Hinduism. Reincarnation is the belief that, after the death of the physical body, the soul or spirit of that human being returns to life in a new human body, or as an animal or even a plant.

Naidoo’s conception, writing and direction are brilliant, but it is the performance of the multi-award winning actor, Matthew Ribnick, that has had audiences gasping for air.

The play tackles weighty issues of cultural identity, racial difference and masculinity, but does so in an engaging way – and this is where Ribnick truly shines. For example, he recites scenes from hit Bollywood movies, taking the character of the star Amitabh Bachchan; he even sings famous Hindi songs and dancing like a true Indian.

“The play continues to attract huge audiences from across the vast racial and cultural spectrum that constitutes contemporary South African society,” Naidoo says.

“Many audience members describe Ribnick as a ‘cultural chameleon’. In just over an hour, he skilfully snaps back and forth between characters ranging from the ordinary to the bizarre.”

Shows run weekly at 8pm from Wednesdays to Saturdays, with a 3pm matinee on Sundays. Ticket prices are R130 for all shows. Group discounts are available; contact the Joburg Theatre on 011 877 6854. The show is not suitable for children under the age of 12.

Bookings can be made through the Joburg Theatre website or by calling the ticketing call centre on 0861 670 670.

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