January 18, 2007
By Ndaba Dlamini
PIETER-DIRK Uys is returning to his old stomping ground in February, when the comedian and satirist presents a new one-man show, Pieter-Dirk: Eish!, at the Main Theatre of the Market Theatre Complex.
He last performed at the theatre during its 30th anniversary celebration performances in 2006. The new show starts on 13 February and runs for five weeks.
Pieter-Dirk: Eish! features some old favourites from the playwright's repertoire, including former president PW Botha then and now, former foreign minister Pik Botha in his ANC drag, and Miss Nowell Fine supporting the poor, alongside a spectrum of today's politicians.
Black economic empowerment also comes under Uys's scrutiny, as does the current succession battle in the tripartite alliance. Audiences will be treated to "Which Zuma Project", garlic and potatoes, corruption and the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup's move to Perth.
The highlight of the show is "Evita Bezuidenhout for President". Ms Bezuidenhout, one of Uys's most well-loved – and outspoken – characters, is a white Afrikaner socialite and former politician. She was the South African ambassador to Bapetikosweti during the dark days of apartheid but today is a self-proclaimed political activist.
Pieter-Dirk Uys is one of the stalwarts of the Market Theatre
By the end of 2007 the ANC will vote in a new party president; the general elections of 2009 will determine who will be next president of South Africa. The new president of the ANC will probably be the next president of the country. But Evita brings a poser – the most popular white woman in South Africa will also be running for president.
Under apartheid, Uys used satire and humour to criticise and expose the absurdity of the government's racial policies. His involvement with the Market Theatre dates back to its early days, when his controversial Afrikaans play Selle ou Storie was presented at the Blue Fox in Rosebank by The Company, before it established its unique foothold in Newtown.
From 1976 to 1990 the Market was Uys's home base, where he premiered his plays Paradise is Closing Down, Karnaval, God's Forgotten, Just Like Home, Scorched Earth, Die Van Aardes van Grootoor, Appassionata and Hell is for Whites Only.
In the 1990s he presented An Audience with Evita Bezuidenhout, A Kiss on your Koeksisters and The Poggenpoel Sisters, with Evita and her sister Bambi Kellermann. Evita made her first appearance in 1981 in Adapt or Dye, again at the Market.
Pieter-Dirk: Eish! is on at the Market Theatre's Main Stage from 13 February to 17 March. Tickets are available at Computicket and block bookings and school bookings can be made by contacting the Market Theatre on 011 832 1641.
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