Review of Mamba Republic by Chris Sutton

Ben Voss and John van de Ruit team up again for another comedic broadside at political ineptitude.
On arrival at the theatre the audience were fortified with complimentary tequila. The promoter chose the right night for this because many of the crowd were of the ‘tequila generation’. Some of the ladies, sporting high heels that gave them more elevation than that provided by the foils on an Americas Cup catamaran, were seen struggling to gybe their feet as they made their way to their seats. The free libations made a restless crowd and poor old “cellphone switcher off man” didn’t stand a chance. He was sensibly replaced by a very urbane woman, who dropped a number of witty quips whilst Ben and John got ready backstage.
The stage background was interesting: The smiling face of Nelson Mandela juxtaposed with a South African flag and an array of iconic structures, with the Statue of Liberty next to a statue of Mandela taking centre place. If you take your seat early, to avoid your toes being crushed by badly manoeuvred footware, count how many of the structures you recognize.
So to the show. ‘Eish’ is a fitting opening because the pace, accuracy and currency of the satire is presented at a relentless pace. Whilst Ben is more versatile, John is not left behind, so it is truly a dual effort. The latter’s portrayal of Richard Quest is a stand out for him and Ben’s skit on Peter de Villiers is excellent because it is humorous without being overly cruel to the hapless coach.
The scriptwriters must have been busier than Syrian bricklayers when they crafted the script because it is chock full with the antics of the malefactors who masquerade as public servants in South Africa. There are so many laughs that my cheeks are still hurting, even after a post show soother.
A standout piece was Ben as Mozart trying to conduct an orchestra made up of the various political parties in parliament. And for pure acting skill the closing scene, 2 commentators calling a horse race, seals what is a fantastic performance by 2 of SA’s most accomplished entertainers.
As I tacked up the slopes of Sneddon Hill after the show, basking in post show reflection, it disturbed me that the mass of material that the duo present us is a stark reminder of how turbulent our young democracy has become.
If you are sick of reading the front pages of our newspapers, this show is an excellent way of getting a fill of bad news without leaving you reaching for passport and suitcase.
Thanks to Publicity Matters Illa and Sophie ( https://www.pubmat.co.za ) for yet another great night of entertainment.

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