News

Industries

Companies

Jobs

Events

People

Video

Audio

Galleries

My Biz

Submit content

My Account

Advertise

Theatre News South Africa

New age rebellion

While entertaining, former Carte Blanche presenter Bonita G's G-Rebellion at Parker's Comedy and Jive at Montecasino was not what I'd hoped. As much as I wanted to love this performance, I didn't.
New age rebellion

It had a great formula - an energetic, one-woman South African show about casting off the shackles of modern living and learning to live life on your terms.

But I just wasn't feeling it. Perhaps it was because its new age message of thoughts = reality is not terribly new or groundbreaking, or perhaps because I just wasn't enjoying the sense of humour, which came off patronising and forced at times.

I had heard the show described as "empowering" and "sexy" which led me to believe the ideas and humour would be more controversial. It definitely elicited a few chuckles and had a few "preach it, sister!" moments, but all in all, not as great as I was hoping.

The obligatory sexual reference

The show is interspersed with scenes from Bonita G's fictional radio station, the G-Spot, which, despite the name, I found the best parts of the show. Bonita G is undeniably talented, doing different voices (and accents) for the promos and belting out jingles and ads for the radio station with ease and clarity.

The show between the radio station bits was what left me underwhelmed - Bonita's explanation of how to get the right attitude to loving life and living in the present, peppered with her own accounts and anecdotes. The PowerPoint presentation - however beautifully designed - made me feel like I was in a corporate or educational setting, and once I found myself wondering if I should be taking notes.

The venue and the set were on form. The set was designed with a studio mic on the one side, various instruments in the middle and a gong on the other side; it suited the show perfectly. Also, gongs are awesome.

The final verdict? A fun show at a great venue, could be a lovely night out, but don't expect your mind to be blown.

The next (and final, before pausing for the World Cup) show will be a "ladies' night" and take place on Tuesday 8 June.

About Patricia Pieterse

Patricia Pieterse works as a technology journalist, and holds a BA Journalism degree from UJ. Contact her at patti.lain@gmail.com.
Let's do Biz