BWW Reviews: Emmy Nominated Gola Proves He is Ahead of the Pack in LOYISO GOLA LIVE

I do not think that I will ever be able to look at a giraffe the same way again. I love giraffes. They rank high up on my list of favourite animals. But I have never thought about their vaginas, whether or not they have vocal chords or how their birthing process makes ailing human tots look like a bunch of whining sissies. After seeing Loyiso Gola at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town, baby giraffes are my heroes. With his effortless delivery, Gola made up my mind for me right there and then.

Gola is probably most well known for being the host of the Emmy-nominated LATE NITE NEWS WITH LOYISO GOLA, but it was standup comedy that laid the foundation for his work on that parody news show, starting with performances on comedy circuits when he was still at school and culminating in high profile shows like COMING HOME and PROFESSIONAL BLACK. This outing - simply titled LOYISO GOLA LIVE - confirms that he is one of South Africa's best stand-up comedians.

Gola's comic style is observational and he is at his best when he is talking about personal experiences where things take an unexpected turn or when pulling apart the foibles of local politicians.

Many of his jokes deal with his childhood and the challenges of being a township kid attending what are now known as ex-Model C schools, a circumstance that is just as pronounced today as it was when Gola was a schoolboy. School lunches, holidays and Afrikaans orals were just three of the topics Gola tackled, earning him waves of raucous laughter. Equally successful were his shots at President Jacob Zuma's infamously poor speech delivery techniques and Julius Malema's proliferate shortcomings.

As a comic, Gola has become known for being openly frank about the subject matter he chooses for his shows. Even when he dips his toe into politically incorrect waters, he is generally able to take his audience with him, thanks to his boyish persona and the mischievous twinkle in his eye.

Indeed, it was only during a series of fat jokes in the second half of the show that the theatre quietened somewhat, something Gola himself acknowledged and attributed to the fact that many audience members were sensitive to the overweight people sitting in the seats around them. Apparently, he concluded, we did not share his bias against them.

While there is something to be said for Gola owning his prejudices, for a few minutes the comedian was alienated from his audience - and that is precisely the opposite effect that any standup comic wants to have mid-set. However, things were soon back on track when Gola shifted gears and tackled sports and entertainment. Soccer coaches and THE EXPENDABLES are much more comfortable targets than the folks sitting in front of you.

Gola is only at the Baxter for four nights, and it will probably be tough to get a ticket if you have not booked one already. Come Monday night, he may well be an Emmy Award winner, which will be evidence for some of just how far ahead of the pack Gola is in his field. Being in the midst of a crowd doubled over with laughter that echoed through the auditorium of the theatre was proof enough for me.

LOYISO GOLA LIVE is at the Baxter until 23 November 2013. Bookings are through Computicket.

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