3rd Generation Coconut: A gorgeous glide through the SA we know and crave
The beautiful young hipster at the doors directs us to the loo.
“Are you the performer?” asks this dumbass reviewer.
Thato Mabelane is the kind of earthy gal and divine intellect we should all invite into our home and let us tell her stories at the hearth.
She is a township-raised girl, from Temba, who has gone on to surf, swim, row, ride and earn academic accolades.
It is an enigma that she has chosen stand-up comedy for her most public appearance because her style is lilting, warm and inclusive.
It’s the the bang, the drop, the shezaam where the jokes come in. She is deceptive: we ride along with her on her way to becoming an early childhood development activist. There is a lot going on in her busy, intellectually rich world, and with those low, glowing Model C English tones we are sucked in — for the sucker punch.
I would encourage any school, organisation, business or institution to put her on your bill. She is a treasure and her stories carry so much of the ideal of democracy we dreamed of in the 80s — with that millennial whip in the tale.
If there is any criticism, it is simply that when she hones in for the kill, she should step up a bit more and get into the mic and our grills. For this is an evening comedy slot and and we expect to be slung about by the bits a little.
- Nhlanhla Shabangu, who did the intro set was superb. A cool, witty, gritty great performance.
Venue: Drill Hall
Friday, today, July 1: 7.30pm
Saturday/tomorrow, July 2: 21:30