STUART TAYLOR’S BESPOKE. At the Baxter Theatre, Tuesdays to Saturdays at 8pm until October 4. STEYN DU TOIT reviews.
“Does anyone know what the word, ‘bespoke’ means?” Stuart Taylor asks the audience shortly after stepping onto stage. A far cry from the loud cheers heard earlier when quizzed on who has Facebook and Twitter profiles, he’s greeted this time only by a few unassertive murmurs. “It means custom-made,” he goes on to explain in his trademark unassuming manner. Pausing just long enough to make sure everyone’s on the same wavelength, he winkingly goes in for the kill: “Or rather, shall I say, Taylor-made.”
Premiering at the Baxter for a short, two-week run, BeSpoke is Taylor’s ninth one-man stand-up attraction and his first new offering in three years. During this period the funnyman has toured the country with his very successful Learner Husband and Money’s Too Tight To Mention shows, brought out a book as well as travelled internationally to perform at comedy clubs as far afield as New York and Edinburgh. Not bad for a guy who actually graduated from university with a science degree.
As usual drawing heavily from his own life, this time we find Taylor navigating his way around being the father of two boys, integrating himself and his family as residents into a predominantly white suburb, exploring ideas around societal labels as well as being dumbfounded at the blatant racism he observes daily on social media.
Never one to shy away from controversy, it is his affable nature that allows him to get away with saying almost anything.
“This is a back-to-basics comedy show inspired by my comedy club roots,” says Taylor in the show’s description. “It’s a no-holds-barred, unapologetic stand-up comedy experience.”
Standing in a spotlight and armed only with a mic stand, a table and a bottle of water, Taylor strips himself down to only his wit and powers of social observation in BeSpoke.
While he comes prepared with more than enough scripted material, Taylor in addition regularly gauges audience members for their opinion on the topics at hand. The result, as the show’s title suggests, is a completely unique and “bespoke” experience each time it is performed.
During the performance I attended, for instance, a very interesting discussion arose around the terms “Cape Coloured” and “Kleurling” – the latter deemed inappropriate by some members of the audience due to its association with stereotypes and caricatures.
The bulk of BeSpoke, however, revolves around the comic being a parent, and it with this in mind that it’s best recommended for those finding themselves in, ahem, similar predicaments.
Apart from hysterically chronicling his daily routines of being woken up by having his eyelids forced open by little hands at 6am, being embarrassed at Spur by his offspring’s trips to the toilet and accidentally piddling in his son’s hair (don’t ask), he’s also gifted with a knack for relating profound insights before you’re even aware that you’re busy hearing them.
“What should I tell my boy when he comes up to me one day and asks if he’s coloured?” Taylor wonders towards the end of his performance. Lobbying for a world where one’s children can grow up unburdened with such matters, he comes to the conclusion that instead of answering yes, he’ll tell his son that he is a bespoke individual. Custom-made. One-of-a-kind. And while it’s perhaps a naive statement considering the reality of the world we live in, it’s also one that seems like the right answer within the context of the rest of the show.
Those fortunate enough to attend one of BeSpoke’s first two nights were treated to an opening performance by fellow Cape Town comedienne Mel Jones as well.
Strutting on to stage on some dangerously high heels while showing off her “body of a 20-year-old who eats a lot of hamburgers,” this sassy singleton instantly proved a hit.
Living in Mitchells Plain, dating married men, stalking boyfriends and setting the pace during ladies night out; it’s all good with her.
Making for the perfect warm-up to the rest of the evening, it would be a great idea to rope Jones in for the rest of the show’s run too.
l Tickets are R110. To book, call Computicket at 0861 915 8000.