Reviewed by Duzzy Clayton

On the weekend of the 5th and 6th of September, this year’s annual show You Must Be Kidding Me was held at the amazing Montecasino Teatro, in conjunction with the awesome charity RADA and The Mypad Project.

In addition to all the great work RADA does, the Mypad Project is a commendable initiative that not only keeps young girls in school but also restores their dignity. Every year, thousands of young girls are forced to stay home and miss school because of their monthly cycle and cannot afford essentials like pads and tampons. RADA has developed a great product that uses reusable, washable pads, helping to cut costs for young girls who can’t afford the high prices of disposable pads in stores.

I could go on a huge rant about how, in my opinion, it is criminal that such essential needs are not provided by the government, yet things like condoms can be found free of charge at hospitals. But perhaps that is a conversation for another time. For now, it’s amazing that comedians and shows like You Must Be Kidding Me happen each year, raising funds for the Mypad Project. So, before I tell you about the amazing show, I want to congratulate the comedians and everyone involved for coming together for such a great cause. You all are rockstars.

I attended the second night of the two-day show, and I believe the first night was just as awesome, according to singer-songwriter and huge RADA supporter Sonique, whom I bumped into while waiting for the show to start. After a short chat with Sonique, it was almost time for the show to begin. One thing I want to mention is that, with Fanbase Music Magazine being a sponsor of RADA, it was nice to see the Fanbase logo appear on the big screen alongside other cool advertisers and information about RADA. I felt very proud to be a sponsor for such an amazing organization and charity.

Then, the lights went down, the stage lit up, and we were welcomed by some awesome music from The Rada Blues Band. This was a fantastic way to start the show. The band really got the crowd engaged, with everyone up on their feet, dancing, and playing instruments to well-known songs. What’s cool about this band is that they feature trumpets and brass, drummers, and even a DJ, and they’re also very happy to showcase musician SEVVEN, who we’ve featured before in Fanbase Music Magazine, banging his drum along with the rest of the band.

If you wish to hire The RADA Blues Band, please email bookings@rada.co.za or info@rada.co.za, Once again, all proceeds made from hiring The RADA Blues Band go back into the great work RADA is doing.

Now, the lineup of comedians was truly world-class, featuring amazing talent, including SA comedy legends Bongani Dube, Conrad Koch, Dave Levinsohn, Loyiso Gola, Mark Banks, Robby Collins, and Tumi Morake.

I have always admired comedians for stepping up on stage, being funny for a few minutes, and leaving knowing they just had a killer show, leaving the crowd wanting more with their clever wit and jokes. I can safely say each comedian had an unforgettable set.

Our MC for the evening was the hilariously funny Mark Banks, who was the perfect person to introduce each act and crack jokes in between. He had the crowd going from start to finish.

It would be hard for me to say who was the best of the evening, and I wouldn’t want to choose, because each comedian brought their A-game and had us laughing in stitches. However, I would like to give a special shout-out to ventriloquist Conrad Koch, who performed his hilarious act with Chester Missing. That was a real bucket-list moment for me, as I’m a huge fan. It still amazes me how he can make a puppet speak like that.

That being said, everyone who took to that stage, whether new to me or not, truly impressed. I felt so proudly South African, knowing we have so much incredible talent in the comedy world. There wasn’t one act where I thought, “meh,” because every single performance was amazing. I loved the topics they covered and joked about, especially the S.A. government, politics, and Eskom—those were mentioned a lot. It’s great to see them making light of these frustrations, but it’s clear we all share the same frustrations on these issues.

This event was top-notch, and once again, I’m proud to be South African. I truly believe a show like this could be taken anywhere in the world and would crush every time. We were lucky to see it here, all for a great cause like RADA and the Mypad Project.

A huge congratulations to everyone involved, from the venue staff to the production team, lighting, crew, and, of course, the comedians. I look forward to next year’s show, because if it’s anything like this year, it’s going to be amazing.