Boys Don’t Cry in July
Auto & General Theatre on the Square, Sandton
July 23 to 27
R150 at computicket.com
He’s had his own successful shows and collaborated with Tumi Morake on Married but not to each other; now Ndumiso “The Roosta” Lindi is reflecting on his childhood, his late father and the difficulty of showing emotions as a man.
Boys Don’t Cry in July sees him opening up about “the relationship between a son and father, and the pressures of living up to your father’s expectations”.
He told Get It magazine in an interview earlier this month: “It’s a dedication to my father, who died last year in July. Dads always say to their sons, ‘Boys don’t cry, be strong.’ When last July came, I fell apart.
Stand-up comedy for us is like therapy, we take our pain and put it on stage and find the funny bits in it.
One comic once said a comic goes on stage and talks about funny things, but a comedian goes on stage and makes things funny.”
We asked him some quickfire questions:
1. Describe yourself in three words.
Creative, funny and classic.
2. Describe the kind of comedian you are.
I’m an observational comedian, a storyteller.
3. What would you be doing if you weren’t a comedian?
Still be doing my 9 to 5 as an art director in advertising.
4 . What song would you want played at your funeral, and why?
Mandoza, Respect Life. That’s the one song Mandoza dug deep into his emotions to write. I feel every word.
5. If you could take three things to a desert island, what would they be and why?
A knife – the tool of life. A fire striker – a desert is cold at night, and for cooking and protection. Third, a compass for direction.
6. Most embarrassing moment?
I did a vosho on stage and my pants ripped on the sides, but it helps that I’m a comic because I improvised another 10 minutes on just that.
7. The perfect date?
I’m old school, me and my partner just picnicking at the park in the afternoon and later going to watch comedy for some free medication.
8. Favourite one-liner?
Are you asking me to tell you a joke?
9. Worst nightmare?
Dreaming about breaking all my teeth; it always just feels real.
10. If you knew today was your last day on Earth, how would you spend it?
With my family and friends, do a braai at my place, buy a big safe and place it middle of the lounge; tell them after midnight I’m going to give them the combination to that safe. We know how that ends.
12. Best piece of advice you’ve ever got?
If it is to be, it is up to me.
13. Favourite movie quote?
“Show me the Money”
- Follow him on Twitter @NdumisoLindi