Good Ol’ Laugh With Skwizas

While my friend, whose name I shall not mention, decided to spend his 67 throwing tantrums as his morsel for Mandela day, I decided to spend the evening with “almost -olden-goldies” as they call themselves.

With Philip having ditched us for Spain, festivities and invites have inevitability become taboo in Joziburg. After all, who in their right state of mind would ignore a very colourful invite that reads: “IFA and Lillian Dube invite you and your partner to attend the official Screening of Skwizas’’? Well…not me!

Mara Louw, I mean Mme Mara serenaded attendees with some classic jazz with dance moves that had a bit of chomee’s tendencies and Sophiatown merged. Believe you me, Mme Mara should consider participating in SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. She does everything from tsipa to…actually, I don’t want to describe what else she does because I respect her. Let’s just say I have never blushed this much in my young life. The conclusion here is that she can and should take the initiative to teach our younger musicians how it’s done.

Ok, in case you haven’t heard. Skwizas is a locally mad sitcom boosting a cast of greats like Lillian Dube, Mara Louw, Mary Twala, Rina Nienaber and Dolly Malunga. My definition for the show does not graduate beyond what I call hilarity defined. Skwiza is described as “a new comedy starring talented industry heavyweights, Lillian Dube; Mara Louw; Mary Twala; Rina Nienaber; and Dolly Malunga, as they bustle through the idiosyncrasies of life in Skywards Retirement Village. They grapple with dwindling pensions; lost careers; jealousy; and the prospect of late-life romance. These hilarious, entertaining, funny oldies laugh at themselves and meet life head-on and win. “Who said growing old meant growing up… you are as old as you want to be!”

Now that you know what I’m on about, let’s get back to the event. Mam Lillian Dube sure was the superstar of the show. She had everyone in stitches with dance moves and cracking jokes (very funny jokes though). Walking in high stilettos, she couldn’t endure the pain for long and had to ask someone to take them off. What a bundle of joy she is!

Mara this Ma-griza i funny Jo…she left me utterly bewildered about categorizing her as an actress or a comedian. Wait till she tells you how she got the IFA job and what she did when first she met her daughter in law.

Rina Nienaber (most famous for playing Baba in Generation years ago when TV was still a luxury in Soweto) who plays Heidi in the sitcom was also there loving everyone and posing for pictures.

Muvhango Creator, Duma Ndlovu was also there. BUT I don’t wanna say much about him just in case I decide to peruse an acting career when all fails. So moving along…

Mutodi Neshehe (formerly in Muvhango) was there with wifey and their tot looking happy. Who said happy families are a thing of the past vele?

Still on former what whats. Tjo! Almost thought I had too much to drink given that it was a free bar when I saw Nestum. Yep, the one and only former Jam Alley Zanele “Nasty” Nyakale in all her splendour graced the do and was quick to educate me that she now works behind the scenes. Props to you hun.

Now that we know where you are, care to give us Queen’s whereabouts? Last I heard she was in limps trying to give her life to God. No comment!

I wandered about the whole of THE WEDGE shopping center in search of Mam’ Mary Twala as I wanted to ask her to be my mentor. With her funny streak one can easily take on and actually dethrone Trevor Noah and whoever else is considered a comedian in SA. But she was no where to be seen.

Innumerable fashion crimes were committed but I’ll let it slide for the simple reasons that these are old people we are talking about and I was raised well. I think I wanna party with senior citizens more often though because they know how to have “clean” fun. One is never subjected to over inflated egos and you get to prepare yourself for the next 60 years…Especially if one of them is Mam’ Lillian D, Mmampho or Sister Bettina.

Skwizas is on SABC 2, Sundays at 19:00

By Hastings Moeng ©

Related Stories: