Keeping up with good comedy

Valencia Govindasamy

Keeping up with the Koopasamys sees a crazy trio of sisters in what is essentially a spoof on the hit reality TV show, Keeping up with the Kardashians, but with a local approach.

Returning as the Koopasamy sisters Kimeshnie, Koekie and Kunthee, are local comedians Eubulus Tracy, Sans Moonsamy, and Jailoshini Naidoo.

During our chat, the bubbly Naidoo tells Tonight what this instalment of the show includes: “It is essentially the same show. We performed the show previously to sold-out audiences and have brought it back by public demand.

“The show has constantly received such an overwhelming response and we are now doing it for the first time at the Izulu Theatre in Sibaya. And the show is a crazy, laugh-a- minute comedy and we have made it about our own family, keeping up with the Koopasamys, with the three sisters and, of course, the mom, Krys… short for Krysanthemum.

“We have included other characters like the nosey neighbours as well. There are no specific serious themes or issues. It’s simply a mad comedy with lots of identifiable characters… a show that will make you laugh out loud. Life is challenging and when audiences come to watch the show, they can escape and just have fun.”

Of her role in the show, Naidoo says she plays a few different characters as do Tracy and Moonsamy: “There’s just the three of us in the show and we take on many different roles. I play one of the three sisters, Kimeshnie, beautiful, but not too bright, and I also play Mrs Koopasamy, the very talkative, overbearing, loud-mouthed mother who is fed up with her daughters and dotes on her son. I also play a much younger version of Kim (in a school scene). They are all characters who are super-funny and ones whom audiences can easily identify with.”

She says her co-stars Tracy and Moonsamy are dear friends of hers: “They are also very talented and really funny. We have worked previously together on our other comedy show, Curry on Laughing, which was also a great success, and we decided to do this show since we work so well together.

“It is important to have a good rapport and energy with each other and the three of us have great chemistry on stage, so it is a good fit. More especially, we are close friends and all a little mad when we are together…we literally laugh so much with and at each other… on and off stage. And with this show…no matter how many times we do it; we still sometimes have difficulty not collapsing into fits of laughter.”

So it seems all that is left is for theatre-goers to watch the side-splitting production.

According to Naidoo, she believes audiences will literally laugh till they cry.

“We have had people come and watch the show a second and third time. Audiences can look forward to a fun-filled, relaxing evening, big laughs and they will definitely still be laughing when they leave,” she adds.

Catch Keeping Up With the Koopasamys at the iZulu Theatre at Sibaya Casino on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are priced from R120 to R140 and are available at Computicket.