RECENT INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL REVIEWS
Reviews of Adapt or Fly in Cape Town — June 2012
*** Hy bly 'n meesterlike satirikus. Sy pittige, kort kommentaar is onverbeterlik. In sy solovlug laat loop Uys almal wat dit verdien nog deeglik deur.
– Mariana Malan, Die Burger, 15 June 2012
The show is all done in good humour, but the underlying seriousness of the topics and the grim transgressions of our politicians are glaringly obvious. Uys is still our number one icon when it comes to political and social satire.
– Astrid Stark, Cape Times, 14 June 2012
Adapt or Fly isn't just cheap humour for a good night out. It offers a timely and truthful message about where we were, where we are, and where we could go if we don’t wake up. This is a show that gets into your head (and perhaps into your heart as well).
– Eugene Yiga, bixcommunity.com, 15 June 2012
Uys takes no prisoners. The man is once again in incendiary form ... and I for one hope he never stops telling truth to power.
– Peter Tromp, The Next 48 Hours, 14 June 2012
Incisive, witty and often poignant, Uys has not lost the ability to express the uncomfortable truth while making us laugh.
– Clifford Graham, Artslink, 14 June 2012
Uys’ brand of satire is deliciously politically incorrect, and Adapt or Fly is a thrilling and thought-provoking roller-coaster ride through our tempestuous timeline. A must-see.
– Kelly-Eve Koopman, What’s On In Cape Town, 13 June 2012
**** In his latest production, Uys raises the chilling spectre of similarities between our present and previous government. Using biting wit, dark sarcasm and totally un-pc entertainment, he enlightens us, challenging us to pay attention to what is happening right under our noses.
– Theresa Smith, Cape Argus, 19 June 2012
Reviews of Adapt or Fly in Johannesburg — April 2012
Uys may be 30 years older than when he opened 'Adapt or Dye', but his material is as fresh today as it was then. The players may have changed, but the game has not.
– Gayle Edmunds, City Press, 15 April 2012
Uys still has us rolling on the floor after 30 years. There's enough to keep you laughing at (his) unique brand of satire, to keep you moved, hooked and at times, in awe too.
– Atja Salaframnca, The Sunday Independent, 15 April 2012
Watching 'Adapt or Fly' means never knowing for sure what will come your way. It might be a political comment you disagree with, or a funny joke that not everyone appreciates. But overall this is a necessary show that - perhaps one day - our leaders will listen to and change their ways.
– Sibisiso Mkwanazi, The Citizen, 16 April 2012
'Adapt or Fly' is a humorous journey into the sometimes dark alley of South Africa's political journey, from apartheid right through to the present. I would recommend the show to anyone who is even mildly interested in the politics and the politicians of South Africa. 'Adapt or Fly' is not for the fainthearted though, nor is it for those who have no sense of humour.
– Edward Tsumele, The Sowetan, 11 April 2012
'Adapt or Fly' besit gelukkig menslikheid, maar wel een met 'n rapier se lem. Uys (is) geniaal en dalk profeties. Ironie bly sy sterkste wapen.
– Paul Boekkooi, Beeld, 12 April 2012
Dotted with moments of shuddering truth.
– Christine Kennedy, Business Day, 10 April 2012
Uys is a brilliant political and social satirist. South Africa still needs this voice of dissent, his ability to highlight inequity, inept politicians and ill-advised policies with a biting wit that makes us laugh and makes the point.
– Lesley Stones, Daily Maverick, 11 April 2012
In a rapidly-changing South Africa, Pieter-Dirk Uys remains a master exponent in the art of satire. He slickly blends the old with the new in a sublime display of artistry, something from which the younger generation of satirists can learn. He still has that acute eye, that wonderful gift for word play and that amazing talent for getting beneath the skin of a personality.
– Peter Feldman, Artslink, 4 April 2012
**** It’s because of his wit, his eye on the SA politics ball and his faith in this country, that he’s a necessary voice and social commentator to this day. He stresses towards the end that “Freedoms are still a reality, but they can so easily be replaced by laws that pretend to protect.” It’s weighty issues balanced by the entertaining and gripping humour that only Pieter Dirk Uys can deliver. And he’s very optimistic and positive about the future of this country.
– Kgomotsho Moncho, The Post, 17 April 2012
Reviews of Adapt or Fly in Durban — March 2012
***** Adapt or Fly is an enlightening, thought-provoking offering. ... Uys uses his satirical and comedic strengths to take the audience on a journey through SA’s political evolution — the highs, the lows, the good, the bad, the successes and particularly the socio-political failures — with no holds barred.
– Latoya Newman, Tonight, 13 March 2012
Adapt or Fly is without question one of Uys’s best shows, don’t miss it.
– Estelle Sinkins, The Witness, 14 March 2012
Uys’s usual mix of clever impersonations and brilliant repartee — often sailing fearlessly close to the wind. Uys loves his country with a passion and has done more to educate in the complexities of the country's politics than any television or newspaper coverage.
– Caroline Smart, artSMart, 8 March 2012
The barbs are biting, the puns politically incorrect, the satire scathing and wit intact. It's funny stuff.
– C. Roopnarain, Sunday Tribune, 11 March 2012
Marvelous master of wit!
– Billy Suter, The Mercury, 9 March 2012
Current, incisive and delivered with a razor-sharp and original wit
– Shelley Seid, Sunday Times, 1 April, 2012
Viva Uys! Politicians may come and go, but he will endure forever.
– Gisele Turner, Going Places, 8 March 2012
Uys remains ever relevant. Adapt or Fly reminds those of us who were around at the time and serves to shine a light into a dark past for those who were born into democracy. Lest we forget.
– Brian Roodt, artSMart, 11 March 2012
Review of Adapt or Fly in Grahamstown — February 2012
One of Uys’s most ominous and hilarious works.
– Mike Loewe, Algoa FM News, 16 February 2012
Reviews of Desperate First Ladies in Cape Town — September 2011
Uyslike bydrae tot landsake .... Met ’n fladder van ’n vals wimper kan Uys sweerlik ’n diktator koudsit.
– Laetitia Pople, Die Burger, 9 September 2011
Desperate First Ladies is a hilarious tour de force ... Not to be missed!
– Greg Landman, City Press, 18 September 2011
Uys is still a much-needed social commentator on South Africa. Not only does he provide a safe environment in which we can confront our fears and prejudices. He also helps us to make sense of what is happening in South Africa. And, at least for now, we can do so by shaking with laughter rather than by trembling in fear. Uys at his best.
– Tyrone August, Cape Times, 12 September 2011
PDU shows top form in 'Desperate First Ladies'
– Peter Tromp, The Next 48 Hours, 23 September 2011
Review of Adapt or Dye in Johannesburg — July 2011
Seeing a 30-year revival of Adapt or Dye at the Market Theatre on Friday night not only rekindled memories from the bad old 1980s, it was also a reminder of what a master satirist and shrewd political commentator Pieter-Dirk Uys was, and still is.
Almost unbelievably, considering it was so rooted in 1980s National Party politics, the show is as fresh and funny and sharp and clever as ever. Friday night’s audience, including several people who weren’t even born in 1981, were in stitches throughout. This is because the new-millennium incarnation of Adapt or Dye has been adapted by Uys to include entertaining explanations of context and draw parallels with the current sociopolitical landscape.
Uys continues speaking truth to power, in a manner that is crisp and cuts to the funny bone.
– Christina Kennedy, Business Day, 2 August 2011
Review of Desperate First Ladies in Grahamstown — March 2011
Uys’ irreverence knows no bounds ... [he] takes on all of the sacred cows, while very seriously challenging our democracy, and all politicians within it to uphold it.
– Mike Loewe, Makana Moon, 30 March 2011
Reviews of F.A.K. Songs and Other Struggle Anthems in Cape Town — September 2010
Uys, a consummate showman, understands completely the language of the theatre, threading a bit of Bambi's personal history with political and social commentary and much mad wit and pathos. ... FAK Songs and Other Struggle Anthems is a cabaret in the true sense of the word and a production that restores this much-abused genre back to its dark, decadent, disturbing, sarcastic and satirical essence.
– Marianne Thamm, Sunday Times, 12 September 2010
Dit is alles en nog meer as wat 'n kabaret behoort te bied.
– Mariana Malan, Die Burger, 3 September 2010
Pieter-Dirk Uys's Bambi slaughters sacred cows with her sharp wit .... The Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge (FAK) Songbook is ripped to pieces, rearranged and spiced up with bloodthirsty vulgarity and embarrassingly true lyrics containing all the sad sordidness and joy of the human condition.
Bambi is a gift from Pieter-Dirk Uys we should treasure while we have her with us.
– Astrid Stark, Cape Times, 13 September 2010
Pieter-Dirk Uys remains a consummate performer, who is able to draw and hold an audience, no matter how uncomfortable the subject matter.
– Fiona Gordon, artslink.co.za, 15 September 2010
A sublime marriage of musicianship, characterization and textured showmanship.
– Peter Tromp, The Next 48 Hours, 10 September 2010
Bambi's music is sophisticated and clever. She sings in three languages: English, Afrikaans and German. The combination of FAK songs, twisted to up-to-date relevance, with Brecht and Weill numbers is remarkable.
– Daphne Cooper, bizcommunity.com, 3 September 2010
As usual Uys is spot on ... and goodness knows he still has the legs to be wearing high heels.
– Theresa Smith, Cape Argus, 7 September 2010 |
