STOP PRESS
Georg Knoke has arranged 20 tickets for "Adapt or Fly" 8,00pm at the Civic Theatre on Wednesday 25th April. R110 per head. email Georg if you wish to go with the number of tickets you require (We have to limit this to members and partners only...we can spread the net a bit if there are some left after that) and bring the money in cash in an envelope to Wednesday's meeting.
He is the son of a Calvinist Afrikaner father and Berlin-born Jewish mother, Helga Bessel Uys. He had an NG Kerk upbringing.[1] He began his dramatic career as a serious playwright, switching to one-man revues at the height of the Apartheid era.
Uys is particularly well known for his character Evita Bezuidenhout (also known as Tannie Evita), a white Afrikaner socialite and self-proclaimed political activist. The character was inspired by Australian comedian Barry Humphries's character Dame Edna Everage. Evita is the former ambassadress of Bapetikosweti - a fictitious Bantustan or black homeland located outside her home in the affluent, formerly whites-only suburbs of Johannesburg. Evita Bezuidenhout is named in honour of Eva Perón.
Under Apartheid, Uys used the medium of humour and stand-up comedy to criticize and expose the absurdity of the South African government's racialpolicies. Much of his work was not censored, indicating a closet approval of his views by many members of the ruling party, who were not so bold as to openly admit mistakes and criticize the policies themselves.[citation needed]
For many years, Uys lampooned the South African regime and its leaders, as well as the sometimes hypocritical attitudes of white liberals. One of his characters, a kugel (social climbing Jewish woman) once said: "There are two things wrong with South Africa: one's apartheid and the other's black people".[2][3] This was later erroneously attributed to Uys himself.
Following South Africa's first non-racial elections in 1994, Uys starred in a TV series, Funigalore, in which Evita interviewed Nelson Mandela and other prominent politicians of the day. In the theater, Uys/Evita's performances include You ANC Nothing Yet. He and his character are known for their tireless work in the frontline of HIV/AIDS activism and education. He is currently involved in teaching AIDS awareness to children and education in the use of condoms, traveling to schools all over South Africa. Uys also serves on the Board of Directors for the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, a non-profit organisation founded to provide treatment for and conduct research relating to HIV.
Uys converted the old railway station of Darling, where he lives, into a cabaret venue called Evita se Perron (Perron is Afrikaans for station platform) and performs there regularly.[citation needed]
During 2004, Pieter-Dirk Uys took part in a Carte Blanche story, dealing with genetics and unlocking the mysteries of race and ethnicity, entitled "So, Where Do We Come From?". Uys discovered that he has khoisan heritage from his mother's side.[4][5]
Uys received the Special Teddy Award 2011[6] at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) for his commitment to AIDS education at South African schools and for his on-stage alter ego, Evita Bezuidenhout. An independent jury presents the Teddy Award to individuals for lifetime achievements for films with LGBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender) topics.[7]
“ADAPT OR
FLY”
Adapt or Fly! Mrs Evita Bezuidenhout, Kidi Amin, Pik Botha, Nowell Fine, Mrs Petersen, the old Krokodil, Madiba and the dancing DA are coming to the rescue! In a time of depression, recession, fear and anger. What is better and more healing than a good laugh at the expense of those who depress, recess, frighten and annoy us?
Pieter-Dirk Uys celebrates 2012 as a year of radical change in South Africa through political paralysis. From the hundred million rand ANC centenary celebration in January, right up that long winding road to end up again in Mangaung for the ANC December Congress, the ruling party will be too busy fighting each other for personal wealth and political power to bother themselves about running a country up or down.
Thirty years ago Uys started his total onslaught against careless, corrupt and unacceptable politics. Apartheid might officially be dead today, but the careless, corrupt and unacceptable political crooks and clowns are still dancing centre-stage. His new show will be a personal political comedy-trek along a familiar long tiptoe to freedom, through the minefields of racism and sexism that have always made up the tarmac of our political freeway. Laughter at fear has always been Uys’s trademark, from the darkness of his first one-man show in 1982 ‘Adapt or Dye’, to the dazzling kaleidoscope of rainbow colours in his new 2012 show ‘Adapt or Fly’.
Uys is joining his chorus-line of characters that include a motley medley of past National Party leaders (DF Malan, JG Strydom, HF Verwoerd, BJ Vorster, PW Botha and FW de Klerk), balanced with the more familiar quartet of ANC Presidents from Nelson Mandela, via Thabo Mbeki, through Kgalema Motlanthe to Jacob Zuma and beyond. The Malema nickname ‘Kidi Amin’ does come to mind.
Kugel Nowell Fine enjoys her 35 years as the ultimate Jewish African Princess with a look at her now in her seventies, as well as a glance back at the 1985 Nowell, young, blonde and deep in a liberal white struggle with her maid Dora. And then there is, of course, Evita Bezuidenhout waiting to embrace her new job as chairperson of the proposed Media Tribunal.
It is said when history repeats itself, it can take tragedy and turn it into farce. So banish the blues. Come and enjoy the blacks, whites, browns, yellows and ‘others’ that make up this unique country of our dreams. As long as we can laugh at our fear, we are still in charge of our future.
Adapt or Fly! Mrs Evita Bezuidenhout, Kidi Amin, Pik Botha, Nowell Fine, Mrs Petersen, the old Krokodil, Madiba and the dancing DA are coming to the rescue! In a time of depression, recession, fear and anger. What is better and more healing than a good laugh at the expense of those who depress, recess, frighten and annoy us?
Pieter-Dirk Uys celebrates 2012 as a year of radical change in South Africa through political paralysis. From the hundred million rand ANC centenary celebration in January, right up that long winding road to end up again in Mangaung for the ANC December Congress, the ruling party will be too busy fighting each other for personal wealth and political power to bother themselves about running a country up or down.
Thirty years ago Uys started his total onslaught against careless, corrupt and unacceptable politics. Apartheid might officially be dead today, but the careless, corrupt and unacceptable political crooks and clowns are still dancing centre-stage. His new show will be a personal political comedy-trek along a familiar long tiptoe to freedom, through the minefields of racism and sexism that have always made up the tarmac of our political freeway. Laughter at fear has always been Uys’s trademark, from the darkness of his first one-man show in 1982 ‘Adapt or Dye’, to the dazzling kaleidoscope of rainbow colours in his new 2012 show ‘Adapt or Fly’.
Uys is joining his chorus-line of characters that include a motley medley of past National Party leaders (DF Malan, JG Strydom, HF Verwoerd, BJ Vorster, PW Botha and FW de Klerk), balanced with the more familiar quartet of ANC Presidents from Nelson Mandela, via Thabo Mbeki, through Kgalema Motlanthe to Jacob Zuma and beyond. The Malema nickname ‘Kidi Amin’ does come to mind.
Kugel Nowell Fine enjoys her 35 years as the ultimate Jewish African Princess with a look at her now in her seventies, as well as a glance back at the 1985 Nowell, young, blonde and deep in a liberal white struggle with her maid Dora. And then there is, of course, Evita Bezuidenhout waiting to embrace her new job as chairperson of the proposed Media Tribunal.
It is said when history repeats itself, it can take tragedy and turn it into farce. So banish the blues. Come and enjoy the blacks, whites, browns, yellows and ‘others’ that make up this unique country of our dreams. As long as we can laugh at our fear, we are still in charge of our future.
Major Carin Holmes
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| Major Carin Holmes |
Carin really gave us a fascinating insight into the working of the Salvation Army last week and especially the vocation of a Salvation Army Officer. It was something we all knew little about. Many thanks, Carin. we are proud to have you as a member of our Club.
Breakfast
I'm sure it was because I hinted at how awful and awfully expensive I thought the breakfast was on last week's blog that I just wasn't served at all on Wednesday! There was some breakfast gremlin keeping an eye on me!
This Week
Our speaker is Steve Du Plessis who will tell us about the changes in structure and systems in Rotary and how they will effect us as a Club.
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| Jenine Coetzer's photo of all the men wearing striped shirts to Rotary last week! |
This Week
Our speaker is Steve Du Plessis who will tell us about the changes in structure and systems in Rotary and how they will effect us as a Club.
Culinary kitchen, computer lab give women in Costa Rica a chance at a better life
Women in San José, Costa Rica, learn cooking skills in a kitchen funded by the Rotary clubs of Portland Pearl, Oregon, USA, and Belén, Belén, Costa Rica.
By Donald Q. Smith, a member of the Rotary Club of Portland Pearl, Minnesota, USA.
If teenage girls from a barrio of suburban San José, Costa Rica, earn a high school diploma, their quality of life is likely to improve.
And if their mothers learn cooking skills, their lives, too, will be changed.
Those have been the goals of two successful projects by the Rotary clubs of Portland Pearl, Oregon, USA, and Belén, Belén, Costa Rica, both funded in part by grants from The Rotary Foundation.
The two clubs forged their first links at a project fair hosted by Central America Rotarians. Four years ago, a US$54,000 project equipped a culinary room at the Suri School, just outside Costa Rica’s capital. Through the vocational training they receive, women learn skills that could lead to work in the restaurants or hotels of San José or as paid domestic help.
“The kitchen gives them an opportunity for better jobs,” says María Eugenia Mondragón, past president of the Belén Club.
Her husband, Victor Mata Chacon, president-elect of the club, said the quality of the installation, and the quantity of equipment, bring praise from outside food experts.
“Renowned chefs have come in to teach classes here,” he says. “They say they don’t have anything like this in their kitchens. They should be very proud of it.”
The two clubs collaborated a second time on a computer lab for 130 female students (ages 13-18) with a total Rotary investment of $18,500. Nineteen workstations and two printers will be linked when the room opens this summer.
On a visit to Costa Rica in March, my wife, Nancy, and I toured the school. We were joined by Belén Rotarians for a delicious chicken lasagna lunch prepared by women who study in the kitchen. On the wall near the entrance door is a plaque commemorating the contribution of Rotarians.
I have observed Rotary service projects from Northern Ireland to South Africa in my travels. I have experienced the internationality of Rotary through Rotary Youth Exchange. But this was the first time I have actually witnessed the results of matching grants initiated by my own Rotary Club.
Because of these grants, mothers will find jobs. Young women will go to university. In a community suffering from high unemployment, poverty, drugs, teen pregnancy, and single-parent homes, women have a new hope.
It all happened because Rotarians “Reach Within to Embrace Humanity.”
Donald Q. Smith is the former editor and publisher of the Monticello, Minnesota, Times; he lives in Portland, Oregon, where he is a freelance journalist and member of the Portland Pearl Rotary Club. He’s a past president of both the Portland Pearl and Monticello Rotary clubs.
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