[LJ2ME] Kumar-dy Hour
10 minutes to curtains up and the house was still only sparsely seated and one almost got worried for the star of the hour. Perhaps the last excursion's dismal and disappointing showing still registered in the mind?
Any dissenter was soon thrown to the lions as the seats filled to capacity and the sell-out full-house show got off to a start with the indomitable Kumar himself warming up the audience with some idle banter to tease and please.
The show proper began with the diva in more appropriate guise poured into a slinky sequinned gown with a plunging front and adorned with a not-so-much-necklace-as-breastplate costume choker that dripped down his decollettage. It's wonders a wig, makeup and clothes can do to maketh the man or woman or woman out of the man.
As opposed to the last show where he tried too hard with added elements that instead subtracted from his humour, this time he returned to square one and his roots in stand-up comedy. As the programme listed, the cast consisted of only Kumar who proudly informed the audience that "me, myself and I" would be serving up the humour.
Delving into and unearthing memories from his childhood, upbringing, formative years, National Service stint, first jobs and other trivial trivia, Kumar was startlingly frank and brutally honest. Dare I say it, but it was the first time I've heard someone say he's gay in public. And a celebrity to boot.
His reenactment of his coming out to his parents was hilarious with his impersonations but at times seemed to touch a raw nerve too close for comfort. The laughter was still milked but there was an awkward unease in the house as we laughed politely but swallowed that lump in our throat.
Of course, a pinch of salt must be taken in the stride for blogger Mr Miyagi is credited as the writer so many of the throwaway punchlines were literally created for maximum impact. There were some that were lifted off old jokes like that of "jumping to conclusion" and "throwing weight around", all of which were weaved into his conservative Indian family and how stereotypes of Indians were made use of unabashedly.
The stage was bare save for a massive "Kumar" up in lights. Gone were the lip-syncing showgirl interludes and also the not-so hunky men camping it up. Good, for all we needed was Kumar's unique brand of comedy, as though we were a intimate group at private event.
Towards the end, there was a special video montage like those you show at wedding dinners where Kumar shared even more of himself with photos of him looking like a million dollars to rival the best of India's beauty pageant queens plus the bonus of The Ra Ra Show clips from the archives.
His family was interviewed and their love for him is unconditional though the father's reticence may still hark back to initial resentment and deep-set disappointment. One potentially touching moment was spoilt when some laughed at Kumar's nephew saying that for all his qualities, he is his "role model", which people immediately latched onto the obvious.
I'm glad I went. It was a fun evening out.
Any dissenter was soon thrown to the lions as the seats filled to capacity and the sell-out full-house show got off to a start with the indomitable Kumar himself warming up the audience with some idle banter to tease and please.
The show proper began with the diva in more appropriate guise poured into a slinky sequinned gown with a plunging front and adorned with a not-so-much-necklace-as-breastplate costume choker that dripped down his decollettage. It's wonders a wig, makeup and clothes can do to maketh the man or woman or woman out of the man.
As opposed to the last show where he tried too hard with added elements that instead subtracted from his humour, this time he returned to square one and his roots in stand-up comedy. As the programme listed, the cast consisted of only Kumar who proudly informed the audience that "me, myself and I" would be serving up the humour.
Delving into and unearthing memories from his childhood, upbringing, formative years, National Service stint, first jobs and other trivial trivia, Kumar was startlingly frank and brutally honest. Dare I say it, but it was the first time I've heard someone say he's gay in public. And a celebrity to boot.
His reenactment of his coming out to his parents was hilarious with his impersonations but at times seemed to touch a raw nerve too close for comfort. The laughter was still milked but there was an awkward unease in the house as we laughed politely but swallowed that lump in our throat.
Of course, a pinch of salt must be taken in the stride for blogger Mr Miyagi is credited as the writer so many of the throwaway punchlines were literally created for maximum impact. There were some that were lifted off old jokes like that of "jumping to conclusion" and "throwing weight around", all of which were weaved into his conservative Indian family and how stereotypes of Indians were made use of unabashedly.
The stage was bare save for a massive "Kumar" up in lights. Gone were the lip-syncing showgirl interludes and also the not-so hunky men camping it up. Good, for all we needed was Kumar's unique brand of comedy, as though we were a intimate group at private event.
Towards the end, there was a special video montage like those you show at wedding dinners where Kumar shared even more of himself with photos of him looking like a million dollars to rival the best of India's beauty pageant queens plus the bonus of The Ra Ra Show clips from the archives.
His family was interviewed and their love for him is unconditional though the father's reticence may still hark back to initial resentment and deep-set disappointment. One potentially touching moment was spoilt when some laughed at Kumar's nephew saying that for all his qualities, he is his "role model", which people immediately latched onto the obvious.
I'm glad I went. It was a fun evening out.