Ventriloquist (noun) /vɛnˈtrɪləkwɪst: A person, especially an entertainer, who can make their voice appear to come from somewhere else, typically a dummy of a person or animal.
What would Conrad Koch and Chester Missing talk about if they didn’t constantly discuss politics and race?
In his latest show offering, Puppet Guy, Conrad Koch – the man often mistakenly called ‘Chester’ – goes back to the lighter side of comedy ventriloquism. The show, brought to you in association with Comedy Central Africa, takes place for the first time in Johannesburg at the Pieter Toerien Studio Theatre at Montecasino from 25 April to 27 May 2018.
“I wanted to explore having fun with ventriloquism this time around. Puppet Guy is a change of pace from the more political content I normally do. I still keep it relevant and topical, but it’s more playful. There is a lot more audience participation and I’ve introduced new characters that I’ve made with things I’ve found lying around,” says Conrad, a double Emmy-nominated comedian and award-winning ventriloquist.
Billed as Koch’s most fun show to date, Puppet Guy is all about hilarious characters, funny observations and world-class entertainment. It showcases the man behind the puppets other than just being political bad-boy, Chester Missing’s ‘backing guy’.
The comedy ensemble includes outrageous puppet characters like Hilton – a dancing ostrich made from feather dusters and a slipper; DJ Hoodie, a DJ made from sunglasses and a hoodie, as well as some other surprising new characters, and of course, Chester Missing brings his shenanigans to the stage too.
The show is directed by Chris Weare.
The show is highly interactive. “I’ve used Snapchat and a projector to turn people in the crowd into digital puppets and there’s ventriloquism masks where we find a member of the audience who actually things they’re a lion – voices and hunting skills included.”
Great off-the-wall comedy combined with silly satire, a Donald Trump joke or two and a completely unique take on ventriloquism makes Puppet Guy a must-see. The show has also been accepted into the Regina and Winnipeg Comedy Fringe Festival in Canada later this year.
Puppet Guy runs from 25 April to 27 May at the Studio Theatre at Montecasino (Fourways).
Tickets from R130, available at Computicket (https://online.computicket.com/web/event/puppet_guy/1174940589/0/81966851) or visit https://www.tsogosun.com/montecasino/entertainment/theatre/pieter-toerien for more information.
The show carries a PG13 age restriction. The shows start at 8PM from Wednesday to Saturday, with an additional 4PM matinee on the Saturday. Sunday shows are at 3PM.
Cape Town fans can also get in on the fun when the show kicks off at the Baxter Theatre from 3 – 14 April. Tickets priced at R120 and can be purchased via Webtickets (www.webtickets.co.za) or via Baxter Theatre directly on 0861 915 800 or www.baxter.co.za.
Connect on Facebook (www.facebook.com/MrChesterMissing) or alternatively follow @conradkoch. #PuppetGuy
