The show revolves around the all-too-well-known scenario at a wedding where the groom's best man makes his speech. Often the highlight from the speeches, the best man traditionally reveals otherwise not commonly known facts about the groom. Louw Venter's show, however, brings forward a darker side to this picture.
Starting the show on a very light note, Louw takes on the character of Mark's (the groom's) best man. Giving thanks to those who travelled far to come to the wedding, and so forth, with much politeness. For what was meant to be predominantly a comedy show, I found the initial bombardment of names and relationship complexities in the wedding scenario to be heavy on the ear. With much foundation set on fictional audience characters, it was not until at least halfway into the show that any kind of attempt at humour was introduced.
With more and more "Dutch courage" being consumed as the speech wore on, the nature of the stories being told (about five or six characters present at the wedding) started taking a slow and steady decline towards inebriated garble. Louw made attempts at religious, toilet, foul, and sometimes gross, humour in his speaking to the groom, bride, in-laws and best friends present, all the while making a drunken fool of himself as the character of best man.
In all honesty, I sat through the show, having feelings much like I would being at a real wedding; I would have sat there listening to what was being said, but either have excused myself to go to the bathroom or made polite conversation with whoever was nearest to me so that I didn't have to listen to everything being said. Towards the end of Louw's show, I caught myself looking around, wishing there were a Master of Ceremonies or the groom's father-in-law who would kindly remove the microphone from Louw and escort him off the stage.
Besides my obvious displeasure with the evening's "comedy", the response from the audience was much on the passive side. A few thoroughly enjoyed the antics of Louw, cheering and toasting every time Louw did. The majority chuckled throughout the show, as his humour was of a slapstick and callous nature, which does strike a cord with many who enjoy that type of humour. I spotted many others sitting in silence throughout the show, much as I did.
If, however, your sense of humour falls outside of the heavily adopted "American" style of humour (somewhere between witty, smartly sarcastic and clever) I would suggest perhaps giving this show a miss. If I wouldn't willingly put myself through the scenario played out at a real wedding, I certainly wouldn't categorise The Best Man's Speech as comical relief.
The Best Man runs at On Broadway from Tuesday to Saturday from 11 May to 05 June.
Tickets are R75 per person. Dinner is served from 18h30, the show begins at 20h30. For bookings please call 021 424 1194 or visit our website www.onbroadway.co.za.
