I don’t know…Those Indian Guys

Following the success of Those Indian Guys 1 and its sequel, Those Indian Guys 2, this was a “Best of” production, plus a few new skits.

Full of stereotypes and those typical characters we are all too familiar with, the audience laughed and snorted and pounded their feet throughout. The Bollywood director, the nosy aunty, the not-so-cool cool kid on a mission to find his cherry, not to mention the gold-toothed salesman are all generics we love to hate. The accents were great and the Bollywood dancing was hilarious, especially when the rain-soaked damsel looking for a hero was played by a large muscular man.

But there were also some guys I didn’t know. I didn’t recognise the Saudi Arabian air hostess who cracks terrorists jokes and entertains the plane with songs like, “I believe I can fly”. I recognised the gentle old man weary of his over-bearing neighbour, but the moment he opened up his gown to reveal a red speedo, I found myself confused.

Entertaining, yes. Cohesive? No. From the outset the audience was entertained, that much was clear. But I, an audience member too, found that I couldn’t make head nor tail of what this performance was actually about. Why did Edna the Jewish neighbour knit a jersey for Zuma’s…erm…member? Why were we introduced to two first-year drama students? Admittedly, they were Indian, but besides for that, I was lost.

Perhaps I’m not as culturally in tune as I thought I was or perhaps my sense of humour needs an upgrade, but I did not know those Indian guys.