Mike Naicker at Boardwalk to say his farewells with 'Chow 4 Now'

Lynne Gadd-Claxton

ONE of South Africa's top-selling comedians, Kevin Perkins, returns to Port Elizabeth as his alter-ego, Mike Naicker, next week – possibly for the final time.

After 12 years as a stand-up comedy act, Perkins is retiring the Mike Naicker character with his nationwide show, Chow 4 Now. The show promises to be filled with firm favourites and some thought-provoking new material.

Perkins's Indian stage character is known for his hilarious interpretations of the nuances of human interactions and for this he has earned a huge following.

The singer, actor's tag line of "world-class comedian previously gifted mechanical engineer mother not impressed" gives weight to Perkins's ethos of living life to the full. The "world's best adult comedian" – as Perkins describes himself – did not want to follow the same daily routine of an engineer. It was after Perkins followed the advice of friends to try stand-up comedy that he was discovered at an open mic night at a small comedy club in Johannesburg in 2000.

"Mike Naicker is seriously the funniest, most astute comedian I have ever seen. The character is a blue-collar, brash, but keen-witted Indian man, born and raised in Durban – the capital of India," he said.

"The show is a schizophrenic gut-busting comedy experience definitely for adults only."

The comedian's popularity in the city brings Perkins at least twice to three times a year to Port Elizabeth. He has also released two CDs and a DVD. He has sold out performances throughout South Africa and toured the London comedy circuit.

"I would love to do a long run in London at a West End theatre as Britain is the birthplace of brilliant stand-up comedy and the money I could make in a month in a decent-sized theatre in the West End, could pay off my house in South Africa," Perkins said and laughed that this would appease his mother for his career choice.

His musical parody of the Plain White Ts's hit song Hey there Delilah, titled The Eskom Song – on load shedding – received worldwide acclaim with over 120000 YouTube views.

Kevin Perkins aka Mike Naicker will be at the Boardwalk's Vodacom Amphitheatre next week Friday and Saturday at 8.30pm.

Tickets are available at R110 from Computicket.