Aaron McIlroy and Lisa Bobbert are arguably one of Durban’s adored comedic couples. They’ve been there, done that and now they’re taking comedy to a whole new level!
There are no two people who embody survival with a smile better than Aaron and Lisa. In spite of their own personal tragedies, rolling blackouts, Covid, rioting, flooding, skyrocketing fuel and food prices and all kinds of unbelievable things going on in South Africa, they’ve risen proudly and passionately to deliver some of the most hilarious and healing laughter therapy to those of us who have needed it most.
Sitting in the dining room of their busy but beautiful home that was once ravaged by a fire, this high-energy Durban North couple, talk about the past 32 years serving up liberal loads of laughter as they’ve brought their off-the-wall stage persona vividly to life. They’re now changing it up with a little Beethoven, Bach and Bedlam.
“As artists, it’s so important to be relevant and keep moving to new ground,” they say.
Taking a trip down memory lane, the multi-award winning pair recalls their first show together in 1990.
“It was called the Turtle Project – a fun show that toured KZN schools’ to create awareness about the conservation of the leatherback turtle. We had all the kids in hysterics! There is nothing better than educating and entertaining at the same time, especially when it comes to kids.”
Countless rehearsals, stage theatrics and four pregnancies later, Aaron and Lisa have made a name for themselves as two of South Africa’s funniest people and are admired for their ability to engage and entertain, to deliver side-splitting comedy, quirky sketches, some song and dance and characters that appear in a colourful parade of wigs and costumes.
“We’ve had huge belly laughs when Lisa was pregnant and worked until she popped. Then there are shows like Abba Maniacs, where every night was like a hard-core exercise routine. How I didn’t kill myself I don’t know,” says Aaron. “Theatre keeps you nice and fit, that’s for sure and while we enjoy being on stage, we enjoy it so much more afterwards because so much can go wrong.”
Some of their most popular productions include their scintillating musical comedy Family Therapy, Marriage for Dummies – a hilarious survival guide for anyone brave enough to take on life’s ultimate challenge, and their most recent comedy super nova, Go Big! And many of these have been done with kids in tow, as their offspring Kaylee, Grace, Fiona and Declan are always ready to lend a hand with lights and all the technical stuff.
But it hasn’t all been milk and honey for the couple who, through their faith and love for one another, have overcome some of life’s most difficult challenges. They’ve had to pick up the pieces after facing a parent’s worst nightmare – the loss of a child, rebuild their home after it was gutted by an electrical fire, and in recent years fight for survival when the entertainment industry was among those hit hardest by the pandemic.
“We don’t know how people do life without God. We’ve seen miracles, we’ve seen provision and we’ve felt His presence, comfort and protection. Every life philosophy is great until it is tested. We fortunately or unfortunately have had lots of opportunity to test it.”
One thing the couple will attest to is the power of human kindness.
“We have also had so many amazing experiences in our lifetime. There is a side to people that is incredibly kind and often only seen or realised in times of trouble. We’ve been able to put food on the table, petrol in our car and allow the show to go on because of the kindness of others. It’s our job as humans to be the hands, the feet, to spread love and to fix things, and we share in every opportunity we can to step up and be a part of doing something good for others. There is tremendous joy in that.”
If you’re not familiar with their online comedy vlog Welcome2Durban then you should be. Since the page’s inception on social media, the duo has created numerous videos of themselves exploring Durban and it’s surrounds in a fun and entertaining way in the guise of their vacuous stage alter egos, Bruce and Charmaine Siringinson. Started during lockdown, their hope with the page has been to attract visitors to our friendly city and boost the economy so that things get back to normal, and it has taken off beyond expectations.
“It’s always a comic adventure when it comes to Bruce and Charmaine. They often get to sneak in somewhere we ordinarily wouldn’t and most of the time, they get to say what everyone else is thinking.”
Although Aaron and Lisa agree they are nothing like their characters in real life, one thing both couples do have in common is humour.
“It’s marital blitz. I mean bliss,” chirps Aaron. “The reality of life is that there is heartache and there are challenges but there are joyful moments a lot of the time too. Managing the conundrum is what it’s all about. Through Bruce and Charmain we make light of everyday experiences like going to the shop to buy washing powder, watching the rugby and discovering our skills or lack thereof at art classes. As a couple, they’re also a great reminder for us to keep a good attitude in every little thing, and especially not to get irritated with the cashier!”
Aaron also runs a series of workshops – Laughter and Leadership – aimed at corporate or casual environments that are designed to address the basics – respect, trust, authenticity and working on your strengths … in a humorous way.
“I talk into the building blocks of a joy culture and why it is no longer a soft issue. I relate my experiences to create joy and I address the culture of communication – like if you hate children and work as a Sunday school teacher, how to find joy in that.”
And now, they’re doing something completely different … a collab with The Durban City Orchestra and, from what we’ve seen, we have no doubt it’s going to be brilliant.
“We’re going with something that’s never been tried. We’re using a classical platform to make comedy. It’s called Classical Comedy and it’s for those who like and those who don’t know classical music. It’s not a recital or concert, it’s a show. And there’s something for everyone. What’s nice is that this was never on our radar. The orchestra want to try and reach a new audience so they approached us. If you think about it, we’re not oil and water; we are oil and onions, which is quite delicious. We could make a nice mayonnaise if blended correctly. Is it legal? Should it be allowed? Will the culture police put us in jail? The only thing that’s guaranteed is hilarity!”
So what happens when you let these two loose in an orchestra? That’s anyone’s guess, but if you want to find out, don’t miss it!
Directed by Darren King, Classical Comedy runs from November 25 to December 4 at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre. Bookings through Computicket
Details: Follow Aaron and Lisa on IG: @aaronmcilroy, @lisabobbert and @welcome.2.durban and FB: @wakeupmyboy, @Lisa Bobbert and @welcome2Durban or contact Clare on 071 224 1046.
CREDITS
Photos: Val Adamson Photography, 083 282 5916, email: [email protected], IG: @valadamsonphotography, valadamson.co.za
