The “one man circus”…

Live at Duncanson Hall !!

Last night I performed live in front of 300-400 students.

As part of the student orientation activities two fun nights were planned – one on the Wednesday evening and another on the Friday night. The Wednesday night one was cancelled and the Friday night one – well…  it turns out it was cancelled as well. At 2pm on the Friday afternoon I was told by the Orientation Committee chairperson that the fun night was a “go-er”. So I turn up at DH – all excited and ready to  “rock'n'roll”, only to be told that due to “bad organisation” – the Friday night fun night was cancelled as well. “Bad Organisation” – an excuse used again and again here in PNG.

Let me tell you…  the “one man circus” – wasn't impressed at all. Not one single bit !  Instead of the “fun” night (cancelled due to bad organisation) – a film night was scheduled instead. A film night !  A great idea – something that I know the students enjoy. But what about the “one man circus” – left standing there high and dry !!

Poor me…   poor me…. !!!   (Hey Rob…  get of your pitty-potty and stop playing with your poop !!).

So I sat there (outside DH) – drinking some Sprite and feeling all sorry for myself when…  bingo !   (An idea). If there were 2x movies scheduled – why not play during the intermission !!  I suggested this to the “film” organisers and they were open to the idea : the “one man circus” on stage after all. A whole half hour !!!

I had prepared some notes and had a “structure” to follow. Was I nervous? Yes (of course). But I was more excited than nervous. An opportunity to perform and to be heard. I had also planned to play some didjeridoo – only for a short time. I enjoy speaking much more than playing that “stick”. So talk I did.

A PNG audience can be rather intimidating. A room full of fearsome looking “blacks” – sitting there just staring, expecting… something. My role as enetrtainer…  to deliver!

Deliver – I did!

A few jokes, a couple of stories, some Tok Pisin, a little bit of Didj  and the night  in my view was a success.  I did it !!  There was an abundance of laughs and cheers.  Sure…  there were parts of my “show” that were a little rusty but all things considering…   it went “off”.

I would like to do something similar for the students on a monthly basis. With a general lack of fun activities for the students – I believe that a monthly show would be very well received. Besides, if my sources are correct – there are few (if any) stand up comedians in PNG!

The next chapter of my story is about to be written and the “one man circus” lives to tell the tale.

It's show time… !!!