I first met Gina Yashere when she played the voice of a ballsy, teenage bully named Keisha on ‘Bromwell High’. This time I met her as a ballsy, middle-aged woman; same abrasive, London accent,taking the same delight in cussing, only this time wearing skinny jeans instead of a school uniform.
Yashere’s effusive stage presence instantly warmed up the modest-sized audience, half of whom were still wringing out their underwear from our recent monsoon.We immediately knew where all the expats and Londoners were in the audience (they were everywhere), and Yashere echo-located all the black people, thrilled to find some actually existing in Perth.
With bulls eye timing and agreeably rude gesticulations, her commentary on race and racism, family roots and obsessive compulsive order drew laughter like water from a well. Yashere’sl oud, wild outbursts were irresistibly madcap, making you feel half like Tomic’s tennis partner and half as if someone was letting you in on their hilarious secret, via megaphone.
Gina Yashere lays a second show on Saturday 11th May at 9:45pm at the Perth International Comedy Festival.
Carmen Reilly
