Q: What inspired you to start stand-up comedy?

A: I had been married for sixteen years when my husband came home one day and said, “I am not happy.” So I packed up my three kids and went home to my mother. I was 37 and had to start my life over. Somewhere in the healing process I read an article from the Cape Town Comedy Collective (CCC), “Do you think you are funny?” And so off I went.

Q: Describe your first performance.

A: My first performance was at the fantastic Armchair Theatre in Observatory. The CCC put me on stage. The day seemed like 48 hours waiting for my first five minutes—but once I did it and the audience applauded, I was hooked.

Q: Do you have “pre-show” rituals? If so, what are they?

A: No.

Q: Where in the world is your favorite place to perform stand-up? Why is this your favorite place?

A: I love the Cape Town Comedy Club. The audiences are so multi-cultural and you have to keep working on your material to ensure that you include patrons who don’t understand venac but without losing the funny in the material.

Q: What are three of your favorite things?

A: Watching sports—especially English Premier League and Champions league. Family dinners. Food (can’t be specific cause it depends on the mood—so it could be an apple and berry crumble or a hot beef on rye or a smoke salmon and cream cheese bagel or a stack of banana pancakes with spicy honey… the list goes on).

Q: What is your favorite sammich?

A: What a fab question and so hard to answer but absolute favour—hot beef on rye with home made pickles, good mustard and beautiful bread.

Q: What’s one thing people assume about you, that is or isn’t true?

A: Because I am a comic I spend my time making my kids laugh. No, I was a strict mother when I had to be.

Q: If you weren’t a comic, what other job would you love to do?

A: I love my other job—I am a marketing manager for a group of private schools.

Q: What are some comedy goals/dreams you have on your To Do List?

A: I would love to perform at a Jewish comedy festival in New York.

Q: What quality, trait &/or body part do you really like about yourself?

A: I always bless the fact that I am not covetous.

Q: What’s one thing you wish more people knew about you? [or anything else you’d like mentioned, ie your education, personal life or mission statement]

A: The people that matter in my life know what makes me tick.

Q: How will you know you “Made It?”

A: When people book me for gigs without me having to hustle.

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COMING UP

• Look out for shows at The Cape Town Comedy Club

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AROUND THE WEB

• Website: tracyklass.co.za
• Facebook: Tracy Klass – Comedienne