Cape Town - Bambi Kellerman has always been outspoken. Now she wants everybody to have a frank discussion about sex.
Younger sister to the ultra-conservative Evita Bezuidenhout, Bambi brings her new cabaret, 50 Shades Of Bambi, to the Fugard Theatre from August 6 to 24. In it she takes a raunchy ride to the other side of daily life: relationships, trust, happiness, hope, love and fidelity. Sex is in full-frontal focus, with words, music, toys and tinsel.
Bambi has one sex tip for women: never run out of batteries. And her favourite part of sex is “when they go home”.
The material is red-hot, but doesn’t need or contain a single swearword, she says proudly. The production is for anyone who believes in freedom of expression and the right to choose what is best for them when the lights are low.
Bambi describes the show as her “long walk in high-heels to the freedom of expression – in bed, in conversation and in song”, with award-winning musical director Godfrey Johnson at the piano.
She has had a very colourful life, including as a sex worker and a stripper.
“I’m not ashamed of it,” says the woman who was described as grande horizontal who graduated from the University of Sex, cum laude.
She may be in her seventies, but she still has a very keen interest in all aspects of relationships, and reminds us that sex is something everyone shares.
“We have got to talk about what we like, and what we don’t. If we’re not straightforward with each other, how can we talk with children? There is so much information, but so little knowledge. I want this to be a learning experience,” says the blonde born in Bethlehem (in the Free State).
She says it is the lack of frank communication with children that contributes to the high rates of teenage pregnancy.
Asked if she read 50 Shades of Grey by EL James, Bambi screws up her nose and says she skimmed through it. But there is one aspect of the popularity of the book that does concern her.
“I’m nervous about the commercialisation of S&M. It’s a very serious art form,” she says, “performed by experienced professionals”.
Bambi adds that for regular people, it all starts with a tickle, progresses to a slap, and next you may have a broken arm.
Noting that sex coupled with violence is a reality for many South African women, she advises: “Don’t keep your pain a secret. Tell someone you trust.”
She says many women think they have to do what their husbands want. “Twenty years into democracy and this is still happening, so casually.”
This is one of the reasons conversation is so important, says Bambi. She believes that society is still conservative, and lacks confidence when it comes to sex, and that is when it becomes the enemy.
Bambi says sexuality is something she was introduced to at an early age. Born and raised as a good Afrikaans girl, she fled the Free State in 1956.
“Many thought it was because of apartheid. But I just didn’t want to die a virgin in the Free State.”
She fled to Vienna where she met her husband Herr Kellerman. Unbeknown to her, he was a Nazi. It was also the last time she and her sister Evita had a real relationship.
“You won’t find the two of us in the same room,” says Bambi. She says Evita is extremely judgemental and doesn’t approve of her lifestyle.
But Bambi loves being around young people, especially her nephew De Kok.
“I talk to De Kok and his friend Moff de Bruin all the time. They’re such queens. Evita doesn’t know. She keeps wondering why they haven’t married nice Afrikaans girls,” she laughs.
Bambi shrugs and says that as with her previous work, she doesn’t expect Evita will see the show.
Then the interview is over and Bambi slips off her black heels and relishes the relief. In an instant she is transformed back into Pieter-Dirk Uys, the multi-award-winning performer whose on-stage alter egos include Bambi and Evita.
Uys was awarded the 2010 Fleur du Cap, in the best performance in a cabaret, for his portrayal as Bambi in F.A.K. Songs and Other Struggle Anthems. He also helped Bambi pen an autobiography, Never Too Naked, and has written and performed in 20 plays and more than 30 revues and one-man shows throughout South Africa and abroad.
* 50 Shades of Bambi will run for a limited season. Tickets are R150 from Computicket or the Fugard box office at 021 461 4554. - Cape Argus
* If you use Gmail to read IOL's newsletters, note that Google is rolling out a new tabbed inbox that filters your mail into 5 separate tabs - Primary, Social, Promotions, Updates and Forums. IOL emails will probably be sent to the “Promotions” tab instead of the “Primary” tab. If you don't want it that way, drag the newsletter from the Promotions tab to the Primary tab. An alert will pop up. Click “yes” and your newsletters will continue to go to your Primary inbox.