Hate doctors? Hate waiting rooms’ out-of-date magazines? The interminable wait-times? You’re not alone. Genuine GP Dr. Ahmed Kazmi, in his show Doctor In The House, is ready to cure you of the ill will you bear towards the medical profession.
Deadly handsome, all smiles, an active listener and a lover of humanity, this comedy doctor is one medicine man out-of-the-box. He sports a dazzling diamante-encrusted evening jacket for a start. This man brings showbiz to diagnosis!
This show shot my preconceptions about the lack of personality most GPs suffer. Dr. Ahmed has a natural flair for holding the spotlight and includes everyone in the moment. The crowd laughed along as he catalogued the list of patient types he encounters from his swivel chair (note: it’s not your chair to sit in!).
All aspects of the GP encounter were there: the hypochondriacs, the imposters, the non-compliant, the proxy patients, the bodily processes. As well as his favourite group — old folks. He also does a mean Aussie accent and has the voice of an angel.
Dr. Ahmed genuinely finds people great company, as evident throughout his great storytelling show. He kept the audience in the palm of his hands, coaxing private info out of us (‘who is on medication?’) with his supportive yet whimsical manner. But there’s nothing PC about him – he knocks stereotypes out as a preamble.
You may think doctoring and comedy are strange companions, but who can’t get a laugh (or song) out of medication names? Herpes? Or topics like the lighter side of death or sex with a doctor? Singing the Home And Away theme song, Dr. Ahmed really prefers cabaret, and incorporates this throughout. He even puts on Christmas carol shows in Aged Care homes!
This performer gave me the best after-show moment this year, greeting each and every audience member with warm smile and an embrace! I don’t know if your GP ever showed so much emotion, but it’s this personal touch which elevates this comedian to a doctor of the human spirit. It’s hard to resist his lifeforce!
There is a dose of good feeling from attending – he will use part of the profit for his show to volunteer in refugee camps in Syria later this year.
– Sarah
Sarah W. is a dance-trained theatre lover with a flair for the bold and non-traditional performance platforms. On the street or in the box seat, she looks for quality works that push the envelope.
Doctor In The House runs 10-16 April, 8.30pm (60mins) at The Butterfly Club. Purchase tickets now. The venue is not accessible.
Read The Plus Ones’ guide to MICF 2017, and visit often to see all our reviews.
