Aaron McIlroy grew up in the midst of Irish song, fun and nonsense as his father and uncle were members of the famed and highly popular Blarney Brothers. Then Aaron met Lisa Bobbert who has her own brand of irrepressible energy and wacky humour. The first time I heard her characteristic delicious giggle, I thought someone had let the water out of a plughole very fast!

That giggle is now a trademark, particularly of the dim-witted Charmaaaine (her mother’s way of saying her name is an ongoing gag) who is one of the main characters in Sex, Bugs and Rock `n Roll.. Her husband Bruce, nerdsville personified, stammers and squeaks his way through the minefields of speech, creating hilarious innuendo as he battles to find appropriate words. Sex, Bugs and Rock ‘n Roll.has been entertaining audiences for at least five years and is such a well known festival favourite in Grahamstown that Charmaine only has to hint at her mother and the audience is immediate in its response of “Charmaaaaaaine”! Mum is also famous for such expressions as “More men would leave home if they knew how to pack!”

Sex, Bugs and Rock ‘n Roll is running at the Elizabeth Sneddon Festival until August 15. The setting is a variety show with Aaron initially clad in blonde wig as a self-important presenter eager to announce that his next number is “my personal favourite song sung by one of my favourite people – me!” Lisa is his blonde bimbo assistant who is pretty nifty at aiming high kicks at – and hitting! - a pair of nearby cymbals.

From then on, it gets chaotic in the extreme. At dizzying speed, the pair alternate between these characters and Charmaine and Bruce. On the brink of a marital break-up, Chairmaine tells the story of her love life while Aaron takes the part of such characters as a macho pop star in long black wig and leopard skin baggies to Vijay (you must wake up, right?) Moodley from Grey Street who’ll sell anything to anybody. Occasionally there are rare and serious moments when Aaron isn’t horsing around and allows the audience to appreciate what a fine singer he really is.

Sex, Bugs and Rock `n Roll is full of well-known up-tempo hits which Aaron and Lisa perform to good backing tracks. These include Yakkity Yak which sets the show off to a good start as well as My Guy, Simply Irresistible, Jailhouse Rock. Somewhere Out There. Most notable are Hit the Road Jack, Personality and /i>. Marriage and parenthood doesn’t seem to have slowed this highly energetic couple down a jot and they present a highly professional and proficient show. If you enjoy fun and nonsense, this is for you!