John Vlismas returned to the stage last week with his brand of no-holds-barred comedy that leaves one cringing, offended and in a fit of laughter all at the same time.

His new show, Revelations, played to audiences at the Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City Casino, Johannesburg and proved once again that Vlismas remains the benchmark for comedy in this country.

Vlismas described the show as a “sacred cow apocalypse”.

With no topic too taboo and no subject too sensitive, Vilsmas unpacks and dismantles various socially accepted norms from religion to race.

Using blatant insults as one of his main weapons, Vlismas explains that no one holds the right to not be offended, especially for what he believes are ridiculous views or beliefs.

In a first for himself, Vlismas even did a rape joke where he attacks rapists for choosing the vulnerable in society as their victims. “If you want to impress me then rape a Springbok. Rape Bismarck Du Plessis.”

In a style very similar to that of two of Vilsmas’ own comedic idols, George Carlin and Bill Hicks, his stand-up is done more as a social commentary than a string of slap-stick jokes or camp and crass laugh out loud moments. There is no need for gimmicks or over the top gesturing. Instead Vlismas uses people’s insecurities and in many instances their self-righteousness to expose the hypocrisies so many of us struggle with.

An interesting feature to the show was the news insert where Vlismas anchored the news – except in it he only spoke the truth. There was also a Jacob Zuma roast in which Vlismas took the President to task over corruption, polygamy and the usual set of jokes our ‘number one’ is so used to being on the receiving end of.

This show is uncensored and original – a perfect alternative to what’s become the usual SA comedy template of bad accents, Malema insults and overdone cultural references.

If you would like to be offended, you can catch 'Revelations' on a soon to be released DVD.