Change agent

It's one man, many characters in satire 'Elections & Erections'

CAMBRIDGE - Message to Hillary Clinton from Evita Bezuidenhout: Do not drop out of this presidential race.

"Men always want women to go back to the kitchen," states the big-haired, opinionated Evita, the self-described "most famous white woman in South Africa." "Hillary must not listen to that. Hillary must stay right on the porch."

Evita is the matronly Afrikaner alter ego of Pieter-Dirk Uys, the South African political satirist performing a new one-person show, "Elections & Erections: A Chronicle of Fear and Fun," at the American Repertory Theatre's Zero Arrow Theatre through May 4.

The irreverent Uys has some 80 characters in his repertoire, though he expects only seven will be in Cambridge for this take-down of political hypocrisy, from America to Zimbabwe. Evita will certainly be among them, and so will Hillary and Bill Clinton. "Depending on who is caught with a prostitute," Uys says, "there might be eight or nine."

Mother Teresa will make an appearance, too. "She is running the telephone exchange in heaven," Uys says. "She'll be wearing washing clothes and green Crocs." Ranging from character to character, Uys seamlessly transforms himself onstage using lipstick, costumes, and wigs - sometimes one on top of another.

This isn't the first time Evita has appeared on the Cambridge stage. In 2005 she starred in Uys's "Foreign Aids," a revue about South African history and social and political problems, particularly the AIDS pandemic, a subject close to the crusading Uys's heart. For several years he has traveled around South Africa speaking to high school students to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS.

"I tell them, "I'm as scared as you are," says Uys, who at 63 is a full decade younger than Evita. "My message is, 'This is about fear, not about a virus.' " When he speaks to students, he brings props, including a prosthetic penis, condoms, and a banana, to break the ice and reinforce how not to prevent AIDS (hint: the condom doesn't go on the banana). For his efforts he was awarded South Africa's prestigious Truth and Reconciliation Award in 2001.

But now elections are on Evita's mind. And well they should be. After all, Uys says on Monday, "As we speak now, they are stuffing the ballot boxes in Zimbabwe." Besides, Evita is "standing for president" of South Africa and hopes - no, plans - to succeed Thabo Mbeki, who appears in the show in the form of a puppet. Though few are aware of this, Hillary Clinton launched her presidential bid mainly because she was inspired by Evita: She "is following my example," declares Evita, after Uys efficiently metamorphosizes into her in his dressing room, donning false eyelashes, a two-story wig, sequined robe, and garish earrings.

How did the two women meet? Uys does not miss a beat. They met in South Africa when the Clintons were visiting Nelson Mandela. Hillary was having some hair problems, and Evita lent her some hairspray. "Evita was very scared of Mr. Clinton," Uys says. "She didn't want to get too close to him."

Uys prepares to transform himself back into his compact, balding male self, to the obvious displeasure of Evita. "Now I have to make way for a really, really third-rate overweight comedian," she says, scowling. "I hate it when men wear women's clothing. It's very un-Afrikaans."