Thursday, September 27, 2007
May the farce be with you
Living in a post-Sept. 11 world can be tough when you have Middle Eastern roots, especially if you're part of a comedy tour dubbed the "Axis of Evil."
Try to explain that to airport security.
But Aron Kader, Maz Jobrani and Ahmed Ahmed -the men behind this Middle Eastern-American comic outfit - can laugh with reckless abandon at the trials they've faced. Though it's usually Ahmed that gets the worst of it when he's at the airport.
He shares his name with a terrorist who uses "Ahmed" as one of many aliases, Kader said. It can often lead to mistaken identity.
"Ahmed has this joke that there's some terrorist out there going, 'I'm not this funny comedian!," Kader said in his best Middle Eastern impression by phone from California.
The American-born comics, of the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, will perform at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Joining the show will be New York comedian Dean Obeidallah.
The humorous bunch said their profession, as well as their lives, changed after the terrorist attack on the nation six years ago - mainly for the better.
Kader, Jobrani and Ahmed were working together in Los Angeles for about eight months in a show called "Arabian Nights" when the attacks occurred. The terrorist event made many Americans distant to those of Middle Eastern descent, so the trio decided to approach stand-up comedy with caution.
"It was kind of a shock," said Kader, of 9/11. "We didn't know what to do on stage. The older comics started talking about it. We just backed off."
When they started performing their routines again, full of Middle Eastern humor, they were surprised at the audience's response.
"It was a whole different reaction - it was like night and day," said Kader, who was raised in Washington, D.C., by his Palestinian father and Mormon mother. "They were curious, interested. They wanted to know where we were coming from, what we thought about it."
For 37-year-old Obeidallah, a former lawyer turned comic, the experience of Sept. 11 helped him embrace his father's heritage.
"I went to bed on Sept. 10 a white guy and woke up Sept. 11 an Arab," the New Jersey native said by phone from New York.
He loves every aspect of his Middle Eastern and Italian background, right down to his name.
"People think it's hard to have a Muslim last name," Obeidallah said. "But I'm immune from identity theft."
Speaking of names, the comic said he was pleased to get a hurricane named after him this year - Hurricane Dean.
"I found myself rooting for the hurricane," he said. "Not that I wanted it to cause destruction, but to compete with my friends if they had a hurricane named after them."
You'll never hear a Middle Eastern name being used to identify a hurricane, especially if the storm was bound to cause havoc and destruction on American shores, Obeidallah said.
"Those kind of things are not going to help (Middle Eastern-Americans)," he joked.
After Sept. 11, Obeidallah found himself defending his heritage through stand-up comedy to those who stereotyped it.
"I just got tired of people talking," said the comedian, who worked with "Axis of Evil" during their "Arabian Nights" days. "It's just wrong. As an American you have a sense of what justice and fairness is. (Sept. 11) really changed my life."
The comics, whose idols include Richard Pryor and Jon Stewart, also share their thoughts on relationships, sports, immigration, social commentary and politics during their performance.
President George W. Bush's antics have been great fodder, they said.
As of last week, the comedy troupe was waiting to hear if the sketch comedy pilot,"The Watch List," was picked up by a television network. The show, which was co-created by Obeidallah and Max Brooks, would be the first of its kind to feature a Middle Eastern-American cast.
"It's something the American public is wanting to see," Kadar believes. "They're ready to laugh with us."
Of course, the Middle East has a long way to go in that respect, but it's slowly getting there, Kadar said.
"They do like comedy but it's not a very show-businessy type of place," he said of the region. "I think that they need to laugh."
What: Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, featuring Aron Kader, Ahmed Ahmed, Maz Jobrani, Dean Obeidallah and others
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 North W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa
Tickets: $28.25-$38.25
Information: (813) 229-7827 What: Axis of Evil Comedy Tour featuring Aron Kader, Ahmed Ahmed, Maz Jobrani, Dean Obeidallah and others.
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 North W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa
Tickets: $28.25-$38.25
Information: (813) 229-7827
MAY THE FARCE BE WITH YOU
What: "Laughter on the 23rd Floor," Golden Apple Dinner Theatre, through Nov. 18
Why: This quirky show, about a group of comedy writers behind the scenes of a 1950s variety show, sounds too hilarious to pass up. It's a comic farce based on Neil Simon's early career as a TV writer.
January, features writer, loves a quirky cast.
January Holmes
1
"Gem of the Ocean"
This play by August Wilson is the first of a 10-play cycle that chronicles the African-American experience through each decade of the 1900s. Plays through Oct. 7 at American Stage Theatre Company, St. Petersburg; $22-$35
2
"Menopause the Musical"
A hilarious look at "the change" through the eyes of four women at Bloomingdale's, with lyrics set to the tunes of 1960s and '70s rock songs. Plays through Sept. 30 at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa. Tickets: $39.50
The Herald recommends these stage productions:
LOOKING AHEAD
Here are two shows to look for this season:
1
"Noises Off"
This comedy takes a back stage look at the antics of an old English touring company. Opens Oct. 4 at Manatee Players, Bradenton. Tickets: $11-$23. Information: 748-5875.
2
"Second Time Around"
Lovers over 20 years ago meet again by chance and relive memories both sad and funny. Opens Oct. 11 at Island Players, Anna Maria. Tickets: $15. Information: 778-3755.
from http://www.bradenton.com/entertainment/story/155925.html
May the farce be with you
Living in a post-Sept. 11 world can be tough when you have Middle Eastern roots, especially if you're part of a comedy tour dubbed the "Axis of Evil."
Try to explain that to airport security.
But Aron Kader, Maz Jobrani and Ahmed Ahmed -the men behind this Middle Eastern-American comic outfit - can laugh with reckless abandon at the trials they've faced. Though it's usually Ahmed that gets the worst of it when he's at the airport.
He shares his name with a terrorist who uses "Ahmed" as one of many aliases, Kader said. It can often lead to mistaken identity.
"Ahmed has this joke that there's some terrorist out there going, 'I'm not this funny comedian!," Kader said in his best Middle Eastern impression by phone from California.
The American-born comics, of the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, will perform at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Joining the show will be New York comedian Dean Obeidallah.
The humorous bunch said their profession, as well as their lives, changed after the terrorist attack on the nation six years ago - mainly for the better.
Kader, Jobrani and Ahmed were working together in Los Angeles for about eight months in a show called "Arabian Nights" when the attacks occurred. The terrorist event made many Americans distant to those of Middle Eastern descent, so the trio decided to approach stand-up comedy with caution.
"It was kind of a shock," said Kader, of 9/11. "We didn't know what to do on stage. The older comics started talking about it. We just backed off."
When they started performing their routines again, full of Middle Eastern humor, they were surprised at the audience's response.
"It was a whole different reaction - it was like night and day," said Kader, who was raised in Washington, D.C., by his Palestinian father and Mormon mother. "They were curious, interested. They wanted to know where we were coming from, what we thought about it."
For 37-year-old Obeidallah, a former lawyer turned comic, the experience of Sept. 11 helped him embrace his father's heritage.
"I went to bed on Sept. 10 a white guy and woke up Sept. 11 an Arab," the New Jersey native said by phone from New York.
He loves every aspect of his Middle Eastern and Italian background, right down to his name.
"People think it's hard to have a Muslim last name," Obeidallah said. "But I'm immune from identity theft."
Speaking of names, the comic said he was pleased to get a hurricane named after him this year - Hurricane Dean.
"I found myself rooting for the hurricane," he said. "Not that I wanted it to cause destruction, but to compete with my friends if they had a hurricane named after them."
You'll never hear a Middle Eastern name being used to identify a hurricane, especially if the storm was bound to cause havoc and destruction on American shores, Obeidallah said.
"Those kind of things are not going to help (Middle Eastern-Americans)," he joked.
After Sept. 11, Obeidallah found himself defending his heritage through stand-up comedy to those who stereotyped it.
"I just got tired of people talking," said the comedian, who worked with "Axis of Evil" during their "Arabian Nights" days. "It's just wrong. As an American you have a sense of what justice and fairness is. (Sept. 11) really changed my life."
The comics, whose idols include Richard Pryor and Jon Stewart, also share their thoughts on relationships, sports, immigration, social commentary and politics during their performance.
President George W. Bush's antics have been great fodder, they said.
As of last week, the comedy troupe was waiting to hear if the sketch comedy pilot,"The Watch List," was picked up by a television network. The show, which was co-created by Obeidallah and Max Brooks, would be the first of its kind to feature a Middle Eastern-American cast.
"It's something the American public is wanting to see," Kadar believes. "They're ready to laugh with us."
Of course, the Middle East has a long way to go in that respect, but it's slowly getting there, Kadar said.
"They do like comedy but it's not a very show-businessy type of place," he said of the region. "I think that they need to laugh."
What: Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, featuring Aron Kader, Ahmed Ahmed, Maz Jobrani, Dean Obeidallah and others
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 North W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa
Tickets: $28.25-$38.25
Information: (813) 229-7827 What: Axis of Evil Comedy Tour featuring Aron Kader, Ahmed Ahmed, Maz Jobrani, Dean Obeidallah and others.
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 North W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa
Tickets: $28.25-$38.25
Information: (813) 229-7827
MAY THE FARCE BE WITH YOU
What: "Laughter on the 23rd Floor," Golden Apple Dinner Theatre, through Nov. 18
Why: This quirky show, about a group of comedy writers behind the scenes of a 1950s variety show, sounds too hilarious to pass up. It's a comic farce based on Neil Simon's early career as a TV writer.
January, features writer, loves a quirky cast.
January Holmes
1
"Gem of the Ocean"
This play by August Wilson is the first of a 10-play cycle that chronicles the African-American experience through each decade of the 1900s. Plays through Oct. 7 at American Stage Theatre Company, St. Petersburg; $22-$35
2
"Menopause the Musical"
A hilarious look at "the change" through the eyes of four women at Bloomingdale's, with lyrics set to the tunes of 1960s and '70s rock songs. Plays through Sept. 30 at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa. Tickets: $39.50
The Herald recommends these stage productions:
LOOKING AHEAD
Here are two shows to look for this season:
1
"Noises Off"
This comedy takes a back stage look at the antics of an old English touring company. Opens Oct. 4 at Manatee Players, Bradenton. Tickets: $11-$23. Information: 748-5875.
2
"Second Time Around"
Lovers over 20 years ago meet again by chance and relive memories both sad and funny. Opens Oct. 11 at Island Players, Anna Maria. Tickets: $15. Information: 778-3755.
from http://www.bradenton.com/entertainment/story/155925.html
