CUPERTINO, CA: Enacte Arts is emerging as an unstoppable force in the Bay Area, bringing diverse acts to its platform of encouraging and showcasing new as well as established artists. Continuing with its theme of focusing on South Asian artists, the audience was treated to a laugh fest on Valentine’s Day weekend at the De Anza Center for Performing Arts in Cupertino.
Sammy Obeid in his opening act for the headliner, Hari Kondabolu, bowled the audience with his smart, relevant, and highly “punny” routine. His act was a constant laughter stream, rather than jokes with punch lines. He never took a break from entertaining the audience. Laughter threatened to drown out his next pithy spoken word, and the wealth of mirth contained within. Every word he uttered, as well as those said under his breath, was redolent with wit and humor, a rare commodity in today’s stand-up routines.
As a Math graduate from University of California, Berkeley, he is now dealing with the “aftermath”, and makes jokes about the use of the word, “problems” to address Math ideas, when, in reality the Math guys just want to know when two trains moving at certain average speeds from opposite directions will cross each other!
Sammy introduced himself as part Arab, and part Texan, therefore being “pure oil”, while claiming his Lebanese heritage to have a lot of culture as the root word, “Lebon” means yogurt. Lamenting the lack of an ethnic Lebanese accent in his parents, he reached into his ethnic background for several hilarious statements. His family’s Arab guilt was mentioned as his uncle is named “Jihad”, which essentially means, “struggle”, and the consequences thereof for air travel!
As he is constantly mistaken for an Indian, owing to his brown skin, he shook his head ruefully, saying “not everyone can be Columbus”, and went on to make jokes about the ethnic Indian community…as in a family with two “Priuses” should be called “Priya”.
In his cute, engaging style and a ready, disarming smile, Sammy proceeded to unravel the mystery of Spice rack, which must be a code for sidekicks for men’s entertainment…going by the names of ladies he discovered in a “Spice Rack” club in Georgia, Paprika, Ginger, Rosemary, “Sage in a cage”, “Fennel in a kennel”, Coriander, also known as Cilantro, were some that stayed with me after all this “thyme”.
In a final flourish, he made jokes about death in saying that we grow taller after the last breath, giving an opportunity for even the short ones to smile in death.
This set the stage suitably for Hari Kondabolu’s appearance, who remarked on playing a hand in messing up the microphone, so Sammy would look bad, making Hari look better. It is true that the mike wasn’t working during Sammy’s performance, and he gamely made a joke about it, and continued with just projecting his voice.
Hari is a national celebrity, having appeared on some of the most prestigious stages, like Jimmy Kimmel, David Letterman and Conan. He was educated at Bowdoin College in Maine, and is an expert on the minority head nod! His comedy is laden with political and racist content and he spins it in the most meaningful way, without resorting to cuss words, and, in general, avoiding bad language.
He acknowledges a nod towards his family’s support and belief in the same agenda of gay and civil rights that he is a big proponent of. He has been told many times to go back to his country, Afghanistan, or Iraq…or, whichever country America is bombing at that time. Hari describes himself as a liberal, and found himself dining with Vice President Biden, who claimed to love Hari’s mop of unruly, wild hair. In his self deprecating style he told the VP that he would look crazy with his hair, ending with, “heck, I look crazy with my hair”!
Election years, the election process and candidates are great fodder for stand-up comedy, and Hari milked it to the hilt, starting with Donald Trump’s liberal actions towards immigrants, by divorcing them. Hari also started the blog, “Bobby Jindal is so white…” and a couple of one liners from there that stood out were “that he refers to Indian food as ethnic food”; or, “he is looking for a minority running mate to diversify the ticket”.
He cites his obsession with race as a drowning man being obsessed with swimming. He joked about the concept of tanning for brown skinned people like himself, likening it to birds talking about humans concept of flying. When directed to an “ethnic needs section” in the grocery store when he asked for the location of cocoa butter, he thought he would finally find “police brutalities”, “minorities bashing” etc. there.
Another hilarious observation was the concept of “white chocolate”! His debut album, “Waiting for 2042” is about a time when whites will be a minority in America and the ensuing uproar.
The evening showcased the very best of what stand-up comedy has to offer. Both comedians were refreshing in their approach, their delivery down to earth, and content relevant, and humor above par in its wit, intelligence and sheer mirth.
Bay Area needs more such shows in a sequestered location for utmost audience engagement and absorption of the experience, without distractions usually associated with a bar or club venue.
Archana Asthana
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