Tamer Kattan: ‘Alien from New York’ Review by Julie Belliveau
★★★★½
After a tricky opener’s set, Tamer Kattan walks on stage and addresses the obvious tension in the room. He takes a few minutes to observe how “punk rock” it is that people are still going to comedy shows despite all the chaos in the world. He then breaks said tension, likening the audience to the people on the deck of the sinking Titanic. We would be the ones saying, “Hey, let’s go listen to the band!” He quickly changes the mood in a packed Comedy Clubhouse from tense to joyous and keeps it there for the next 40 minutes.
Tamer is hard to miss with his signature 70s-era mustache, red bandana, and the glint of his gold teeth every time he smiles at one of his own well-written punchlines. He describes his look as being both dangerous and helpful, likening his appearance to an “accountant in a Mexican gang.” He is a joy to watch on stage and his obvious delight at making the crowd laugh is evident with each skillfully-delivered joke. While Alien from New York lacks the storyline of many solo shows, it’s rife with biographical details. Tamer’s ability to narrate his own life experience from childhood to present-day demonstrates his ability to take on heavy topics such racism, homophobia, and child abuse and turn them into comedy gold. As Tamer explains to the audience, he’s a walking contradiction having an Arab father and a Jewish mother, he is really, “not supposed to exist.”
This theme of contradictions and paradoxes runs throughout his set. Tamer gives the audience glimpses into what it’s like to walk in his shoes through masterful storytelling and perfectly-timed hooks. He keeps the audience roaring with laughter as he regales what it was like immigrating from Egypt to New York City at 5 years old, and again as an adult from the United States to Europe.
In Alien from New York, Tamer unites all of us by sharing the sensation of feeling out of place, like you don’t belong. He shares vulnerable moments and embarrassing stories about his life that most men would be mortified to divulge. Tamer not only shares these events with pride but keeps the audience laughing along the way.
This is the show to see when it seems there isn’t much in the world to laugh about. Tamer will remind you what connects us all and let you into his world, a place where laughter and empathy reside.
This review of Alien from New York, written and performed by Tamer Kattan, was based on his Nov. 3, 2024 performance at The Comedy Clubhouse during the Barcelona Fringe Festival.
