by Alberto Macchione
The iconic Enmore Theatre in Sydney’s inner west is the spiritual home of Multicultural Comedy. Last Sunday was no different as the venue provided the backdrop for some of Australia’s leading and up and coming ethnically diverse comedians in the Australian tour called ‘The Comedy Cartel’.
Italo-Australian Comedian Joe Avati spearheads the jam packed program which featured comedy stalwarts Tahir, George Kapiniaris and a slew of up comers from stage and screen including Joe White and Sashi Perera and Singaporean Ting Lim.
Billed as ‘a celebration of diversity, tradition, and the universal joy of laughter’ the show was certainly all of that and more as patrons were bursting at the seams at the relatable wit and razor sharp humour.
Host for the evening, Tahir Bilgic said of the performers ‘that we all come to this country with similar stories and similar backgrounds’ and it was those stories that celebrate our differences and similarities. Whether it was an Ethiopian (Joe White) talking about Italian occupation or Sashi Perera comparing what it is like for her and her white husband in a white country as compared to a ‘brown’ country, the laughter will take you all over the globe and back again.
It was, however, Joe Avati, the veritable King of ethnic comedy, that absolutely blew the roof off the Enmore. Fans were literally keeling over in the aisles at his rapid fire jokes about growing up in the 80s and growing up Italian. Topics included political correctness, parenting in the new millennium and much much more.
Audiences were treated to a spectacular show, merchandise, a rare meet and greet with the comics and photo opportunities for fans. Adding to the buzz, there was no shortage of notables from the Italian community in the audience, including singers Dom Vasta, Roseanne Gallo and celebrity super chef Anna Simon.
To catch the Comedy Cartel or catch one of Joe Avati’s solo shows, just go to joeavati.com and check for dates and times in your town! These shows are not to be missed.
