FRINGE REVIEW: Halal, is it meat you’re looking for?
After a spectacular Indian dance introduction, Umar Azad stepped out to the stage and started his show off with a bang. To be more specific, he started the show off with a very unexpected Halal shoey, in which he poured a can of Coke Zero into a shoe and drank it all in front of us, much to everyone’s combined delight and slight disgust. This nicely set the tone for the rest of his show Halal, is it meat you’re looking for.
As expected, this stand-up comedy consisted of race-based gags over and over again, but Azad managed to keep things fresh. At no point did things feel repetitive or drawn out – on the contrary, at the end of the show we were left wanting to hear more.
‘Bogan Muslim’ isn’t a term you hear every day, but that’s what Azad uses to describe himself. After hearing his stories on the struggles of pleasing his Pakistani mum while simultaneously trying to fit in at one of the most bogan schools in Perth, you’ll understand why. With a hilariously balanced amount of honesty and self-deprecation around his multicultural life, his compelling storytelling had the audience in fits of laughter for almost the entire hour.
I have to admit I feel as though he did pick on a few audience members a little too much, however, that’s a fine line that varies from show to show. Other than that his awesome stage presence and energy was infectious, in the intimate venue of Casa Mondo at Yagan Square. Azad has big things coming for him – with a TV deal that will see him creating a series called the ‘Bogan Muslim’, you know he’s got quality content worth a watch.
Sadly his show at Fringe World Festival season is over, but fingers crossed he return will return with more awesome stories to tell next year!
