YOU know, the funny thing about the Middle East is ...
As comic premises go, following through on that line would seem to be about as tough an assignment as there is these days. Yet nearly a dozen comedians of Arab, Iranian, Turkish and Moroccan-Israeli heritage will take on the challenge Saturday night at USC's Bovard Auditorium, joining forces for "The Sultans of Satire," a showcase benefiting the Levantine Cultural Center, which explores Middle East and Mediterranean issues.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Friday January 26, 2007 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 36 words Type of Material: Correction
Levantine Cultural Center: An article in Thursday's Calendar Weekend about the "Sultans of Satire" comedy benefit said that the organization putting on the show, the Levantine Cultural Center, opened in 2000. It was founded in 2001.
The lineup includes Maz Jobrani (from ABC's "The Knights of Prosperity"), Ahmed Ahmed, Max Amini, Mike Batayeh, Gulden, Elham Jazab, Aron Kader, Peter Shahriari and Noel Elgrably, with film writer-producer Fariborz serving as emcee. In addition, a "mystery comedian" described as "probably the hottest stand-up around" by Levantine artistic director Jordan Elgrably, will anchor the bill. Here's a hint for comedy-circuit buffs: He's from Canada.
The Lebanese folk-dance troupe Ya M.E.L.A. will open the show.
Elgrably, whose stand-up comic younger brother, Noel, is also on the bill, said the event fits in well with the mission of the center, which opened in the summer of 2000 in an effort to promote dialogue among the cultures of the Middle East through the literary, performing and visual arts.
"The comedians are all very smart, savvy people who comment on Iran and Iraq, the Israelis and the Palestinians, the Turks and Armenians and on the Bush administration, but from a satirical viewpoint," he said. "Our aim is to reach Americans who hear a lot about the Middle East, but primarily from the perspective of conflict, terrorism and strife. But these are also cultures that are very rich and diverse, like in the United States, and the situational humor that comes out of this is very universal. They're laughing at themselves.
"One of the people in the show, Ahmed Ahmed, was born in Cairo, raised in Riverside, and his parents are devout Muslims," said Elgrably. "But he's very much a Hollywood kid, coming out here to be a comedian, using observations about what it was like to grow up with his sisters and in his family. He talks about how 'Arabs laugh, but Muslims will just say, "That's very funny." ' "
Gulden also mines her Turkish family for material, but from a female perspective.
