Image via Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Ivan Aristeguieta’s star is rising to the point that all his shows are sold out. He was part of the opening Gala of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival this year and he won comedian of the year in Adelaide 2014. So, if you get the chance to see him, expect a room full of people waiting for the cunning and engaging style of this Venezuelan born – on the way to having Australian Citizenship – comedian.
From the start, Aristeguieta clarifies that his show is dedicated to food. For him, food has been his way to understand the nuance of Australian society. Thus, when he talks about food, he is actually talking about the intertwined relationship between Australian culture and what we eat, how we eat it and – in some cases –how we write about it.
Aristeguieta engages the audience in his jokes about public BBQs, Vegemite, afternoon tea and Fisherman’s Friends. Even the bread used for the barbecue becomes material for his show. Throughout this, the audience can hear his voice imitating others’ as he moves from one joke to another, and sometimes, we get a hint of his ‘Aussie’ accent.
One of the most interesting things about Chorizo Sizzle is the audience; a mix of Australian-born and Spanish-speaking. The material resonates with the entirety of this audience as it reflects upon those cultural values and customs that Aristeguieta has slowly come to understand in his journey as a migrant in Australia. It is in the comparison of his Venezuelan idiosyncrasies to the ‘Australian way’ that is at the heart of how Ivan makes the audience laugh.
In an exclusive interview with ArtsHub, Ivan explained that after many years he has learned how to make audiences laugh at the things that actually make him laugh.
‘I put the audience in my shoes and I show theme how as a migrant I’m constantly learning new things. So, people can understand me better and laugh about my learning process and my adventures,’ he said.
Aristeguieta’s adventures gets sometimes personal. He openly talks about circumstances of his personal life on the show. But the way he invites the audience into this personal world is so well designed that his tragedy becomes perfect comedy.
“I laugh about my own misery. I’m a comedian and I write jokes. The most immediate resource that I count on is my personal life. That is what makes people able to connect with me in the show. My job is to make others laugh and it makes me happy when I see others laughing about my own experience, my own tragedy; in the same way that Carol Burnett once said “comedy is tragedy plus timing”‘.
Chorizo Sizzles captivates the audience and perhaps leaves ​them with the feeling that the show ended somewhat too soon. Ivan Aristeguieta shows us his comedic expertise by creating material that celebrates multiculturalism and mutual understanding. Aristeguieta’s performance is outstanding and he leaves the audience with warm smiles on their faces. My advice: run to buy a ticket, on the off chance that there are still any available.
A new show has been announced for 16 April at Max Watt’s Melbourne @ 9:45 pm. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.
Stars: 4 out of 5
Ivan Aristiguieta – Chorizo Sizzle
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Melbourne Town Hall
24 March – 17 April
