Lebanese comic Nemr Abou Nassar brings unique perspective to Comedy Castle
By Brendan Losinski
Daily Tribune
Spending a childhood in the United States and going back to his family’s home of Lebanon as a teen has given Nemr Abou Nassar a unique perspective on life, politics and culture. It also made him the ideal person to help start what is now a growing stand-up comedy scene in the Middle East.
Nassar, 32, has performed a number of sold-out shows and TV specials, gaining popularity in a region everyone can agree could use a few more people to lighten the tension. He holds records for the biggest stand-up shows in every major Middle Eastern country and has been on the cover of the Middle East edition of Rolling Stone.
Now, Nassar will show the Detroit area why he has made such an impact with a performance at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle on Sunday, April 3.
Although Nassar has traveled back and forth between Lebanon and the United States many times, he has only recently begun to make a name for himself on this continent. He began touring in the United States in November 2014, and has gained popularity here ever since.
He credits his success to focusing on topics and themes everyone can relate to, albeit with an attitude they may never have heard before.
“I aspire to comedy that’s very relatable and everyone can have a relationship to,” Nassar says. “I approach my sets as a world comic, not a Middle Eastern comic. I think what people like is I bring a perspective they don’t often get. When I do talk about living in Lebanon and being Lebanese, I focus on the reality of living there beyond what you hear on the news.”
Nassar doesn’t want to be pigeon-holed, but works to achieve a wider audience. He believes while his Lebanese upbringing is an important part of his act, most of his humor can be enjoyed by everyone. He does admit some of his success is most certainly due to the support he has received in Arab-American communities throughout the country.
“The Arab-American population in America is generally pretty organized and close,” Nassar remarks. “That organization has helped me a lot to get word out about my shows and attract people from the community to the audience. I think that’s certainly been true in Detroit.”
He approaches comedy with a sense of optimism and broadness without ever flinching away from the more serious aspects of reality. He says in the end it is about comedy, making people laugh and bringing people together. If he accomplishes that, he says, everything else is just window dressing.
“I’m hoping to announce my presence to previous fans and introduce myself to everyone else,” Nassar says. “The less people know about me ahead of time, the better. I want people to judge me based on what I bring to the stage. The one thing I will promise is people will have a great time and I will deliver.”
• Namr Abou Nassar takes the stage at 8 p.m. Sunday, April 3, at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle in Royal Oak. Tickets range from $30 to $50. Visit comedycastle.com.
Source: www.dailytribune.com