Armenianow.com
July 16,2004
Laughing at Ourselves: American artist introduces unique comedy to Armenian
stage
By Vahan Ishkhanyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
“Americans tell each other: ‘It’s not your business’. But can
Armenians say the same? All Armenians are engaged in each other’s
affairs.”
With such observations on Armenian culture, California monologist Vahe
Berberyan kept a sold-out crowd at the Yerevan Chamber Theater
laughing for 90 minutes last Friday evening.
“There is nobody like him in Armenia.”
In a performance titled “So Far”, Berberyan brought standup comedy to
Armenia where, previously, audiences were more accustomed to hearing a
Russian humorist poke fun at Russians. This time, it was an Armenian,
comparing his people with other nationalities.
“The Irish always drink and then beat each other,” Berberyan told the crowd,
“but Armenians first drink then give toasts to each other, praise each other
and only after that they beat each other.”
When Russian humorist Mikhail Zadornov compares Russians and Americans he
says that Americans are surprised at Russians when they see that a man
wearing a tie and coat enters stage, talks and people begin laughing.
In Berberyan’s performance the Armenian audience got a chance to see an
American-Armenian (from Lebanon) enter the stage and make people laugh. But
in this case the actor has a far different appearance. Berberyan, who is
also a painter and writer, has long ponytails and wears earrings – a look
that commands attention in Yerevan.
“I was walking down the street and saw three guys sitting on their
haunches,” the comedian said after his performance. “They were looking at
me very closely and then one of them said, ‘I’m gonna sell my car and buy
earrings’.
“According to existentialism, if nobody pays attention to a man then that
man doesn’t exist. Here people pay so much attention that it is more than
you need.”
“So far” mainly concerns Diaspora Armenians and some of the monologue was in
English.
“It was a wonderful performance,” said Anahit Sargsian, a French-Armenian.
“Most of all I liked his free speech which had nothing to do with literary
Armenian language. In Diaspora there is a tendency to speak literary
Armenian language out of obligation.”
The actor/writer/painter performed one night for a sold out theater.
For locals, it was a mild culture shock to hear words that aren’t normally
said on Armenian stages.
” Armenia is my spiritual parent,” Berberyan, age 49, said in his show. “I
mean mother and father at the same time. That’s why people say mother
fatherland. Lebanon is my biological home because I was born in Lebanon. My
fatherland is USA because I’ve been living there for many years and I’m a
citizen of USA. Canada is my aunt. South America and Arab countries such as
Nicaragua and Palestine are my brothers and sisters because my fatherland
f—-d their motherland.”
After the performance Berberyan said that when he used the “f-word” one of
the audience covered her face and another looked around to see the reaction
of people. When they saw others were laughing they laughed too.
While about 80 percent of the crowd was Diaspora, locals also were delighted
with Berberyan’s one-night show.
I liked his ease, I saw writer and actor in one person. I saw how he was
controlling the entire hall with his energy,” says writer and actress
Armineh Abrahamyan. “There is nobody like him in Armenia.”