Noor Razzak Goes Kaboom!
Limelight Lounge, Aotea Centre, Auckland
13/05/2009 - 16/05/2009
NZ International Comedy Festival 2007-09, 2013
Production Details
Award-Winning Comedian Noor Razzak Makes His Solo Debut
"Full credit to Razzak for his energy and delivery. He plays big and it gets results." (Theatreview)
Energetic comedian Noor Razzak makes his solo show debut with an incredible 1-hour stand-up special at the 2009 New Zealand International Comedy Festival that’s not to be missed. Following the success of previous shows "The Impostors" and "The Double-Header!" at the 2007 & 2008 Festivals, Noor aims to harness that momentum and focus on an astounding night of comedy that will have audiences laughing out loud.
Iraqi born and American raised, Noor will attempt to destroy stereotypes & myths and expose silly photos, from his unique name to his upbringing in America rounding off with his experiences in New Zealand and beyond in what promises to be a funny-filled event.
The show will feature a collection of new and established routines crafted for this event, plus a hilarious interactive "over-the-top PowerPoint presentation" (Theatreview) that Auckland audiences will now get a chance to experience this year, having previously left Wellington audiences in stitches!
Noor Razzak has performed stand-up comedy for nearly 5 years all over New Zealand, winning the Wellington Raw Competition both in 2005 and 2006 (the only person to ever win for two consecutive years) and a nominee for "Joke of the Year" at the 2008 Guildies. His four-man show "The Impostors" at the 2007 Festival was a sold out hit in Wellington followed by the "The Double-Header!" show in 2008, which garnered great reviews and introduced Noor’s comedy to a whole new audience of fans.
His production company has also produced several acclaimed shows including the Canadian improvisational duo "Funk Rabbit" whose 2008 sold-out show was a stand out success at the Festival and earned a nomination for "Best Auckland Show" at the Last Laughs Comedy Awards. He also continues to produce and perform in acclaimed shows such the return season of "The Double-Header!" with Benjamin Crellin, which sold out and featured an appearance by the performers on TVNZ’s "Good Morning" programme.
( http://tvnz.co.nz/view/video_popup_windows_skin/2065496?bandwidth=56k )
AUCKLAND
Dates: 13 – 16 May, 10pm
Venue: LimeLight Laugh Lounge, Aotea Centre, THE EDGE®
Tickets: $18. Conc. $16
Bookings: www.buytickets.co.nz 0800 BUY TICKETS (0800 289 842)
1hr, no interval
Mining the depths of the Arab cliché
Review by Nik Smythe 14th May 2009
Running onstage cheering the crowd, Iraqi-born, ex-pat New Yorker and Wellington resident Noor Razzak exerts more physical energy in his opening greeting than Andre King did in his entire preceding show.
With his Ghostbusters hoody and straw trilby hat he looks like a NY Wellingtonian, but his dark features and "awesome facial hair" give Razzak license to mine every corner of the mountain that is Arab-religious fanatic-terrorism stereotype humour.
The first Arab comedian I’ve seen, he seems to have a niche carved out for him in the comedy world. From explaining the meaning of his name to reminiscing about blowing things up when he was ten with explosives his father gave him as a present, Noor rapaciously mines his heritage, exploiting every ingrained stereotype of Arabian culture – hence the title.
There’s also a personal touch to the presentation with family photos and travelling experiences, albeit still tied by the common thread of the ever-present Arab cliché. It’s frequently funny, with an element of greenness only slightly affecting a highly promising line of comedic material.
If the duration to date of the Holy War is anything to go by, Razzak will have many veins of precious comedy metal to plunder for years to come. Probably in time he’ll find other themes to obsess over, and given his natural and affable demeanour, not to mention his sense of humour, it’s equally likely he’ll continue to induce recognition and laughter.
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