It’s not often that we as reviewers have the chance to introduce ourselves to you, the readers, but as a first-generation migrant born in Beirut, with a Palestinian dad and a Lebanese mum, arriving in Australia in the mid-1980s, you would be hard-pressed to find someone more suited to review An Aussie Arab, the stand-up performance by the very deadpan and exceptionally funny Sophy Nassar.

Greeted by a sea of keffiyehs and walking onstage to a mix of Palestinian folk music and the haunting strains of Men at Work’s Land Down Under, Nassar shares her story about being the daughter of an Arab father and Australian mother, growing up in a large family and navigating her way through race, religion, relationships, ethnic guilt and Arab weddings. Diving into her views on current affairs and local news, Nassar charms the audience with her sometimes poignant, always entertaining storytelling. Audience participation extends beyond the front row, with a delightfully communal feel to the show, which turned into a cross between family dinner and a therapy session as the set went on. Nassar tackles difficult issues around the complications of social constructs and expectations with aplomb and irreverence, engaging and entertaining the audience with her dry wit and a touch of mischief.

Nassar’s set was skillfully delivered to a very receptive audience of Aussies, Arabs and everyone in between. Which goes to show you don’t need to be an Arab-Australian to appreciate An Aussie Arab; you just need to have an open heart and be ready to laugh (and possibly dance a little).

Five stars

Leila Hallak-Low