A masterclass in navigating delicate subjects while still keeping you laughing the whole way through.
There’s few things I like more in stand up than a comedian taking you to a dark place, making you all feel tense before throwing a punch you never saw coming. Sammy Obeid gives us this feeling from start to finish, punchline after punchline landing from the most surprising of setups. Somewhat less surprising is the content and themes of his jokes, Obeid has gained a lot of traction for his comic work regarding American politics and by extension his Palestinian identity and the horrific events taking place there, and his spotlight is well deserved.
Obeid is deft at manoeuvring around these tough subjects, his storytelling balances levity without sacrificing the intimate perspective that gives both the comedic and political context to his jokes. For example his misdirections as he recounts the story of how his Lebanese family came to settle in the US often provide a double function – on one hand breaking the comedic tension with a knife, but also drawing attention to how normalised the conflicts he jokes about are to the people who live through them. It’s here Obeid thrives, in the lingering laugh that’s followed by a thoughtful contemplation. However for all the thoughtful anecdotes, he still delights in a pun, or rug pulling the audience by saying something provocative only to flip your expectations around until you agree.
His personal background as a Lebanese-Palestinian-Syrian-
Sammy is charismatic, smart, and at times tender and never overbearing despite his topics. Obeid is a much needed breath of fresh air in the American comedy circuit, when others shy away from sincerely engaging with politics he dives in and wins you over every time.
You can catch Sammy Obeid on his global tour here https://sammyko.com/
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/sammy-obeid-wit-supremacy