Bad Muslim took place as part of this year’s New York City Fringe, at Frigid New York. The NTC Fringe is ” It is an open, lottery-based theater festival that gives artists an opportunity to let their ingenuity thrive in an environment that values freedom of expression and artistic determination. In true support of the Indie Theater Community, 100% of box office proceeds go directly to the artists whose work is being presented.”
Bad Muslim – written and performed by Azhar Bande-Ali
“Azhar might be a bad Muslim, but eternal damnation isn’t in his budget. Watch as he tries to be a good Muslim—just not too good—navigating faith, identity, and cultural absurdities with a sharp wit and a questionable moral compass.
Written and performed by a Tucson Fringe Best Comedy Award winner and NYC Fringe Gotham Storytelling Award recipient, Bad Muslim blends stand-up and storytelling into a hilariously unfiltered look at labels, faith, and the fine line between belonging and just barely getting by.”
Bande-Ali opens the show wishing that at least one audience member was an Islamaphobe wanting to hear how bad Muslims are. His only vice is not putting his phone into ‘airplane mode’ on a flight. Adopting a relaxed pose in chatting to the audience, his only props a travel suitcase and a prayer mat, he gets us on-side with his comedy very quickly.
He talks about travel, tech, love, death and religion. “If I was Hindu, this wouldn’t be a problem. Reincarnation into a new body.” On commitment, “I don’t have commitment issues, I just have … issues.” An anecdote about an audition to lead Eid prayers to gain credit against praying every day (“so I can be degenerate for three years without hurting my average”) .
Bad Muslim is about brown boys and mothers, forgiveness and community, and how to get into heaven.It’s about being Muslim in America. There’s a long routine about an umbrella that heads into the absurd, and about visiting the Grand Canyon (“America’s version of Mecca”). The tally around the The Five Pillars of Islam (Shahadah – profession of faith, Salah – prayer, Zakat – charity, Sawm – fasting, and Hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca).
What is ‘being good’ anyway? Bande-Ali is ‘authentic, and trying my best – isn’t that worth something?’. A show that makes you think without being overly complex or specifically political. And the video capture was excellent, which helped when watching from home.
4 stars.