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Peyvand, Elham & Saman March 13, 2002 Interviews with Peyvand Khorsandi and Elham Jazab, who will be performing at the Iranian.com Norooz show in Berkeley on March 16. Cartoonist Saman will also talk about, and present a slide show, of his latest caroons. Peyvand Khorsandi
No, in summer 1999 I started "How to be Iranian" with my sister Shappi
at the LA Cabaret in Encino. We performed each Sunday for nine weeks. It is now a
sushi bar. This is my general disposition, so before a major gig it's just more of a familiar
feeling. English words like "mini-cab" worry me. Will they know I am referring
to taxis or will they think it's a rare species of bird?? No, something will grab my attention, like two Chinooks are downed, U.S. soldiers
are killed and, hey, the war is back! Right now, Tony Blair. Elahm Jazab
Okay... well my background is in acting, that's what I studied and I would say that it's my first love, comic acting. But my comedy came about as a result of my background as a performance artist in Chicago, writing my own material and performing certain characters with different names, backgrounds etc. But I stopped performing shortly after I got married (life was too hectic) and started again shortly after my divorce 4 years. ago. But it took on new life as me as a comedian though I still like to call myself a performance artist to leave the door open for other venues. I've loved acting and being on stage since I was in 4th grade Q: What is it about our Iranian/American culture that generates material for your performances? Is it the clash between traditional and modern values? And the sense of being the "other" (immigrants) in a new land? I'd have to say that my material right now comes from my experiences with everyday life and with Persians as I did not grow up around Iranians. We left Iran when I was a baby, and I visited once.
I feel very international in many ways because I look as if I CAN be from different cultures and blend well with a variety of different cultures. Q: Do you see any difference between your approach and those of American comedians? The difference between me and other American comedians? I dunno, I'm Persian by heritage so I can have a totally different take. I can do the ethnic thing, that's not available to the typical comedian, and I can make it be my thing. Q: What is your favorite joke? My favorite or best joke of recent times? Two peanuts were walking down a dark alley. One was assaulted. (It's a pun, I love puns). Saman Edited samples of Saman's cartoons which will for the first time be shown at the Norooz show. Saman will be there in person to talk about his work.
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Q: Is this your first performance in the
U.S.?
Q: When you prepare your material, do you
always have a political/moral message in mind? Or do you focus more on entertainment
with or without a message?
Q: When did you first realize that you want
to be a comedian? When did you first start? What was your first performance like?
I feel American. I've never felt different
or unusual, maybe in the south a little because my name was weird compared to everyone
else's but that's it. I feel more as if I'm a visitor in Persian culture than American
culture primarily because I identify so clearly with American/Western culture but
also with European culture and having lived in Africa, with ethnic cultures there.
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