August 21st, 2025

Where the H-E-Double Hockey Sticks do I even START. I don’t even know how this artist managed to pull it off, but she tackled everything from weird butt stuff (please don’t ask me-okay, maybe ask me a little bit😳) to world peace. ☮️

Aliya took those gross things we don’t want to talk about, the things we pretend, and had us gently confront it in the mirror. I think some of us needed alcohol to get through that, so sipping margaritas at the Spotlight Cabaret helped. 🤩 I didn’t drink that night, but she stole someone’s beverage and claimed she discovered it to illustrate the impact of Colonialism. 👏🏼 #ShotsFired

She made me laugh my head off, and gave a clear, no holds barred exposé of how we have all moved through the world without a hint of obnoxious preachiness.

I was chosen as an object lesson.-W/ chart paper, markers, it was a whole entire thing and I was THERE for it. She pointed out that although our economic status, gender, sexual preference, orientation and age were the same/similar, the world typically only notes our differences —our ethnicities and faith backgrounds. I found that to be more comforting than one could possibly know. I feel very isolated from others right now, and she reminded me that we are all connected.

I understand I’m waffling here, but this show really got me thinking. All the best Fringe shows do.

Especially the bravery of doing a one-person show. That is NOT an easy thing to do. It’s an extremely intimate experience to be so vulnerable with your audience, because you don’t know how they are going to respond. Comedians are magic-makers, and no one is going to convince me otherwise.

To quote Disney: “I laughed, I cried, it moved me, Bob.”

UnclenchYourself IfYouKnowYouKnow