World Peace through Humor: A German 101.
2026 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival
Aug. 17, 2026, 12:33 a.m.
☕️
Not My Cup of Tea

Every comedy show is a gamble. Some land, some don't , others are fifty-fifty. While this performance had moments that made me laugh, it didn't overall hit the mark. The title is an exact dictation of what to expect in the show: a German comedian telling the story of his travels around the world in a humorous manner.

For whatever reason, a majority of the jokes weren't funny. I'm not an easily amused person, which might be part of my lack of entertainment, but I found myself confused a lot of the time. A majority of the audience was entertained, laughing and cheering, whilst I sat there and wondered if it was just me.

A majority of Paco's references were well-received by older generations in the audience. Most of his comedy, especially at the start of the performance, was based around historical events and old media that I've never heard of nor been interested in.

The energy was there. It wasn't about a lack of enthusiasm or delivery, but the material was poorly registered. If this wasn't supposed to be a comedy show, I would've enjoyed it a lot more without the expectation of a good laugh. The message was beautiful, even if it took a while to get to the delivery. Paco has incredible takes on everything in the script, really laying into the idea that we're all more similar than we are different. I wish the set had been shorter and more well-rounded, as my review would definitely be more positive. This show is rated PG on the Fringe website, though I wouldn't recommend it for anyone younger than sixteen or anyone who doesn't care for historical/geographical comedy.