If you sit in the first few rows of a stand-up comedy show, you might end up the butt of a joke. Or you might have a funny and profound interaction with the comic.
All photos by Kat Valdez unless otherwise noted.
by Kat Valdez/The Defiant Curtsy
My friend Basil and I attended a show at The Comedy Fort, and since we arrived at 6:30 p.m. when the doors opened, we were seated in the third row.
In Sea World parlance, this would be called “the splash zone.” Meaning if you’re watching an orca or walrus or other large sea mammal perform and it leaps into the air, you’re gonna get wet.
At a comedy show, if you’re in the splash zone, you may end up the butt of a joke. Or you might end up having a fun and profound interaction with comic. Who knows?
In other words, beware.
After the opening acts and featured performer, it was time for the headliner, Ali Sultan, the first Yemeni-Ethiopian American to make a stand-up television network debt on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Ali was hilarious. His observations about the immigrant experience and American culture were spot-on.
Please don’t say anything about Basil’s eye patch, I thought. Don’t mention his eye patch.
He mentioned it.
The interaction went like this:
Ali: “Did you lose an eye, or is this just Lasik?
[Audience laughs]
Basil: “Cancer.”
[Audience gasps and groans]
Ali: “Cancer? Well, don’t make me look like an asshole. That’s the worst answer for me.”
[Audience laughs]
Basil: “I am Lebanese.”
Ali: “You’re Lebanese?” [Says, “Hello and welcome!” in Arabic.]
[They exchange a few words]
Ali: “It got real Ramadan in here.”
[Audience laughs]
Ali (born in Yemen) and Basil (born in Lebanon) proceeded to have a short conversation in English and Arabic that culminated with both of them calling each other habibi—meaning “my dear” or “beloved,” a term of affection that extends beyond romantic relationships to family, friends and casual acquaintances—and you could hear audience members’ hearts melting.
Aww.
It ended like this:
Ali: “Did you grow up Muslim?”
Basil: “Yes.”
[Basil cheers Ali with his beer]
Ali: “You grew up Muslim and now you’re drinking beer? On Ramadan?”
[Audience laughs]
Ali: “Hey, listen, I don’t want to say that’s why you lost an eye, but. If you ever wanted to convert to Islam, now is the time, OK? This man can say he was seeing 20/20 vision when he was Muslim. He eats one piece of bacon…”
Ali: “I love you, buddy. Thanks for being here. Thank you so much.”
[Audience laughs]
Ali: “Where do we go from here?”
[Audience laughs]
Basil: “Cancer.”
Ali: “Cancer.” [laughs] “It’s a hard follow.”
His comment on the social media post said, “Never asking that again.”
Ali and Basil chatted after the show (see photo above), and Ali’s social media post about it contained a video clip of the interaction with subtitles.
His editorial comment about the audience’s reaction to the Arabic part of the conversation was, “Whites excited to hear another language.”
Hilarious.
I felt a surge of pride over the fact that the audience was progressive. Fort Collins has small pockets of close-minded people, but they weren’t present that particular night.
(Also, club owner David Rodriguez has been fiercely protective of comedians and wait staff [especially those who are members of the LGBTQIA+ community] when replying to social media comments that are homophobic or otherwise disrespectful. This is an establishment that welcomes everyone.)
It isn’t always easy existing as a person of color in this city, or in this state (or other states…or in this country, as a matter of fact), so we’ll take a win when we can.
That performance was on March 15, 2024.
and marquee above the front door.
A few months ago, I read that Ali Sultan was returning for a special taping at The Comedy Fort on Nov. 1, so I rallied friends and coworkers to attend. This time, there were about 10 of us.
Opening acts Adam, Sam Sisson (@queefpantry) and Abenezer Merdassa (@aben_waq) shared funny moments from their lives that warmed up the audience.
Then it was time for headliner Ali Sultan. We weren’t in the splash zone but rather in the first row behind the center section.
I didn’t think Ali would see Basil.
When you’re standing on that stage, you can’t see anything past the first couple rows because the spotlight is in your eyes, as I learned during a Standup Comedy 101 class a few years ago.
So it was a surprise when Ali—about 15 minutes into his set—gave a shout out to Basil: “I see my Lebanese friend there…”
How thrilling to be fame-adjacent!
Multiple video cameras were on, and he shared that he was nervous due to the added pressure of filming a comedy special. But he was confident he’d nail it in the second show at 8:30 p.m.
We all thought he was amazing. We laughed a lot. I’m sure many more loyal fans were made that night.
A few of us chatted with Ali after the show. While he and Basil hugged over the merch table, I made eye contact, pointed at my friend’s back and said his name, to remind Ali. He replied, “Habibi.”
They talked about meeting for lunch the next time Ali is in town.
Our hearts warmed and our spirits lifted, my friends and I stepped out into the crisp autumn evening.
Stickers made by Ali Sultan read (left) in yellow font with back background featuring palm trees “COCO LA CONCA” (the fictional country he made up on the spot when some white dudes asked him, in an unfriendly tone, where he’s from) and (right) “REFUGEE REENACTMENT” in orange font showing a nighttime silhouette of the moon, mountains, tent, campfire, and a bear—a scene symbolizing his attitude toward camping, a pastime his white friends try to invite him to participate in, unsuccessfully.
Kat, Ali Sultan, Basil and Erin pose for a group photo after the Nov. 1 show at The Comedy Fort.
to start at The Comedy Fort on Nov. 1
In need of laugh therapy? No need to drive to Denver. You have options in Fort Collins. Here are a few:
The Comedy Fort
The Lyric Comedy Show (every last Saturday)
Speak Cheesy Lounge at Slyce Pizza (every Wednesday)
The Gadfly: True Stories & Stand-Up Philosophy
Comedy Brewers (improv)
Don’t Tell Comedy
Kat Valdez looks forward to engaging in more laugh therapy soon. Until then, she continues to enjoy hiking, playing tennis, studying piano, and writing at the thrilling intersection of pop culture and racial equity.
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