When the realisation hit that this was a show in part about observations about Australia, it would be fair to say there was a fair amount of despondency. But it was a waste of quality anxiety, because Aristeguieta’s is a pretty hilarious guy. The show’s title Permanent Resident alludes to his newly-minted residency status, three years after he and his wife arrived here from Venezuela.
While you might not have heard his name bandied about on these shores too often, he’s not really a newcomer, because he was a stand-up back home too and his experience really shows, even though his shows here are performed in his second language.
His storylines are funny, his observations are astute and his call-backs are brilliant and well-timed. But his comedy isn’t just about observations of Australia, he includes some pretty funny insights into his homeland, too. While he takes the piss of of both Australia and Venezuela mercilessly, he’s never nasty or disparaging, adding to his likability.
In addition to some pretty astute observations about Aussie life, his talents for scripting and timing are great and his call-backs are some of the best I’ve seen at this year’s festival.
The only down-note was a song performed at the end – it was totally unnecessary and he just didn’t have the confidence to pull it off. Scrap the song and you’ve got a cracker of a show, Aristeguieta.
BY ISABELLE ODERBERG
