Looking at Ray Badran, it’s hard to believe that this time last year he was embroiled in, no exaggeration, a full-on social media shitstorm.
He made a controversial joke – about rape and rapists, but by many accounts not really a rape joke – which prompted a silent protest from an audience member, who he then told to ‘die’. You probably heard about it; it certainly wasn’t downplayed by the media, that’s for sure.
It’s probably not the way an up-and-coming comedian wants to come into the public eye, but c’est la vie. In this year’s show, Badran – with sensitivity and a sheepish air of apology twelve months on – discusses what happened, pondering his sudden rise to infamy more than the actual incident itself. It’s a genuinely interesting story from the person who overnight found himself, and even his mum, flooded by online abuse. And it’s told hilariously, quite frankly.
Though at times Ray Junior verges on what could be classed as some therapeutic performance art rather than strictly ‘comedy’ per se – there are some moments of ‘woe is me’ mopeyness, but Badran pulls it all back together with some clever one-liners and his unique gentle charm.
Harping on last year’s festival scandals doesn’t make up the whole show, though. His dad is Ray Badran Junior, and so Ray is Ray Badran…junior….junior? it’s a bit of a burden inheriting your father’s name, apparently. We’ve got discussions about that, about cowering under successful siblings (he has two brothers who are maths and IT geniuses – and then he’s the rising comedian.) and also a nearly ten-minute sketch about a chocolate bar.
Despite perhaps getting his Comedy Festival career off to a rocky start, the Sydney comedian is a natural at anecdotal comedy, has a beautiful sense of timing and wit, and is relatable but still a strong solo performer. Let’s definitely give him a second crack at this.
BY MATILDA EDWARDS
