ARM-BRIT-COM IN MONTREAL

KEV ORKIAN: AWESOMENESS INCARNATE

by: Lenya Kalepdjian

          What a show! He's awesome! What a comic! What an amazing pianist! Let's come back tomorrow night! These were some of the comments heard from the lips of spectators as they left the Saturday-night show, huge smiles on their faces.

          And with reason. British-Armenian stand-up comic and pianist Kev Orkian left the audience breathless with laughter with his comedy routine and wide-eyed with amazement at his skill on the ivories. For over an hour and forty-five minutes we watched this Armenian dynamo perform – except, of course, for those times we were doubled over with laughter.

          His routine involved the audience intimately. Kev Orkian didn't just speak to us, he spoke with us. His subjects were varied, his delivery switching from English to Armenian and back, sometimes spoken with his lovely British accent, sometimes in “Armenian English”. His material was tastefully handled, never vulgar.

          They say that we learn from everything, and I am glad to report that I learned (to my great relief!) that Armenians can NEVER be “terrorists”. And Mr. Orkian supported his statement with three important elements, the two most important ones being that Armenians can't keep secrets, and the ultimate truth: they are always late!

Mr. Orkian at one point asked the audience to name composers or song titles. He then sat down at the piano and seamlessly linked together all the 12 to 15 songs called out. It was an absolutely stunning display of piano mastery!

What more can I say without becoming gushy and syrupy (I wouldn't want anyone to go into diabetic shock on my account!). To those who miss Kev Orkian’s show: you have missed much more than you realise. To Kev Orkian: keep on keepin' on, because it must be incredibly satisfying to leave a roomful of people laughing and smiling. Hajiss, shood yed yegoor – shad bidi garodnank!

(British-Armenian stand up comedian Kev Orkian was in Montreal by a special invitation from AGBU Montreal Chapter. He gave two performances at Vanier College on June 20 and 21, 2009)