Reviews

Stunning new stand-up show is a comedy delight

Sukh Ojla

By: Asjad Nazir

MOST people have heard about the infamous ‘aunties’, from their questionable behaviour to gossiping natures. Despite many of these stereotypical older ladies being a part of popular culture, including appearing as characters in films and TV shows, there hasn’t been anything quite like The Aunty Years.

Sukh Ojla takes a deep dive into the world of aunties with her stunning stand-up show as she approaches her 40th birthday and prepares to become one herself.

Instead of just delivering standard aunty jokes, the comedian with a fast growing reputation for excellence, looks at it from a different angle, as she combines hilarious observations with trying to explain their behaviour. The laughter-filled stories about these older women ranged from inappropriate sangeet songs to them making outrageous comments, having no social filter and being competitive. The skilled performer also shared stories about her own childhood, parents, community, and journey towards getting older, but perhaps not wiser.

She used her considerable acting skills to bring each story and character to life. Despite peppering the set with Punjabi words, she made the moments relatable and understandable to cross-cultural audiences of all ages.

The cool comic had great audience interactions and treated each like a conversation with an old friend. There were poignant moments and unexpected turns in a show that never lost momentum.

Instead of matching the high standards she has already set for herself, Ojla exceeded those levels with perhaps her greatest show and formed a deep connection with enthralled audiences, wrapped in roars of laughter. The relatability made her strong material even more powerful in what will no doubt be one of this year’s finest live comedy experiences. There was, not surprisingly, a long well-deserved standing ovation for the special comic.