Ivan Aristeguieta – Happy Papi | Adelaide Fringe 2022 review

The Venezuelan ex-pat comic is expressive, energetic, completely charming and just bloody funny.

Ivan Aristeguieta is Happy Papi.

Ivan Aristeguieta – Happy Papi

Comedy

Rating: ****1/2

The Box at The Garden of Unearthly Delights

Until March 6 and

Waikerie Football Club, March 12

Our favourite South American Ivan Aristeguieta – wearing his Bloody Venezuelan (a play on the VB logo) T-shirt – strolls on to stage and holds the audience in the palm of his hand for the entire generous hour-long set.

It’s about dealing with uncertainty and growing up with a psychiatrist father and a psychologist mother. The latter asks how everything feels, the former prescribes for everything and everyone – sometimes diazepam, sometimes marzipan.

We know the 43-year-old – who started his comedy career here in Adelaide – left his parents and the very dicey third-world Venezuela for a better life in Australia with all of our first-world charms. With his trademark ironic wit, he shares how just as he loosened his grip on the uncertainties and the constant what-ifs he brought from his chaotic home country – the pandemic hit. The upside – he moved in with his new girlfriend.

He’s expressive, energetic, completely charming and just bloody funny whether he’s riffing on our appalling choices in side dishes (garlic bread), why he’s a dog owner not a dog dad or why Aldi with its interpretative product placement is the perfect place to learn how to embrace uncertainty.

Aristeguieta announced at the start of his set, he’s in the business of making people feel happy, and that’s absolutely what he did. And happiness can be found in the most unexpected of places – like in an intimate crowd in The Garden of Unearthly Delights on a balmy weeknight. Go and get you some as soon you can.