On May 22nd, Halifax got a rare comedic treat: Fady Raidy, the Lebanese king of one-man shows, finally graced the stage at Rebecca Cohn Auditorium.

This was more than just stand-up — it was a full-blown parade of Raidy’s iconic alter egos: Fadia El Sheraka, Youssef Klayel (Abou Rimon), Pipo…

Let’s get one thing straight: the show was hilarious. People were laughing out loud maybe quite literally LOL-ing their asses off. His timing? Impeccable. His energy? Unmatched. His characters? Still as chaotic and lovable as ever.

But there was just one problem.

It coincided with the biggest Lebanese event in Halifax — The Cedar & Maple Gala. So, while Fady Raidy was on fire, the auditorium was unfortunately only half full. Let’s be honest — if it weren’t for the overlap, he would’ve easily packed the place.

One surprising twist? No political jokes. That’s right. For a comedian who usually skewers Lebanese politicians like it’s a national sport, this time he stayed surprisingly tame. Maybe he thought the Halifax crowd wouldn’t be up to speed with the Beirut circus?

Big mistake.

If there’s one thing Lebanese folks in Halifax carry with them, it’s their political feuds. Trust me — they know every Lebanese politician just as well as anyone in Beirut. Fady could’ve roasted the entire junta and the audience would’ve laughed.

Despite that, Fady delivered gold. His comedic rhythm, facial expressions, and storytelling were still top-tier. The characters we grew up watching on TV were alive, thriving, and roasting the absurdities of everyday life with precision.

Let’s just hope this isn’t his last time in Halifax. And next time, someone PLEASE check the Lebanese calendar before booking a show.