An Article by D.M. (649 words, 3 min read)
A Summer Night That Forgot the Heat
On July 22, Beirut Holidays welcomed more than 2,200 spectators to Waterfront Antelias for John Achkar’s stand-up show Can We Talk.
The temperature reached nearly 35 degrees, yet the audience remained captivated from beginning to end. John Achkar once again proved that stand-up comedy can be brilliantly funny without resorting to vulgarity or easy provocation. With wit, impeccable timing and genuine sincerity, he turned a hot summer evening into one of the festival’s most memorable nights.
Few comedians possess the ability to make a crowd feel as though they are gathered in the same living room. Despite the scale of the venue, John Achkar dissolved the distance between stage and audience. The evening felt less like a performance than a conversation among friends, where everyone recognized a part of their own life in the stories being told.
His strength lies in making the ordinary extraordinary. Every anecdote, every family memory and every awkward situation becomes an opportunity to laugh together rather than at someone.
Finding Comedy in Everyday Life
Achkar draws almost all of his material from his own experiences. He revisits the years spent between France, Dubai and Canada, laughing about the challenges of constantly adapting while remaining deeply Lebanese. One unforgettable story recounts his father’s adventure in the Paris metro after losing his pocket money, proving that the smallest family incidents often become the funniest memories.
He also speaks openly about his mixed marriage as a Maronite Christian married to a Shiite Muslim, wondering with tenderness and humor about the future of their daughter. Even their journey toward parenthood becomes comic material as he recounts how the Flo application unexpectedly became part of their story.
He reflects on raising a child in a generation shaped by screens and social media, showing how the simplest details of everyday life can become irresistible comedy when observed with honesty.
Laughing First at Yourself
Self-derision remains one of John Achkar’s greatest qualities. He freely admits his weaknesses, addictions and contradictions before inviting anyone else into the joke.
Behind the laughter also comes reflection. With one sharp sentence, he remarks that history seems to have stopped in Lebanon in 1946. He addresses the criticism he has received on television and social media, speaking about those who misunderstood words or behaviors that were never intended to offend. Rather than answering criticism with resentment, he transforms it into humor.
He also expresses his confidence in the government of Nawaf Salam while slipping thoughtful observations about the country into his stories. Politics, family, identity and daily frustrations naturally become part of the same conversation.
A Perfect Opening
The evening began with the G String Duo, whose musical performance immediately established a joyful atmosphere. Through clever song parodies, playful arrangements and infectious humor, the two Georges encouraged the audience to sing along, creating an immediate bond with the crowd. The future seems promising for this duo.
Mario Yazbeck then took the stage with remarkable ease and charisma. His confident presence, natural comic rhythm and engaging personality immediately won over the audience. His performance was so enjoyable that it left many spectators with only one thought: looking forward to attending his own next stand-up show.
A Night That Felt Like Lebanon at Its Best
Some evenings remind us why culture matters. They gather strangers around the same laughter, reveal the beauty hidden in ordinary life and leave everyone lighter than when they arrived.
Can We Talk was one of those evenings. Beyond the jokes, it celebrated imagination, openness and the ability to laugh at ourselves without losing kindness. It also reminded us that Lebanon continues to produce artists capable of filling large stages with authenticity and talent. As long as voices like these continue to emerge, there is every reason to believe in the country’s creativity, its youth and its future.
