Alternative laughstyles

By Casey Neill
A BELGRAVE Heights comedian is taking his unconventional views to the masses.
Maha will this month premiere his first major show, Alternative Laughstyler, at the St Kilda Laughs Festival.
He’s performed in plays and musicals and presented short stand-up pieces at pubs, but was nervous about the 50-minute show.
“It’s just gonna be me,” he said.
The concept for the set sprang from people commenting on the 39-year-old’s “hippie tendencies”.
Maha said his spiritual, political and lifestyle beliefs were outside the norm.
“I don’t really conform that much,” he said.
“I call myself a Jewish, Buddhist anarchist who loves Jesus.”
The Goodies and other comedy classics were his favourite childhood TV shows.
“I’ve always been a frustrated jester,” he said.
Maha enjoyed inventing jokes but was shy and relied on others to share his comedic cracks.
“Now I’m taking the credit,” he said.
He nominated himself as the male equivalent of the Susan Boyle of Australian comedy.
“I dreamed the dream,” he said.
The humour alchemist’s goal is to take his comedy to the world.
“It’s about transforming the base metal of my life into 100 per cent pure comedy gold,” he said.
Maha will appear at the 2010 St Kilda Laughs Festival from 4 to 13 February.
Tickets are $15.
Readers can visit www.stkildalaughsfestival.com.au for ticket details.