Toronto Fringe Review: Aliya Kanani: A Comedian’s Guide To Enlightenment

The show is named Aliya Kanani: A Comedian’s Guide to Enlightenment, and it’s true. Aliya Kanani is hilarious and she offers wisdom about finding light within yourself. But more than that, Aliya is a storyteller. She weaves words and tales—seemingly tall, but absolutely true (she has photo evidence)—with a demeanour that kindly demands your attention. Presenting as a bubbly architect of comical anecdotes, Aliya’s opening quarter drips with saucy punchlines and political commentary.

But as the show progresses, this initial jubilation is cut more frequently by splices of serious conversation. Small jokes and playful banter seep into discussions of financial crises and division until Aliya leaves an audience without a hint of comedy when speaking about war and genocide.

Her show is timely, potent, and incredibly affecting. Alone on stage, Aliya has the unique skill of earning an audience’s trust. Expertly timed comedy and vulnerability leaves a crowd wildly receptive to what comes next, making her show the perfect vessel for open conversations about violence, hate, censorship, and more.

Yet the meat of the show is connectivity. Finding care in unexpected places, opening ourselves up to unusual opportunities, and discovering (or rediscovering) the good in humanity. The confident cadence Aliya speaks with, even when discussing her indecision, makes her words easy to believe and her jokes flow effortlessly.

It’s truly a journey that she guides us through, one that beats in time with overthinkers, empaths, and the current state of the world. Steeped in morality, politics, and love, Aliya Kanani will make you laugh, smile, meditate (yes, mid-show), laugh again, and—ultimately—think.

A Comedian’s Guide To Enlightenment is on now until July 12 at the Toronto Fringe. Show times and tickets