THE ODD COUPLE

One Arab, one Jew, one stage.\nIt sounds like the set-up for an ethnic slur. But comedian Ahmed Ahmed and Rabbi Bob Alper are sending a message to audiences across the country that is anything but inspired by hate.\nThe Union Board, in collaboration with seven religious and international student organizations, will present "One Arab, One Jew, One Stage..." on Monday, April 26 in the Indiana Memorial Union Alumni Hall. \n"Our explicit message is that we can laugh together despite our differences," Alper says. "It's not only an act - it's a strong friendship. We really enjoy doing comedy together, despite coming from wildly different backgrounds. We're comedy's odd couple. I'm 59, Ahmed's 33. I'm a Jew, he's Muslim. He lives in Los Angeles, California, and I live in rural Vermont. In fact, the only thing we have in common is that we are both extremely good-looking."\nWhat started as an experiment in mixing comedy with interfaith communication has become a nationally-recognized act which books over 100 shows a year in venues ranging from synagogues to college auditoriums. The Egyptian actor/comedian and the Vermont-based rabbi collaborated as a shtick and public service after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 when tensions between the Middle East and the United States reached fever pitch. Alper contacted Ahmed after his agent came across his name over the internet and proposed the idea of an Arab-Jewish comedy routine. Ahmed was living in Los Angeles and acting in small roles -- a cab driver or Muslim terrorist more often than not. He was concerned the act Alper proposed would be too politically implausible to succeed, but Ahmed, a devout Muslim, had become disgusted with the roles he was playing. He turned his back on Hollywood and signed on for the unprecedented comedy routine.\nAlper believes the visual impact alone of a white-haired rabbi of barely five feet, eight inches and a strapping, dark-featured Muslim man standing together and interacting in a way that shows their personal and professional regard for one another makes an important impression which contributes to the overall effect of the show.\n "Audiences will walk away with the image of the relationship Ahmed and I have," Alper says. "The main reaction we get is people feeling really good. Tensions are relieved through people laughing and having a good time."\nCaroline Dowd-Higgins, academic advisor for the Undergraduate Religious Studies, feels Ahmed and Alper's show will create a wonderful environment for raising cultural awareness at IU.\n"The comedians don't become political because that's not their motive; it's a diversity issue, it's an awareness issue," she says. "The humor generates a positive tone. You're using humor to raise awareness. That intensity is gone, and their message is a lot more easily-digestible."\nThe comedians keep their subject matter clean and avoid bringing politics into the act altogether. Both draw enough unusual material from their everyday routines to keep audiences of varying ages, religions and ethnicities laughing, Alper says. \n"In contrast to other comedians, both of us have a lot of material that no one else has," he says. "No other comedians tell jokes about officiating weddings. None of them talk about having teenaged kids, since most of the older ones are on their second or third trophy wife by now. Very few comedians out there are Muslim, talking about what it's like going to the airport post-9/11."\nAhmed's appearance in several episodes of MTV's "Punk'd" has enhanced the comedy routine's popularity among college audiences. One episode of the MTV series features Ahmed as the fire marshal who forbids Halle Berry from entering the premiere of her 2003 horror film "Gothika" because the building is already past capacity.\n"When 35 people come out, then you can go in," he tells the flustered actress.\nFace and name recognition resulting from Ahmed's stint on the TV series did not always garner good results, however. A University of Florida Muslim student group revoked their invitation to the comedic duo after seeing an episode of "Punk'd" which featured the actor. The group cited improper behavior for a Muslim as their qualm with Ahmed's performance. \nOverall, however, audiences have given Ahmed and Alper feedback which has inspired them to keep their act on the road for over two years.\n"After a show, we'll be talking, and we'll say, 'Look at how lucky we are,'" Alper says. "We're making a good living off doing these shows. But there's a higher level of satisfaction we didn't anticipate. We see Jewish students and Muslim students laughing together despite their differences. To me, it's amazing, and its gratifying"