Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is no joke, but it sure makes for a good punchline.

It is also one of the conditions shared by two powerhouse comedians and all-around thought-provoking performers who recently performed at New York Comedy Festival. We are left with the question — is the powerhouse of the comedic mind not the mitochondria, but rather the digestive tract?

The conclusions on this inquiry remain inconclusive. But the fact that acclaimed gender non-conforming poet and performer ALOK Vaid-Menon and award-winning performer and theatre maker Travis Alabanza absolutely killed their performance is an irrefutable truth for those in attendance.

Alabanza opened for ALOK on Nov. 13 for their back-to-back performances at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center. They added a second showtime at 9:45 p.m. after the first 7 p.m. show sold out. 

You must save yourself from a burning world before you take inventory, emotional and otherwise.

Kicking off Trans Awareness Week, held each year from Nov. 13 – Nov. 19 to raise visibility about trans people and systemic issues they face, the show cultivated an atmosphere of compassion, healing and community.

Alabanza returned to the stage for the first time in two years and opened the show with a much-needed discussion of their year-long battle with their anal fissure. From there, they offered a disclaimer and advice for the tender queers in the audience — process your emotions after exiting the building should there be a fire. 

Meaning: You must save yourself from a burning world before you take inventory, emotional and otherwise. The corporeal comes first with community nipping at its heels.

Speaking of heels and dressing for success, according to Alabanza, grandmas with dementia offer blunt and useful observations that will let you know if you should apply more blush. A quick “Oh look at that young lady” comment from Grandma and you’re all set for the day ahead. Alabanza set the tone of joy and raucous laughter for the rest of the show.

ALOK appeared radiant in a buttercup yellow dress for their second performance. They have the unique ability to switch effortlessly between humorous, poignant cultural commentary and chill-inducing poetics. It’s never certain if tears will spring from uncontrollable laughter or rise out of the depths of your being after hearing one of their poems.

Their material covered a wide range of subjects from pondering if the term “flaming homosexual” is a type of cultural appropriation of the figurative, but nonetheless problematic fires started by white men to discussions of demi-sexuality.

ALOK cheekily referenced how they have been described as an up-and-coming artist for the past decade.

They possess an unshakable confidence that lights up the room. Their performance builds on their discussion from The Man Enough Podcast, where they discuss how “actually trans rights accelerate freedom for all people.” Through their performance, they lead the audience by the hand into a world open to fighting misogyny and transphobia and welcoming a more authentic, compassionate future. 

ALOK cheekily referenced how they have been described as an up-and-coming artist for the past decade. This, of course, elicited laughter from the audience, but it also raised the question — How long does one have to be an up-and-coming artist before they finally “arrive,” and who is setting the destination anyway? 

Given the brilliant and articulate musings of ALOK, it seems the benchmark for excellence is continually being reimagined into a place more concerned with inclusivity and freedom for all.