Trinity senior Nik Narain performed his new stand-up comedy show “Rusk” Feb. 6, exploring questions of identity while sprinkling in anecdotes and scientific comedy.
The show took place in the Rubenstein Arts Center’s intimate Ruby Lounge, drawing both in-person and virtual attendees, with the in-person crowd growing large enough to require additional seating. It was opened by Trinity senior Ana Herndon, who did a classic comedy set touching on everything from the TikTok ban to egg donations to choking alone.
After Herndon left the stage, Narain came on and launched into his routine, starting by introducing rusks, a hard biscuit or twice-baked bread found in many Eurasian cuisines. In South Asia, where Narain’s cultural background lies, rusks are commonly served with and dipped into tea. This process softens and transforms them, and Narain returned to this theme of transformation throughout his show.
Narain's jokes spanned a wide range of topics, from “raw-dogging a kiwi” and being a “part-time gay” to the contrasts between the Duke community and his home community to becoming "overeducated and unemployable" by double majoring in Physics and Visual and Media Studies to his dating life. He wove in his journey through exploring gender and sexuality, including his experience coming out. Narain also interweaved comedy with science, including a number of quite funny physics jokes about energy and friction in his life – with a special emphasis on times he struggled.
His comedic approach blended anecdotes, cultural commentary and identity-related content with effective wordplay. Narain drew from his personal experience to create widely accessible and relatable jokes. Though few in the audience shared all of his identities, the jokes Narain made about them resonated widely and felt quite relatable. He managed to make humor from his lived experiences in a way that respected them, while not reducing them to mere set pieces. Everything from the delivery to the pacing to the pauses further amplified the comedy. Narain was evidently enjoying himself onstage, creating a pleasant ambiance.
Overall, “Rusk” succeeded in discussing and educating on identity without sacrificing its comedic momentum. The physics and science jokes sprinkled throughout added additional flavor, creating a balance of depth and comedy that made the show fun and memorable. The overall theme of transformation was also well-executed, Narain wrapped up the show in a way that felt inspiring.
During an interview with The Chronicle, Narain mentioned that he has been interested in comedy since he was a child and that grew up surrounded by it. Stand-up in particular appeals to him because it “makes you really good at failure” and lets you try new things, “meet a lot of really cool people” and “get better at telling stories” and “connecting with people.” He has honed his craft through his involvement with the Duke University Stand-up Troupe and performances at shows throughout the Triangle area and elsewhere.
In putting on “Rusk,” Narain sought to celebrate transformation and trans joy while getting his first full performance and recording performance samples. Such samples are often used for securing gigs and promoting oneself, making them important for any aspiring comedian. He also wanted to further explore the intersection of comedy and science communication, the field he wants to go into. To Narain, laughing at science is very much a “radical act,” as the general public rarely associates science with joy, instead associating it with “pain and unbridled agony.” By incorporating scientific elements into “Rusk” and future performances, Narain hopes to help more people connect to science and shift their “relationship” with it “to one of joy.”
“Rusk” marks a promising debut of a routine that will undoubtedly continue to evolve through future performances. In fact, upcoming performances of “Rusk” are already scheduled at the NYC Fringe Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Between now and then, Narain hopes to work more science into his routine and replace American cultural references that may not resonate with international audiences. While it will not be performed again at Duke, “Rusk” exemplifies our campus’ lively comedy scene and the quality of Duke student comedy.
Editor's note: Nik Narain is a columnist for The Chronicle's 120th volume.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Sign up for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.
Zev van Zanten is a Trinity junior and recess editor of The Chronicle's 120th volume.