Two performances scheduled for the first edition of the Commedia a La Carte Fest in Lisbon have been cancelled, organisers announced on Friday. The axed shows are "Tributo Pop," featuring Carolina Deslandes, Tatanka and Barbara Tinoco, and a concert by Conjunto Cuca Monga.
The cancellations were revealed in a temporary story posted to the festival's official social media account, with no reason given. The comedy festival is due to run from October 29 to November 1.
The post said organisers regretted to inform the public that the Tributo Pop and Conjunto Cuca Monga shows were cancelled, adding that they were working to announce new shows soon.
Tributo Pop had been due to take place on October 31 at Campo Pequeno, while the Conjunto Cuca Monga concert was scheduled for October 29 at the Cineteatro Capitolio.
According to the organisers, ticket prices will be automatically refunded for all online purchases. For tickets bought in person, customers were asked to return to the original point of sale.
On the BlueTicket online ticketing platform, the Conjunto Cuca Monga concert is listed as cancelled for reasons unrelated to the organisation. The listing for Tributo Pop states only that the show has been cancelled, without further detail.
The Lusa news agency contacted Conjunto Cuca Monga and Carolina Deslandes, who both declined to comment. Lusa also attempted to reach Barbara Tinoco and Tatanka but had not managed to do so at the time of reporting.
Jerry Seinfeld headlines debut festival
The new MEO Commedia a La Carte Fest, created by the improv comedy group Commedia a La Carte, aims to bring together the best of comedy, theatre, music, performance, storytelling and pop culture, according to the organisers when the event was announced.
The first edition is headlined by American comedian Jerry Seinfeld, who will make his live debut in Portugal with a show on November 1 at MEO Arena.
Seinfeld, now 72, became widely known for the television sitcom "Seinfeld," which he co-created and wrote with Larry David between 1989 and 1998. The show aired on NBC and was sold to numerous countries, including Portugal.
Besides "Seinfeld," he has also created the series "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee," the special "Jerry Before Seinfeld" and the animated film "Bee Movie." His career, one of the most successful in American comedy, began in the 1970s in comedy clubs, where he performed stand-up.
Boycott calls over Seinfeld's stance
Seinfeld's performance in Lisbon has drawn criticism and calls for a boycott, particularly on social media.
Seinfeld has publicly voiced support for Israel since the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that began with attacks led by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on October 7, 2023, in southern Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and took more than 200 hostages.
Since then, 73,438 people have been killed and 174,447 injured in the Gaza Strip, out of a population of about two million, according to the latest count from authorities in the territory, with bodies still uncounted under rubble and in areas occupied by Israel.
Full festival lineup
Besides Jerry Seinfeld, the lineup for the first edition of the Commedia a La Carte Fest includes shows by Herman Jose, Ines Aires Pereira with "Namaste," Cebola Mole, Clarice Falcao, Matilde Breyner and Pedro Tochas, among others.
Cesar Mourao, Vasco Palmeirim, Pedro Ribeiro and Vera Fernandes are bringing "Rebenta a Bolha" to the festival, described as one of the most popular comedy phenomena in Portugal, born and amplified on Radio Comercial's morning show.
The shows are spread across the Coliseu dos Recreios, Campo Pequeno, Cinema Sao Jorge and the Capitolio. The MEO Commedia a La Carte Fest is co-produced by Last Tour and Aquele Abraco.
