Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Dallas comic Peter Barrera returns to roots at La Calle Doce

By Marisa Treviño of Latina Lista

Peter Barrera

I could start this column with a corny joke like how 36-year-old Dallas comic Peter Barrera’s appearance at La Calle Doce restaurant in Oak Cliff on December 13 is like serving the salsa without the chips — a hot talent that doesn’t get stuck in your teeth — but I won’t.

I fully realize that any sad attempt I make to be funny has the potential to be cornier than a basket of chips (sorry). But after talking with Peter and hearing how his stand-up career has skyrocketed in 9 short months, you can’t help but be inspired.

For Peter, a litigation support specialist by day/comic by night, La Calle Doce is a natural venue for him to flex his funny bone since he not only considers the owners, the Sanchez family, like his second family but because he spent three years there working as a waiter.

It was a place where he honed some very important skills.

“It’s where I learned how to speak Spanish and pronounce my name correctly,” Peter says. It’s also where he broke in his off-the-cuff remarks to lighten the tension after mixing up orders or, as in the case of his second day on the job, dropping a piña colada on a customer.

Yet with all the mishaps, Peter is proud to point out that he never really got a complaint, but he did start getting some laughs.

It was a welcome sound after a long, sometimes unfunny, road to get where he is today.

From being told by his mother when he was 12-years-old that he wasn’t good looking enough to be an actor to getting married at 19 to being the only guy out of four friends who didn’t get a ticket in a lottery drawing to audition for the NBC television show Last Comic Standing, Peter, these days, really is getting the last laugh.

Even in his relationship with his mom, Peter has reconciled himself to the fact that it is as it is. When asked if his mom had seen his routine yet, he paused and with deadpan sarcasm says, “She tells me she’s busy or the Mavericks are playing.”

In the marriage department, Peter and his wife have been happily married for 18 years with three “super smart and talented” kids.

And as far as not winning a ticket to audition for that TV show, it turns out that was his career-defining moment. A producer that had heard about Peter invited him and his friends to put on a show the night of the auditions.

Because Peter was down about not getting the chance to audition, he “let loose” more than usual that night when delivering his routine, and it made a difference.

“I turned the corner in confidence and grew as a performer that night,” Peter said. Others saw it as well.

Before he knew it, Peter was getting calls to perform all over the state from El Paso to Corpus Christi, from The Addison Improv to San Antonio’s Enchilada Warehouse — and the momentum hasn’t slacked off.

But for the time being, Peter prefers to stay closer to home rather than traveling too far because his wife is expecting their fourth child.

As if the gods of comedy were looking down on Peter, the calculated due date for his new son is April 1, better known as April Fool’s Day.

The material is already forming in his head because of the news and like any good comic Peter can’t wait to share it with the La Calle Doce audience.

To make the evening even more special, or nerve-wracking, Peter’s 13-year-old son, Joshua is also part of the night’s lineup. Safe to say that the adage "Like father, like son" applies in this case.

But it’s not just Peter and Joshua who will be seeing who can get the biggest laughs, there are altogether seven comics in the night’s lineup appearing at the indoor patio of La Calle Doce restaurant. Joining the Barrera men will be Anthony Nato, the host of the evening, along with, Dustin Ybarra, Ravi Kiran, Anthony Perez, James Ponce and Mark Agee.

It’s definitely a full course meal of comedy — without the calories!

Pegasus News content partner: Latina Lista. You can find the main site for Latina Lista, which includes national news and views, podcasts, the store and more here.

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