kicked off the 2006 Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts last night.

The sold-out show offers an opportunity to preview what could become a Broadway phenomenon ? the critically-acclaimed production moves to New York's famed theatre district in November.

Steve Solomon is the star of the one-man play. A former administrator in New York's education system, he traded in that security and hit the road, performing stand-up in clubs across America.

"I'd always been something of a character," he said of the switch. "Even when I was a kid, I would do sound effects and different voices over the phone.

"I thought I was good ? until a gentleman put me on stage for the first time. I was garbage. In an audience of strangers, it takes more than material to be good. It takes technique and that takes years to learn."

Mr. Solomon honed his act. A self-described perfectionist, he said it took him almost six years to become comfortable on stage. For a period of three years, he performed on cruise ships, occasionally travelling to Bermuda.

As such, when invited to perform here this year he had a vague impression of his possible audience.

"You have to adjust yourself for different markets," he said, in explaining how different cultures react to the same joke.

"I was delighted to be invited but also concerned and frightened because I've only played to two international markets. My biggest fear is that they will look at me and go, 'I have no idea what he's talking about'."

Mr. Solomon first took his current act to audiences more than two years ago. He admits the play, about a family with different cultures, is based on real people in his life ? one of them his sister.

As described in the Festival brochure, features "mom, dad, grandma Angelina, grandpa Harry, Bubbie, aunts, uncle Vito, cousins, macho Carmine and everyone in between whose sole purpose in life is to drive Steve into therapy . . . and they succeeded. Steve's one-man comedy show masterfully weaves different dialects and crazy characters into his stories. These tales take on a life of their own as this witty raconteur recounts memorable moments from his past and makes candid, very funny observations on timely topics."

The show has met with rave reviews in the United States. In the last 14 months alone, that success has called Mr. Solomon to perform in 37 cities.