Andy Cañete was born in Chile in 1973 under the dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. His family immigrated to Canada when he was a child
He said his stories explore the cultural differences many Latinos experience when coming to a major Canadian city like Vancouver.
For example, he said it still blows his mind that rival soccer fans can sit together in the arenas and stands in Vancouver — something that doesn't fly in his home country of Chile.
The Cañete Chroñicles is his take on his own life in Canada — which includes his experience as a pedi-cab driver, during which time he routinely got his butt pinched by older women, and his days as a door-to-door salesman for AT&T — he was once offered a lot more than he wanted as payment from prospective clients.
He said building a one-person show is difficult, but thrilling. At times, the audience reaction can even make him change his routine and script on the fly.
"It's about being naked on stage," he said. "You're just talking about the most embarrassing stuff and you're vulnerable.
"People connect with that."
Andy Cañete spoke to us in March 2019.