Review by Steve Bennett

He professes not to know all that much, claiming to be so dumb he didn’t realise that petrol came from oil. But never underestimate the gravitas of a man who speaks softly, the confidence of 16 years as a comic teaching him that you don’t have to holler to be heard. At times, he speaks barely above a whisper, which only draws the audience closer to him, if only to hear what he’s saying.

In this show, he reflects on the big three issues he believes define us – gender, race and religion. Perhaps because of that self-confessed lack of education, he speaks from the heart more than the brain. It’s about analysing your gut feeling, rather than getting too caught up in intellectual debate.

It means you could drive a coach and horses through some of his arguments. He hates the fact, for instance, that the actions of one black man are seen as the actions of every black man. But he wants Barack Obama as his president for no other reason than his skin tone. O’Neal knows none of his policies, nor does he want to, but he wants Obama to represent all black men.

Similarly, his take on relationships seems to be a shaky generalisation based on his own personal attitude to women. Others might want to think twice about following his baggage-laden advice.

But whether you think O’Neal is right or wrong is irrelevant. The fact that he has his own point of view and can argue it with conviction, charisma and a dry wit is the key thing. You hang on his every word, even when he does take an unnecessary circuitous route from A to B, and are ultimately rewarded with a good laugh.

For a big dude, he’s not afraid to look vulnerable, too, talking about his diabetes or confessing his emotional failings – an honesty which adds even more weight to the already compelling delivery. In the past, O’Neal’s been something of an angry comic, and the shift to the thoughtful is welcome.

Although there’s loads of style here, there’s substance, too, with some lovely segments of stand-up that, with judicious editing, could make a spectacular hour rather than a pretty strong 80 minutes. The set-piece finale, especially, in which he strives to find a bit of peace and quiet in his constricting relationship, is a tour-de-force routine that crescendos to a splendid climax. A fitting end to a potent show.

Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Montreal, July 2008

Review date: 1 Jul 2008
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett