Sex, Religion & Other Hang-ups

Reviewed by Paula Citron
October 11, 2011

Sex, Religion & Other Hang-ups
Co-produced by James Gangl and Derrick Chua
Written and performed by James Gangl
Directed by Chris Gibbs
Theatre Passe Muraille
Oct. 4 to 22, 2011

Comedian/actor James Gangl scored a big hit at the Fringe Festival with Sex, Religion & Other Hang-ups.

The solo show in now running at Theatre Passe Muraille. It’s a huge gamble that a fringe show can do well in mainstream theatre, but Gangl is attracting crowds.

Gangl presents himself as a nerd – a twentysomething still living in his widowed mother’s basement. All he wants to do is find a girlfriend, but his overwrought Catholicism and his tendency to freeze during critical moments, stand in his way. Also woven into this tale of woe is his first commercial gig for a beer company, and his day job at Hershey Canada. He also writes bad poetry.

The show is not bellylaughs. Rather, it is a monologue that demonstrates Gangl’s gift for language and word imagery. The humour is witty and sophisticated, and Gangl, himself, is a very engaging performer.

Sex, Religion & Other Hang-ups continues at Theatre Passe Muraille until Oct. 22.