GUYONKNEES by Danny Adhim (John Candy Box Theatre, 99 Blue Jays Way). Runs to June 3. $12. 416-340-7270. secondcity.com. See Continuing. Rating: NN
Stranded somewhere between stand-up, theatre and slam poetry, GuyOnKnees doesn’t seem to know what it wants to say or how to say it. Is it a drama? A comedy? Unfortunately, it doesn’t succeed as either.
The concept is straightforward. On the brink of his 40th birthday, gay Guyanese immigrant Danny Adhim hits rock bottom and has an epiphany. He decides it’s time to get sober, stop living with shame and, through publicly sharing his story, accept his truths.
Writer/performer Adhim’s rich past includes more than enough material to fill 80 minutes, but there’s no focus. An unnecessary prologue sets an awkward and confusing tone that never finds a resolution. Things get more disjointed in a handful of segments that mix poetry and pre-recorded music. They’re delivered with gusto but feel part of a different show (one that’s definitely not a comedy). Instead of adding dimension, these interruptions force Adhim to constantly rebuild his already uneven momentum.
It’s not that this type of genre mixing can’t work. It’s refreshing to see an actor break into poetry instead of song. But for the combination to feel justified, connection to the material needs to be developed.
As a performer, Adhim seems slightly unsure and under-rehearsed. He’s at his best when using his cheeky charm, but even this is either overused or entirely absent. Strong direction could have offered structure, but it’s unclear what the director is trying to accomplish.
A last-minute attempt to cinch it all together feels simple and preachy, a betrayal of the depth of Adhim’s own story. There are much meatier themes at play than the “be yourself” message trotted out at the end.
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An earlier version of this article identified Karen Ivany as the show’s director. She pulled out of the production weeks before opening.
