COLLAPSE by Ryan Dillon. Tarragon Solo Room. July 2 at 3:15 pm, July 3 at 6:15 pm, July 5 at 10:15 pm, July 6 at 6:30 pm, July 7 at 2:45 pm, July 8 at 8:45 pm, July 9 at 4:30 pm. Buy tickets. Rating: NNNN
Comedian Ryan Dillon opens his monologue by divulging how he collapsed from a panic attack outside North York Centre subway station in Toronto, and with that teaser he recalls his upbringing in Newfoundland as a kid who stealthily avoided bullying and aimed to please everyone…but himself.
This show is peppered nicely with sharp one-liners and charming anecdotes. It’s hard not to appreciate Dillon’s vulnerability and openness. One especially strong story recalls his years working at a video store and dealing with an aggressively rude customer who mirrored the bully he tried to avoid in elementary school.
He may seem nervous on stage, but that only adds to the show’s rhythm.
Unfortunately, Dillon has a tendency to speak under his breath and not project fully, which may make his entertaining tales difficult to hear.
