In Search of Cruise Control

Gangland Productions—John Hirsch Theatre at the MTC Mainstage

This one-man play seems to be about one thing but turns out to be about so much more. I won’t reveal all of its secrets here. The poster for this show makes it look like a comedy about a man out of control on a passenger cruise ship, but that is only one tiny aspect. James Gangl seems to be speaking autobiographically and humorously about his experiences with learning about sex from childhood on, but as the show progresses things become more serious, while never completely losing the comedy.

Throughout the show Gangl often repeats phrases and entire paragraphs of things he has already said, but as we learn more and more about him, these very same words take on greater depth. It is the peeling away of the onion of the dysfunction he has experienced in relationships, including with his mother and with various women he has met. While performing, Gangl was able to remain on point while also keeping things loose, sometimes taking a break from his material to joke about, for example, the challenge of making good use of the large stage he was on, or to ask an audience member if she was knitting. Overall, this show was a satisfying blend of funny and serious.

Konrad Antony