You Cry Weird – Dublin Fringe Festival – Review
by Brian Merriman

You Cry Weird – Starring Tony Cantwell
Presented by Aviary Productions
Smock Alley Theatre
September 13-15 at 20.45
September 13 matinee at 13.00hrs

Stand-up comics are always under a little pressure to write a blurb, raising issues to attract an audience.

The website tells us, amongst other things, that You Cry Weird is about ‘toxic masculinity’. It isn’t for the best of reasons, as Cantwell is so at ease with his own masculinity and self that he puts everyone else into a comfort zone where no toxicity is allowed.

His mellow delivery of a highly honed storybook makes it all look and sound spontaneous. The referencing back to key messages throughout the narrative is class!

We hear stories of tears, jobs, schooldays, parents, spouse and kids that effortlessly flow together and cleverly connect, so that the hour flies by.

Stand up is often reserved for a later nighttime slot, but this 6.30pm timeslot was not only packed but set up a weekend with optimism, humour and a gentleness that defies the deadly skill set that created this warm, entertaining storybook.

Cantwell may have been fired from many jobs along the way, but there is no doubt he’s a master of his demanding craft.