Little Lark of London

Have you thought about what will happen after you die? Have you ever had to write your own will? Does the thought of death leave you with a shortness of breath, afraid to face your own mortality? Mike Birbiglia’s The Old Man and the Pool takes on these questions in a comedic tale of swimming, deep breaths, and family. 

The “coming-of-middle-age story” takes us into the life of Birbiglia, whose pulmonary function testing results were so low that the doctor informed him he should be having a heart attack at that very moment. And so begins Birbiglia’s tale of facing his own mortality while reflecting on the concept of love. The story mostly revolves around Birbiglia’s struggles with his health, including anxiety and exercise, which leads to some interesting 

As this is a comedy, The Old Man and the Pool has jokes galore, with none of them ever taking away from the serious moments. Birbiglia has the powerful ability to make you laugh and break your heart within the same sentence, going from some silly topic like the warning signs at a YMCA pool to the question of who will take care of his daughter if he and his wife die. At several times during the show I found myself leaning forward in my seat, enraptured with Birbiglia’s story.

Beowulf Boritt continues his streak of creating absolutely incredible sets, designing only a simplistic curve that represents not only the water but the journal that Birbiglia writes in every night, creating some stunning visuals that manage to break your heart while still remaining simplistic. Combined with Aaron Copp’s subtle yet powerful lighting and Hana S. Kim’s lovely projection designs, the stage is set in the perfect way to reflect Birbiglia’s story, creating its own personality while still allowing the comedian to command the stage. 

Ultimately, The Old Man and the Pool is one of the best examples of combining storytelling and standup. It’s one of those shows that barely felt like even an hour even though 80 minutes had passed, making you wish that Birbiglia could keep talking for hours. The West End run is limited, so run as fast as you can to Wyndham’s Theatre to catch this absolutely incredible work of comedy. 

The Old Man and the Pool runs at Wyndham’s Theatre from 15 September to 7 October. Tickets can be purchased here.

Photo Credit: Emilio Madrid