Mike Birbiglia is what I call a straddler. Part stand-up, part storyteller. The Brooklyn-based monologist specialises in autobiographical pieces, putting his whimsical imprint on this distinctive hybrid. And he doesn’t shy away from big topics. His latest show, The Old Man & The Pool, tackles mortality and certainly makes a splash.
It begins with a breathing test that does not bode well. The doctor worries that Birbiglia is having a heart attack and packs him off to a cardiologist. After more examinations he is urged to change his lifestyle and exercise more.
