Words: Caitlin Finnerty

4 Stars

In CAN (An Hour-Long Story) writer, performer, and actor Rob Auton swaps stand-up for a gently surreal, story-driven hour about the rise and fall of the world’s number one motivational speaker, a man named Can. Inspired, oddly enough, by watching a litter picker pull rubbish from a bin, Can dedicates his life to helping people reach their “top potential,” living life in caps lock and spreading affirmations scrawled across pieces of paper on the stage floor like: Risk, Act, Love, Explore.

It starts strong, with dry, Karl Pilkington-esque humour and perfectly timed jokes that undercut moments of sincerity. The middle section meanders, sometimes losing focus, but pulls together for a satisfying conclusion. Auton has an uncanny knack for breaking heavy moments with perfectly timed humour, keeping the audience laughing while quietly reflecting. By the end, CAN urges us to “move the toaster” and take joy in life’s smallest details like the fun of spotting three people crammed in a van, the satisfaction of cracking open a pomegranate, or a full English breakfast with hot chocolate at 7am.

Clever, funny, and oddly uplifting, CAN is a reminder to look for meaning in the mundane.

Rob Auton: CAN (An Hour-Long Story) 
Upstairs @ Assembly Roxy
13:25
Aug 11-24