Camden Fringe 2022: The Importance of Being Anxious at Museum of Comedy

Unlike Oscar Wilde’s famous farcical play from which Hal Cantor’s new “coming-of-middle-age” comedy derives its title, The Importance of Being Anxious is certainly not about any invented identities. Entirely autobiographical, the playwright-performer gives a candid yet cutesy lecture that attempts to ruminate and amuse on that universally difficult feeling: anxiety.

Over a concise hour, Cantor takes the audience through the moments, feelings and thoughts that have introduced states of anxiety into his life. What does he think about his Jewish identity? Is he straight, gay or bi? What’s the right way to date? Along the way, this one-man show will be interrupted by disembodied voices from friends and colleagues that provoke or reassure this pensive soul (voices by a variety of Cantor’s actual friends, production team and actors, including Ricki Lake). Is it better to try and settle anxieties in life or settle for a life of anxieties?

It’s a worrying sign when a bespeckled man stands in front of a PowerPoint presentation, but the production is fortunately polished, technically seamless and upbeat in energy. Ralph Bogard’s direction keeps Cantor moving, though this slackens when he sits down in a chair, takes a swig of whiskey and simply reads the slides. For the most part, the performer holds attention throughout with his self-deprecation and good faith openness, even if his comedic timing and delivery don’t quite allow the humour in his jocular script to really hit.

Some jokes are too self-referential (perhaps due to their specific regional and generational nature) though he does wryly explain any specific Yiddish terms for the Gentiles and specific LGBTQ+ terms for the straights in the audience. It’s more ticklish comedy than outright provocative, with Cantor juggling well between chuckle-worthy anecdote and sentimental observation. There’s also humour in his treatment of the emotion’s definition and past philosophical disquisitions – with a markedly hilarious remark on Martin “Hitler’s Dalai Lama” Heidegger. The play’s focus on anxiety does get lost at times as Cantor focuses on an exploration of his sexuality. Perhaps this is a consequence of the play’s origins as a piece about the latter topic and then widening to the more general theme.

By the end, The Importance of Being Anxious does become slightly self-indulgent in its platforming of the playwright’s personal life. Its denouement feels less a culminating moment for meditative reflection with the audience than having the air of a wedding reception speech. Yet, Cantor’s candour and considered approach to the subject do make for an often entertaining and insightful hour.    

James Humphrey
Photo: Courtesy of the production

The Importance of Being Anxious is at Museum of Comedy from 3^rd August until 5^th August 2022. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Camden Fringe is on from 1^st until 28^th August 2022. For further information visit here.