Close Call: A How-Not-To Guide to Being a POS

A must-watch!

I cannot say enough good things about this show. It was funny, heartwarming, awkward, and raw. It was an impassioned lecture on one man's life about the wrongs he's committed and how he's changed because of them for the better. The regretful retellings were beautifully interspersed with comedy and communal sighs to recenter the audience after a tough conversation. Brian was able to center his own life difficulties and how he became the wonderful person he has today without it being a masturbatory, self-important piece, which requires such skill to pull off. I cannot recommend enough seeing him perform. I am so proud of the work he (and his director) put into this piece.

Brave

A genuine thank you to helping tell the story of how men might walk through life and the experience they have at facing choices and crossroads in life. Very VERY personal storytelling, punctuated with dark humor, that could have easily slipped into "another white cis man talking about himself" - but was much more deep, vulnerable, and raw than expected. Recommended.

Honest and real expression

Hard to find the vocabulary to review a show you want to call brave without sounding like a trite hashtag trend word of the moment. But for lack of anything quick to think of, yes, brave. Using comedy, dark humor, audience integration and some really BRAVE and awkward honestly, Brian Watson-Jones left us all with a deeply personal, yet relatable story of how we hopefully can learn, grow, and change our mindsets and persons as we experience life.

Go see this show! Everyone!

This show is an honest reflection; it is a breath of hope for the future. One-person shows can often feel self-indulgent or righteous and BWJ artfully keeps the audience in mind. This show is for all of us. So you'd better go see it!

Wow!

So real, so honest... BWJ deserves a thousand Fringe kitties for bravely sharing his own growth and self-reflection in this piece. He has captured the essence of where we all need to be as good and decent human beings. I can't recommend it enough. (This show spoke to me personally, stirring up deep emotions that reminded me of one gem of a man I had in my life.)

A Show of Critical Moments

The show functions well as a mirror to remember the points in our lives where we might have gone down darker paths. Further, and unexpectedly, I came away thinking about the people that are gone that remain with us in living memory. That, as long as we remember them, they are still present and shaping us in meaningful ways. That feeling, along with the introspection about my own juncture points, were well worth the price of admission. The show is humorous but in such a way that complements the subject matter rather than overshadowing or trivializing it. That's a heavy lift from a writer and performer standpoint, and I think it's pulled off with deftness here.

Earnest, Funny and Ripe

BWJ's storytelling has reached maturity and is ripe for the picking! In this production, Brian lays bare his heart and invites us into the most intimate moments of his past. With humor and tact, he navigates difficult topics using examples from his own experiences. Highly recommend!

Moving and Poignant

Great storytelling. BWJ takes us on a very personal journey exploring what might have been, and how those inflection points inform future actions. Truly enjoyed the second character in this one man show. See it.

Brutally honest and sweet

Brian shared his whole soul. The good, the bad, the ugly. And the beautiful. This show was inspiring to someone who is also trying to find the path to their best self. A must see for anyone looking for a cry and a good think.

Powerfully insightful

A thought provoking, and powerfully emotional insight into what makes a person who they are. Trigger warnings of abuse and rape notwithstanding, this show is a must see! It will stick with you.

I wish all the men in my life could see this show

Geniune insight into the white male american experience. Well written with comedic levity for some tough shit.

An Examined Life

With humor and seriousness, Brian makes us laugh and think while telling us stories similar to ones I've (and I would think, just about everyone) lived, bringing out the importance of little decisions in making a person who they are. Always entertaining, a well written, well performed show.