Louis B Hobson reviews Pray the Gay to Stay

Pray the Gay to Stay

Calgarian Bryan Sandberg was born and raised in the Philippines, the son of a pastor. His father was not just any pastor but the man who taught others how to be preachers. His father was just about as high up in their church as one could go. When he was a little boy, Bryan and his mother practically worshipped each other. They were inseparable. Then Bryan realized he was gay and he knew what the church thought of homosexuality.

Sandberg is quick to make sure the audience knows they can laugh. He establishes this before he breaks into his story and he doesn’t hammer away at the guilt his younger self felt upon realizing his sexuality. The sequence in which Bryan tells his parents is so powerful you could have heard the proverbial pin drop. But Sandberg is quick to lighten things up. How his parents reacted to this news is unsettling to say the least, but not unexpected.

Sandberg also does three impersonations that break up the tale of how he came to live in Calgary. They are the distractions they are meant to be. Sandberg does not want his show to be heavy or didactic.

Sandberg is a polished performer who knows how to work an audience, and he has written a show that has great comic moments as well as a few heartfelt ones. This is solo storytelling at its finest.