Reviews

“The tone is tart, self-effacing and affectionate… the best moments come as quiet little zingers... a funny and likable self-portrait of a boy who grew up to accept the man, warts and thread-count obsessions and all.”

“Stroili spins adolescent angst into comic gold... a laugh riot -- the one-liners come fast and furious.”

“Fearlessly funny... each of the characters is sharply drawn and given some priceless one-liners to deliver... The jokes are funny, sometimes a little raunchy and sharp as a tack... Women will find this show hilarious and men will also have a laugh.”

“A charming, funny, engaging performer who invites you into his amazingly candid and amusing struggle with his life... Paul Stroili gives wonderful, compassionate life to each and every character he creates... fresh, original and inviting.”

“Stroili employs a supporting cast — all played with great verve and versatility by him.”

(This) show is funny, and quite charming... People like it... Stroili is a far smarter and more literate writer than most... His well-crafted characters are vividly realized... it feels good to laugh at (this) stuff."

"A big hit... (a) gender-blending slice of laughter... Hilarious... the Felix Ungers and Frasier Cranes of the world deserve their show... delightful!"

"His chameleon-like ability to shift instantly between these characters and himself is not only impressive but also highly entertaining... Good acting, good writing and a good laugh... Stroili's affable and amiable demeanor puts us immediately at ease while instantly engaging us in the story he has to tell... quite funny."

"Paul Stroili helps us laugh at our differences... a spoof of 'metrosexuals' that (has) audiences laughing!"

"Stroili is a versatile, personable actor... this show is funny! A smile or a chuckle every minute... 'Straight Up' should provide you with an agreeable number of giggles... 90 minutes of pleasantly hip humor."

- Dan Zeff, Copley News Service

"a laugh-a-minute... a hilarious 90-minute frolic... you're going to have a wonderful time laughing at Stroili's stereotype-busting "Straight Up With a Twist."

One of the Top Ten Theater Events of 2001!

"Elegant phrasings... a pleasing premise... Stroili crafts clever prose... enjoyable... a promising pitch for a sitcom!"

"The talented and sophisticated Stroili hilariously embodies all the characters in his vibrant life... (his) solo performance is engaging, thoughtful and full of rich humor... a blend of Tim Allen and Woody Allen..."

"...Very funny... insightful and affectionate portraits... filled with delicious humor... Stroili smoothly moves between past and present, easily switching genders, ages and attitudes... a humorous odyssey...(This) comic is a Geek God!"

"Brilliant... A cult hit... "Straight Up" works for all the right reasons... Stroili's creation is remarkably poised, well-oiled and balanced... impressively detailed comic characterizations... he plays his audience with an expert's ease... you owe it to yourself to see Stroili's one man show..."

"...on the small theatre side, Renaissance Geek has been getting some great reviews... starring Paul Stroili who plays himself and seven of his family members."

"An energetic and appealing performer (with a gift for zingy one-liners) Stroili has come up with an entertaining and inspiring take on the theme of a straight man with a gay aesthetic... hilarious!"

"A very funny one-man show... Stroili is good as a physical comedian, doing all the oddball characters, but moves a step or two higher on the funny ladder with his verbal humor."

"(a) very funny show...Stroili plays a number of characters, but the characterizations never lapse into caricature... making the eccentricities all the more funny... directed crisply... very clever writing... "

"Stroili makes a good argument for the baffling journey heterosexual men must make... endearing, wacky... (with) amphetamine-like energy... expert writing... there's a bit of a Renaissance Geek in every man."

"Sharp, Fresh, Hilarious!"

-American Cinematheque

"A great comic... Stroili's characterizations are dead-on... If Stroili's stint as a bartender who corrects all his customers' orders doesn't make you laugh, his vision of the perfect Game Show will... the charm of (the show) is in the details... a nostalgic delight! "

-TalkingBroadway.com

"Stroili switches back and forth between the diverse characters seamlessly, with his rubber face and catalog of voices... (his) fast-paced script... pulls off some wry commentary on society's knuckle-headed obsession with stereotypes."

-Frontiers Magazine

"Richly Comic, Zinger Lines! Theatre Pick of the Week!"

-LA Weekly

"The quirky Paul Stroili is a hoot!"

-New City

"Few can handle comedy as deftly as Paul Stroili"

-Screen Magazine

Best Direction of the Year (One-Act Category)

-LA Weekly Award Nominee Bill Penton

".. a laugh-a-second... Stroili shows off impeccable comic timing and outstanding acting through a variety of characters in this brilliantly written and different one man show!"

-The Comic Bible

"an engagingly self-flagellating one-man show... Stroili peoples his show with seven different characters, switching genders, ages and accents with the regularity and ease of changing socks... a one-man show mastermind"

-Entertainment Today

"I saw it twice and laughed harder the second time! This show has 'sitcom' written all over it... and I mean that in a good way."

-Mark Wallengren, KOST FM

"Credit Bill Penton for expert, savvy direction."