Maxim and Cosmo
written and performed by TJ Dawe
TJ's newest monologue.
90 minutes
About sex
There's very little physical action in the show.
None, in fact.
But there is an elaborate web of 16 000-some words, woven into the space over the stage
By a very opinionated, fast-talking guy
Sort of sit-down stand-up comedy
With stories
Examining gender roles, stereotypes, prejudices in our culture, in our language
Daring to possibly answer the question of what women really want
And men too
There's an extensive use of language that some people might consider foul. It isn't gratuitous.
Maxim & Cosmo first fell upon human ears in a series of workshop readings as part of The TJ Dawe Box Set on the 2005 fringe circuit. The response was rather good. In fact it was the best attended show in the box set. And got the most laughs. And applause. The script has incorporated some of the reactions that came along with those readings in Orlando, Montreal, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Victoria and Vancouver. And ignored others. It's now memorized, polished and ready to tour.
The title refers to the two magazines.
Toronto Star Review:
Maxim & Cosmo
(Highly Recommended)
George Ignatieff Theatre, 15 Devonshire Place
Taking his title from the men's and women's magazines, Fringe habitué TJ
Dawe riffs hilariously on the "gross generalizations and insulting
stereotypes" that comprise the age-old battle of the sexes.
In sneakers, casual earth-coloured attire and specs, the lanky Dawe brings
great personal and comic appeal – plus actual wisdom – to the subject.
Don't be fooled when it gets down and dirty, and the language descends
into four-letter territory. Dawe has plenty to say in his near-staccato
style that's worth hearing.
The truth hurts even as it tickles the funny bone, and many in the
audience are going to find themselves squirming in their seats both with
delight and at the recognition of how a particular carnal truth applies to
their own experience.
Dawe's comic timing and hold on the audience is downright masterful as he
keeps us enthralled over an impressive 90 minutes that never seems to
flag.