Mike Birbiglia Hits Another Home-run with “The Old Man & The Pool”

“The Old Man & The Pool” I Photo by Emilio Madrid

The opinions reflected in this OpEd are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of staff, faculty and students of The King's College.

Mike Birbiglia returns to Broadway this month with his latest solo show, “The Old Man & The Pool” at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Center. This is Birbiglia’s fifth solo show in New York. His last production, “The New One,” ran at the Cort Theatre in 2018 and was filmed for Netflix. Birbiglia does not fail to disappoint in this new show. The Old Man & The Pool is 85 minutes of laughter and masterful storytelling as Birbiglia plays the storyteller, hilariously and meaningfully covering the topics of death, cardiologists and over-chlorinated YMCA swimming pools.

Birbiglia begins “The Old Man & The Pool” by recounting his annual doctor’s appointment, wherein he learned that “as you age, the objects on the wall of a doctor’s office that you thought were decorative actually aren’t. They are, in fact, quite functional.” One of those objects tests his lung capacity, and it returns the result that Birbiglia might be experiencing a heart attack. 

This news is especially attention-grabbing for Birbiglia, whose father and grandfather both experienced major heart attacks at the age of 56, the age he will be at when his daughter turns 19. After seeing a cardiologist, he is assured that he is not having a heart attack, but he should consider doing cardio five days a week (“Not even professional athletes actually do cardio five days a week,” Birbiglia cracks). Nevertheless, cardio it is. And his best option is swimming. Something with which he has a “complicated” relationship.

During an interview last week with late night host Stephen Colbert to promote “The Old Man & The Pool,” Birbiglia made it quite clear that in his story, he is neither the old man or the pool. “We are all the old man,” he says in the stage show — we aren’t promised anything except this moment. Birbiglia talked about his grandparents whom he never got a chance to meet, his parents whom he almost lost several times, and his daughter, whom he fears might lose him — this is his existential message behind the laughter.

“The Old Man & The Pool” is directed by Seth Barrish and produced by Birbiglia’s brother, Joseph Birbiglia (who is the target of a few jokes about Birbiglia’s will). The show’s minimal and well-executed production elements encapsulate the phrase “less is more.” Mike Birbiglia’s sharp wit, passionate storytelling and impeccable improv delivery in this unique, entertaining evening. It’s a striking balance of fun and meaning that Birbiglia manages to land perfectly.

The Old Man & The Pool is currently running at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Center until January 15, 2023.

Eli Johnson is the Theatre Columnist for the Empire State Tribune. He is a freshman at The King's College majoring in Business. He is an avid theatre-goer and always enjoys a game of chess.