MISERY LOVES COMPANY —
BUT WE DIDN’T BUY TICKETS FOR THAT

A solo show so full of angst it forgets to entertain. I mean, there’s
baring your soul… and then there’s burying the comedy

Since 1989, The Marsh has hosted hundreds of performance artists launching their personal stories, usually through spoken word. The small stages at both their San Francisco and Berkeley venues provide an intimate setting for audiences to see and hear artists pouring out their souls. All of us have points along the way where we stop and take stock of our journey and where we are on it. Midlife crises, milestone events, COVID-19, and significant birthdays are common points to reassess things.

New York City resident Adam Strauss is a 40-something self-defined comic. Single and childless, he’s becoming aware of his own mortality while specifically watching his father’s slow decline from Alzheimer’s disease. Hence the title Before I Forget: he articulates his own fear of getting the disease, his legacy, and the ultimate question about finding love versus being alone. Adam’s Jewish faith can be seen as a source of comfort, but it also helps define his sense of humor. Under Jonathan Libman’s direction, this 90-minute intimate journey reflects on his parents’ seemingly perfect marriage versus his quest for love through AI and open relationships.

To his credit, he’s not offering solutions or quick fixes. By the time most of us reach mid-life, we come to some acceptance that the choices in adulthood are not linear or black and white. Many of us learn and grow through therapy or 12-Step programs. Seemingly in our parents’ day, people stayed together through thick and thin. Negotiating mid-life without a definitive plan is daunting for anyone.

When presenting a one-man show on stage and asking existential questions, it’s a fine line for the artist. Too much “complaining” can come across as self-indulgent whining. The audience is looking for — or waiting for — some sort of resolution or acceptance within the artist. While there are bits and pieces of humor thrown in, unfortunately this artist tends to get bogged down and overwhelmed by his journey. There’s not the usual moment of irony or self-reflection that we expect to see in a one-person journey. I was reminded of the old Woody Allen “woe-is-me” or self-deprecating kind of humor.

Not to get all nit-picky, but I’m a big believer that a person’s outside appearance is a reflection of how they feel about themselves. Adam’s uncombed hair, scruff on his face, and old jeans with an even older shirt is not a flattering look.

While Adam’s journey in Before I Forget is somewhat interesting and relatable, my takeaway from the show was a bit different. I’m sure that writing a one-man show can be therapeutic and doesn’t necessarily have to be a laugh a minute. I just kept wishing that he would either go to therapy or get some friends.

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photo by Tom Doan

Before I Forget
The Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia St
90 minutes, no intermission
Fri at 7:30; Sat at 8
ends on December 13, 2025
for tickets ($25-$35 sliding scale; $50-$100 reserved), visit The Marsh

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