Review: Dan Rath: Pariah Carey

Dan Rath opens the window to his own unique world in a self-deprecating show about life on the sidelines. Pariah Carey is an expression of both cynicism and a desire to connect by a truly original performer.

Reeling off diagnoses and offbeat observations from the get-go, Rath is immediately one step ahead of the audience. Or, as the show’s title suggests, at least not on the same page. Exceptionally self-aware, he’s built a comedy career out of talking about his experiences from a neurodivergent perspective, with several physical and mental health issues adding to his daily struggles.

The show is a relentless stream of jokes; some of them dark, all of them original. By the time the audience is catching up on one topic, Rath has already moved on to the next. He does a bit of crowd work, trying to find connections between members of the audience, and the show needs it.

By his own admission, Rath is not great at telling stories, and he often trails off, over explains or loses confidence. But while it might not be his strongest night, he’s proper funny. The show is intense and won’t make sense to everyone, but Rath’s autistic lens is his biggest strength and he wins the audience over just by being himself.