What The Critics Are Saying

“For such a simple storyline, this show is actually quite complex. In a whirlwind performance, McDonald plays an assortment of characters who have had some sort of contact with the enigmatic android. Though this show is hilariously funny and hugely imaginative, Russell's underlying turmoil makes it very real. It's one of those deftly crafted pieces of comedy that ends up making you cry at the end. And you will.”
A+ Uptown Magazine, Winnipeg

“Yes, the robot’s invisible. But what’s plain to see is that writer/performer Jayson McDonald is a remarkable talent, and delivers one of the finest shows of the festival.
He’s a skilled comic actor and natural storyteller.”
***** (5 Stars) CBC Manitoba

A boy and his robot create mayhem and magic in this one-man comedy by London, Ont. writer-performer Jayson McDonald.   Assembled from spare parts, its series of linked sketches showcase McDonald's versatility as he transforms himself into half a dozen characters. By turns sweet, funny and visceral--GIR turns downright moving when the robot weighs in on loneliness, revealing the 50-minute show's giant invisible heart.
**** (4 Stars) Winnipeg Free Press

“A deeply affecting one-man show from London, Ont.'s Jayson McDonald…a manic chameleon capable of making us howl with laughter one second, and well up with tears the next. And McDonald ends things on such a wistful note, even the most hardened cynics will recall the escapist fantasies of their youth. Believe the hype: This is one invisible robot that deserves to be seen.”
***** (5 Stars) Winnipeg Sun

“If solo plays must be performed (and apparently they must), then thank God for shows like Giant Invisible Robot… I won't give away the brilliant ending, but I found the emotional heart of McDonald's entirely imaginary story more moving than the real tales I'd heard elsewhere…If you were ever the sort of kid who tied a towel around your neck and pretended you were a superhero, then you’ll immeditely get Jayson McDonald’s superb solo show.  Avoiding the self-indulgence of most autobiographical solo work, this gifted Canadian writer/performer instead creates a B-movie epic…just when you’ve completely given in to the giggling silliness, McDonald throws an emotional sucker-punch that lands like an earthquake, and suddenly his comic-book world gets very dark indeed.”
Seattle Weekly

“With chameleon-like virtuosity, McDonald shifts from one character to another… McDonald has honed and polished his script, and it shows. The writing is taut and very funny, but McDonald aspires to more than just belly-laughs….there's an original, intelligent mind at work here. The sharply observed dialogue and skilled comic acting are a potent combination. The audience loved this one, and I suspect you will, too.”
**** (4 Stars) Victoria Times-Colonist

“Equipped with only a handful of simple props and an inspiring supply of boyish energy, McDonald keeps the audience on the edge of it’s seat as he reveals the amazing and terrible secrets of the Giant Invisible Robot.”
***** (5 Stars) Monday Magazine, Victoria

“Jayson McDonald is a one-man whirling dervish of incomparable characters and smashing acting. To not be awed by this guy would simply not compute. In addition to juggling several distinctive characters, McDonald activates the entire show with sound effects that bring everything alive. So much imagery is created you feel as if you just watched a movie, not a guy on stage with no more than a chair and the occasional hat.
…the play is rife with witty writing, quirky characters and a gleaming performance.”
****1/2 (4.5 Stars)  Saskatoon Star-Phoenix

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What they said