“A stunning and original one-man show…This is one to experience. It is a dramatic, yet humorous and touching account that traces the life of a compulsive gambler...This is an intriguing story about a man who chooses to live by his own rules. Gary McNair's solo performance is absolutely superb…The creative team has done a great job of bringing the show to the New York stage…‘A Gambler's Guide to Dying’ is an ideal production for its intimate performance space.”
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"It's certainly a story one hasn't heard before, but for some reason, it doesn't really catch fire. McNair's text focuses on the boy and his grandfather, yet doesn't succeed in bringing their world to life. I never quite believed the boy's attachment to his eccentric relative, who didn't seem to deserve it. As a result, the piece is more of a curio than an engaging coming-of-age story set against the background of a beloved relative's almost excessively long good-bye."
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“‘To some he was dad, to some he was mate,’ says McNair at the top of his monologue. ‘To others he was liar, cheat, addict, hero, storyteller.’ Over the course of the next 70 minutes, McNair will also do, with modest effects and a modicum of success, other voices including his much younger self, a schoolteacher, mates of Archie's, and even his own mother. Through it all, the one thing we never lose sight—or sound—of, is his love for his grandfather.”
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"McNair has real stage presence. Endowed with a sturdy physique and a well-modulated voice that is colored with a burr, he effortlessly holds his own as he seamlessly shifts from one character to another. What's more, he has written a fluid monologue that is a mix of prose and poetry interspersed with Scottish folklore and popular culture...The street language of the Gorbals works to advantage here and keeps the riff from becoming a sugar-coated eulogy."
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"We instantly feel the desire for writer and performer Gary McNair to let us into his grandfather’s life and backyard...McNair keeps the story simple and funny, filled with sentimentality and touching portraits...He’s an excellent storyteller, just like his grandfather. It’s a bit light on the bigger meanings of the world, but the idea of what is the ‘best bet’ is a solid emotionally centered idea...It’s very personal and deeply moving for McNair and for us."
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"Electrifying and emotionally charged...A remarkable solo show by Gary McNair, a young master storyteller who not only has a keen grasp on rhetorical devices but also knows how to employ those devices in a solo performance...Under the judicious direction of Gareth Nicholls, McNair commands every inch of the set with an authentic and believable performance...These well-developed characters have conflicts that drive an engaging plot that captures life’s comedic and tragic experiences."
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“There are a few self-conscious moments when the monologue falters, especially when McNair's tale reaches too hard for higher meanings couched in inspirational language. On the other hand, you'll probably recognize the way we all burnish in memory even the more tarnished parts of a beloved late one's existence. If you're looking for a Scottish-accented, well-written, and feelingly performed solo play, 'A Gambler's Guide to Dying' is a pretty sure thing.”
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"This is the kind of small, bittersweet story that O. Henry might’ve written with more economy and effect. As a play lasting over an hour, it needs to be more lively...McNair plays all the roles with only a squeaky voice to differentiate. Not that it matters. He’s focused and sympathetic, but the piece is extremely slight. Director Gareth Nicholls manages to move his sole actor with variety and casual purpose. Pacing is fine."
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