Jonny Pasvolsky bottles sunshine on stage

There’s something instantly recognisable about Jonny Pasvolsky, even if you can’t quite place where you’ve seen him. It might be on McLeod’s Daughters, which earned him a Logie nomination, or perhaps alongside Johnny Depp in Mortdecai.

Now, the South African-born, Melbourne-trained actor is stepping into a different spotlight, alone on stage, with his new one-man comedy, The CAN Principle.

Part satire, part personal story, the show introduces audiences to Mervin Gimplik, a self-proclaimed guru peddling a life-changing philosophy – quite literally, sunshine in a can. It’s an absurd premise, but that’s the point. Pasvolsky skewers the booming self-help industry, taking aim at life coaches, miracle cures and the kind of “experts” who promise reinvention in six easy steps. Usually for a fee.

The idea stems from a simple childhood memory. Pasvolsky recalled racking open a souvenir tin labelled “Genuine Australian Sunshine” and finding nothing inside. From there, Pasvolsky builds a sharp and often hilarious commentary on belief, delusion and the stories we tell ourselves to get by.

According to an ArtsHub review, the show is a “hilarious take on hope and can-do hucksters”, blending absurdity with something more grounded. Beneath the comedy lies a thread of autobiography. Pasvolsky’s own experience migrating to Australia and navigating the awkward, sometimes funny realities of fitting in.