[Disclosure: Travis Sheridan has eaten tacos with me and been to my house. I suppose you could call us friends. I promise I'm being fair.]

Maybe "Bipolarity of Life" isn't the best name for Travis Sheridan's one-man Rogue show. After all, he tells us upfront that he's not bipolar.

The show looks at what he's determined to be the three Ps of his life -- prejudice, poverty and puberty. And it's told in a way that is part stand-up comedy, part therapy session, part magic. Furthermore, the show is a big emotional journey. And what it might evoke in the audience is not limited to two things.

As Sheridan talks about being a half-black, half-white kid growing up poor and without a dad in Madera -- depending on your background and the moment -- he could make you laugh. But he could also piss you off. He might leave you choked up. And he'll inevitably make you reflect. In no uncertain terms, the show is a button pusher.

I'm not exactly sure how much performing in front of an audience Sheridan has done, but he's obviously comfortable being a public speaker. He doesn't have the polished stage presence and impeccable timing of Rogue stars such as Barry Smith and Ryan Paulson -- who have similar this-is-my-life shows. But as long as you know he's a Rogue newbie, Sheridan's charisma is enough to keep you interested for 45 minutes.

The show is split into two parts -- one of which is supposed to be gut-wrenching, the other funny. A "dramedy," he calls it. The biggest criticism I came away with from Wednesday's opening performance was that the show didn't seem balanced. The first half was much longer than the second half, which, in turn, felt incredibly rushed.

He has two more performances to brush away those opening night hiccups and polish the show up a bit. And when he does, "Bipolarity of Life" will show itself to be a brave, soul-bearing show that's worth the $4 ticket.

Playing: 8:45 p.m. Friday and 6:15 p.m. Saturday at Veni Vidi Vici, 1116 N. Fulton St. Cost: $4. Rating: PG-13.