Damian Callinan has Spaznuts
One of the joys of this year’s festival has been the number of shows that have moved beyond simple joke-telling and into something much more intimate and honest. Damian Callinan’s new show is a prime example of how to make a show poignant and yet laugh at loud funny at the same time.
Greeted in the line by Damian in a nurse costume to ask for a little help from the audience, we were quickly moved inside for the main section of the show. Structured as a group session for men dealing with impotence, we get to see Damian showing of his skills as a character comic. From the anti-fertile ex-priest facilitator to the massively endowed and emotionally unstable Brian his character work was fantastic. The casual interplay of characters and Damian’s dedication to staying within the scene made everything instantly believable and gave all of the characters a great depth despite the fact that they only get a few minutes of stage time each.
After this setup, the show proper begins as Damian takes to the stage as himself in the context of the group. Through a series of flashbacks we explore some of the most emotional moments of Damian’s life. From his visits to the fertility clinic (including hilariously inappropriate marital aids) to the breakdown of his marriage it feels like we should be crying in sympathy with these vulnerable and emotional tales, but Damian’s style and natural ability as a storyteller leaves the audience with no option but to laugh and laugh hard.
The flashbacks are filled with more great characters, from the hilarious and true to life portrayal of his mentally challenged cousin to an Indian proctologist and terrifying district nurses. There’s so many great comic moments that Damian has extracted from his life, and each of them feels familiar in their own special way.
Towards the end of the show, Damian moves into the most personal of material – dealing with the pain of never being able to father a child. Coupling this with his experiences as a cottage parent taking care of troubled children, there are still laughs to be had here, but the ability to see a performer expose their life so completely is a truly touching experience.
This show is moving, extremely funny and uniquely brilliant. While at times the show might be shocking, the fact that this is real and personal prevents it from being inappropriate at any stage. It’s something that I’d be comfortable seeing with anybody from teenagers to grandmothers. This is a truly special show, and one that I can’t praise highly enough.
For booking details see Damian Callinan has Spaznuts. You will not be disappointed.