Ben McKenzie, “the man in the labcoat”, is passionate about science. Really passionate. In a world where much of the real science has given way to pseudo-scientific advertising babble, Ben is here to fight back and show that science is fun and science is sexy. Science is rock and roll.
Standing on the stage as the audience squeezes into the tiny space of the Banner Room, Ben carries all the weight of a professor as he takes down notes before launching into his show. Rising up against all the misrepresentations of science in the media, Ben covers a wide range of topics from the questionable assertions of Sam Niell’s red meat commercials to the failure of governments to provide an environment independent scientific research.
Ben revels in his nerdiness – not just with his love for scientific fact, but also a love for science fiction and all the promises it brings. With the Dr. Who theme song running over the opening to the room modelled after The Doctor’s Tardis, there’s definitely something for the nerd in everyone.
It’s great to see so much enthusiasm for science on stage. Ben invokes all the passion of the ‘rock stars’ of science, from the modern day Mythbusters to the golden age of Science Television with Rob Morrison and Deane Hutton and the late great Julius Sumner Miller. He makes you long for the days of watching things dipped into liquid nitrogen and hard boiled eggs squeezed into flasks.
The passion that Ben brings to his subject makes you want to march out on the street and fight for science. This show may not provide the biggest belly laughs of the festival, but it will certainly leave you wanting more (science that is).
Science-ology is on Tuesday through Sunday at the Trades Hall until April 29th. Further details and bookings through the comedy festival website