I’ll be honest with you. This show didn’t work. It’s a long way from being ready and I think its creator David Quirk would be the first to admit that. The vibe coming from the audience on the night was often cold, icy at times, but then I don’t think that’s something you can blame entirely on David.
The show kicks off with a soundtrack of dogs howling and a malfunctioning smoke machine. As David talks to his tech and sorts out the stage the audience is left wondering how much of this is part of the performance. It’s kind of appropriate as an introduction to this show, however, as it is that kind of put-together-as-it-goes-along kind of show.
This show is at its best when it involves David responding to weird notions that occur to him and attempting to extrapolate them out to their logical or illogical conclusions. There are one or two comedians running around town who think they are Stewart Lee, and they are really not. David Quirk, however, when at his best, has shades of the great Mr Lee without even trying.
David says at one point that he doesn’t do comedy about the news or recent events, but then goes on to do exactly that. It’s hard to accept a soul like David’s dealing with the domain of “ordinary” comedians. At this stage the “current events comedian” is not a good fit for him, although his spitting indignation at the press’ use of the word ‘pack’ is the exception.
As I said, this show didn’t really work, but it is a work in progress, and by David’s own admission the night I went was his worst of the run. The thing about it is though, I still walked away with a feeling of satisfaction. The good stuff in this show was infrequent, but David is an extradornary comedian and when it works it’s hugely rewarding.
For more info and booking details go to the Melbourne Fringe Festival website