Tonight at the Melba Spiegeltent, the 100-year-old mirrored circus space is decorated with tropical plants in an atmospheric and Jurassic theme as comedian Darren Lever takes to the stage with his fascinating performance.
The concept is simple. Man Vs Wildlifev2.0 cleverly uses stand-up and storytelling to teach us about wildlife and nature conservation. The first part of Lever’s show retells his attempt to become the next Steve Irwin, with funny snippets into his alter ego that channels John Farnham. Anticipate musical excerpts, some slapstick puns and a good few hearty laughs when he compares the handling of children to that of animals.
By the end of the show, the fully grown audience have regressed into their younger classroom selves, evoking shrieks of excitement and fear as a series of live scaly animals are passed around in a show & tell sort of format. If you’re interested (or daring enough) to hold Olive the python or aptly named saltwater crocodile Bitey McBiteface, then this show is for you.
To focus on the comedy, Lever is a likeable performer and carries the show with a hint of satire and nerdiness that is lighthearted and refreshing. His comedy is OK and his cheeky stand-up style is for the most part well reciprocated, as is his down to earth chattiness.
However where Lever truly shines is through his absolute passion for animal conservation. His heartfelt dedication clearly transpires through his animated, exciting stage presence and his vast and impressive knowledge of animals.
With donations from each ticket going toward the Tasmanian Devil breeding program, it is clear that the performance promotes a deeper message through images of deforestation and endangered animals. However, the awareness that Lever is trying to teach here risks being diminished amongst the humorous element of this show. By fine tuning the stand-up jokes and removing some of the cheesiness, it is possible that a better balance could be struck between entertainment and the more serious message.
Overall Man Vs Wildlife has the potential to make an impact on our world. The clever combination of education and comedy, alongside Lever’s charm and empowering messages, are delivered with good conviction. Though this might not fit into any typical category of comedy, you will certainly learn something about wildlife and that in itself is enough to warrant a viewing of this show.
By Tamara Davison.
