In Shaking Hands with Danger, Melbourne comedian David Quirk acts as a hilarious tour guide through some of life’s sadder suburbs. The jokes may be wry, but the huge grins in the audience are not.
Using his own experiences, Quirk discusses love and infidelity as they happen in everyday life. This is not a Shakespearean tragedy, nor a glib account of sexual conquests. Instead, honest observation and assessment are the order of the day.
Luckily, Quirk’s observations and assessments are also very funny. With a talent for finding the comical in familiar things, he talks about rock fandom, health posters, and those moments when we all occasionally let ourselves down.
The show is well planned and put together, a ‘let me tell you this story’ comedy, more in the style of Daniel Kitson than Jimmy Carr. As such, it is able to sustain moments of genuine reflection as well as the frequent cutting jokes.
Quirk turns his focus on himself as much as any other target, covering everything from his own foibles to the amusing thought he’s had in mid-argument. With witty, intelligent comments, Quirk is able to relate to his audience without having to pander to a lowest common denominator.
An hour of very good comedy about the stupid choices that change our lives.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Shaking Hands with Danger
Written & performed by David Quirk
Presented by Laughing Stock Productions
The Rhino Room, Adelaide
5 – 16 March
Adelaide Fringe
www.adelaidefringe.com.au
15 February – 17 March
