Review – Simon Keck: Eating Tiger Dicks

One of my closest friends recommended that I should see Simon Keck’s somewhat disturbing comedy show ‘Eating Tiger Dicks’ this Fringe. I don’t know what it says about me, but they were entirely right.

Keck’s turbulent one-man-show depends on the relationship between the pseudo-inspirational speeches of a fictional American life coach (‘Tug’) and the more relatable story telling of its narrator (‘Keck’), played on stage alternately using the cunning trick of ‘changing the lighting slightly’. While Tug’s character (and the premise of the show) ostensibly focuses on the language and advice of motivational speakers, significant sidebars from Keck as the narrator evidence the comedian’s experience as a more standard observational comic; clever writing allows Keck to navigate a range of topics – personal development, sexuality, blackmail, tiger penises, the upsides of heavy cocaine abuse, the meaning of family – while staying true to the show’s (im)moral centre. Meanwhile, Tug’s tendency to break off into loud, overly rehearsed speeches provides a good counterweight to Keck’s own natural comic sensibility, the performer (as himself) being more clearly at ease when improvising with his audience.

Keck seamlessly self-actuates, successfully synchronising satire, observation, and improvisation to promote workflow and maximise synergy. ‘Eating Tiger Dicks’ is like a sweat lodge for the soul, cleansing its audience through the power of dark, sweaty laughter. Still, it’s probably not one to take the kids to, even if the buttholes have been jazzed up with googly eyes.