Gig review by Steve Bennett at the Objectively Funny Festival

Toxic masculinity is at the heart of David McIver’s show. This we know as he or his characters expressly say so a number of times, even though the audience surely don’t require the message to be so unsubtly spelt out.

The most straightforward manifestation of damaging machismo Taz, an out-and-out alpha male bragging about his penis size – a  bit of an uncharacteristically cheap joke, that – sharing all his tips on what it takes to be a ladies’ man.

Then there’s the cool dad, with his backwards baseball cap, skateboard under his arm, and way-too-young girlfriend. His pathetic sense of arrested development makes him a clear figure of fun, but there’s more depth than simple caricature in his selfish shirking of responsibility. The segment goes on a little too long, a common complaint across the hour, but serves up a good dose of gags.

McIver often brings a sense of silliness to his alter-egos, which is set out from the very start when he dresses as a pinãta, establishing the very loosely adhered-to framing device that this is an 18th birthday party, a transition from boy to man. There are a couple of absurd non-sequiturs en route too.

A favourite character is his drill sergeant. Or, in fact, a supply drill sergeant, since the usual guy is indisposed. It’s a good vehicle to contrast the supreme confidence required of the Army role with the creation’s inner insecurities and need for affirmations: a disconnect between how he acts and how he feels that’s a classic basis for comedy.

Throughout the hour, McIver teases the closing act - a shy guy doing stand-up. It’s surely no spoiler to reveal this is based on McIver himself, delivering a well-honed routine around his social awkwardness. But what if he could overcome his reservations right before our eyes, wouldn’t that make for a satisfying conclusion for the hour? Yes it does, as he ‘mans up’, but without losing his sensitive essence.

When it comes to parodying the alpha male, Adam Riches has done this before, nailing the swaggering facade that McIver can only imitate. McIver is not the best actor around, but his personality is engaging, as good-natured as the title suggests, even if his underlying unconfidence does nothing to erode the audience’s innate wariness towards any sort of participation.

Overall, this is a promising debut, but McIver needs a little more of a different kind of confidence: the confidence that his message will be understood without so much signposting.

Review date: 24 Sep 2018
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: The Albany