The Man makes a special brief appearance to talk about the wonders of the insect world tomorrow night at the launch of 21 Dead Bugs as a Gift, a new cross-platform art project from Omnific Assembly featuring an album of music, a zine and an exhibition of artistic responses to the title. The Artery, 87-89 Moor Street, Fitzroy, July 11, from 6pm. The exhibition is open from July 11 to 23.
Author: Ben
The Man enters the Impro Rumble
This Sunday the 25th of June, Melbourne impro group The Crew celebrate their fifth birthday in style with a WWF-style Impro Rumble! (Though unlike the WWF, this show is unscripted.) See some of Melbourne’s best comic actors and comedians, including yours truly, challenge each other in impro combat – and in the end, there can be only one. At the Comic’s Lounge, Errol Street North Melbourne. Entry $10.
New show in the works…
It’s time for new material, and this time the Man is getting a little rock. Watch out for in this year’s Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Evolutionary review!
scored a very favourable review in the April issue of the AEU Journal SA (Vol. 38, No. 2):
Evolutionary: The Man in the Lab Coat Evolved
Ben McKenzie
The erudite science communicator serving up their subject with passion and humour has a long and honourable lineage both in and out of the classroom, and Ben McKenzie, aka the Man in the Lab Coat, does not let the side down.
In his Adelaide Fringe show ‘Evolutionary’ downstairs in the Lizard Lounge on Hindley Street, this “amateur scientician” led us through the story of life on Earth, cramming billions of years, into an hour or so.
For him, it is the ultimate ‘Survivor’, where the winning contestants’ kids get to come back for the next episode. He also takes us on excursions into the life of Charles Darwin and the follies of the Creationists in their many mutations.
With a minimum of props – the blackboard, lectern, Cheezels and lab coat – and a warm and spirited delivery, Ben entertained and educated without dumbing down a fascinating and complex subject. And as a bonus, we had a few laughs, and a few humbling insights, on the journey.
Bookmark his web site https://benmckenzie.com.au, and catch his next show if you get a chance. Maybe bring your class along.
Jonathan Goodfield
Finishing Line
Well, the Adelaide run is over, and while I didn’t get as many bums on seats as I might have hoped, you bums who did turn up seem to have (mostly) loved the show. Check out the reviews on TalkFringe – you guys put me in the top 50 shows on the site!
Thanks to everyone who made it along. I can confirm there are more shows in the works, though I’ll be sitting out the Comedy Festival – these things are expensive to get into!
And please remember, if you have any questions, queries, suggestions or even erudite criticisms for the Man in the Lab Coat, please please send them along to ben@benmckenzie.com.au. My ears and eyes are always open.