Cum, jizz, spoof, baby batter… if any of these terms offend you, Spunk Daddy is not the show for you. Don’t get me wrong, it is not a show that is out to offend. On the contrary, this is a cabaret show about one man’s journey into becoming a sperm donor. It just doesn’t hold back.
If you are like me and heard about this show through a poster or the short description online, then you would probably find yourself wondering, “Is this just a crass show about what medically is known as semen?”.
My fears about what Spunk Daddy would be about were certainly not alleviated when I walked into the upstairs theatre at The Butterfly Club. As I walked between the pews, I found myself staring directly at performer Darby James dressed in nautical clothing and looking like he was on a deserted island. Then it hit me. He was a seaman… semen… got it.
Again, this had me thinking that Spunk Daddy was going to be a pretty crass show that would contain more cum jokes than an American Pie film. But then something kind of magical happened.
As soon as James kick-started Spunk Daddy, the first couple of original songs asked some pretty in-depth questions. “What does semen mean to a cis gay male? After all, isn’t it just for reproduction?”. And then as his journey began after seeing an ad for sperm donation, we found ourselves being confronted with questions such as “Why would somebody be a sperm donor? What is it like going through the process of donating? What happens after you have donated?”.
To be honest, the tone of the show went away from anything and everything that I had expected it would be. As James performed, I found myself on a journey of self-discovery myself, one moment I was even singing along to the catchy tunes that we were invited to join in on. The next moment, I was exploring my inner-self for answers to questions like, “What does it mean to be a father?”.
As someone that will never be a father, I will admit that at times watching Spunk Daddy was a confronting experience. Yet, at no time did I ever feel the urge to get up and walk out. What was holding me there was the feeling that if James was brave enough to put all his fears and anxieties out in the open on stage, then I should be strong to sit there and deal with my own.
Shows this personal are rare. While many performers say they are writing from the heart, many skip over things that James explores here. I doubt that many who would be brave enough to share that they too have sat in the donor room feeling completely vulnerable after they had ejaculated their first sample. Not only does James talk about this, but he also wrote a brilliant song about it.
The stories of Spunk Daddy are personal but James has an ability to make the audience feel like he is speaking (or singing) to each member individually. There were times during Spunk Daddy when it felt like I was having a deep and meaningful conversation with a close friend rather than sitting in a theatre watching an artist perform. Everything felt sincere and personal. By the time that James read out the letter that he written to any future children born from his donations, I had tears pouring down my cheeks.
Spunk Daddy is without a doubt a smart and captivating production. Every original track is witty, catchy, and deeply emotional. Add that to the fact that James is such a talented and dynamic performer, and the mix is the right recipe for a moving experience that is not going to be forgotten by anyone who watches it.
I laughed, I cried, I sang, but above all, I learnt something from Spunk Daddy. This is courageous ‘heart-on-your-sleeve’ cabaret production is completely open about what it means to be a sperm donor. Spunk Daddy is so thoughtful and honest, that it needs to be a must-see not only for those looking to become a donor but for anyone thinking about becoming a father themselves.
Spunk Daddy is now playing at The Butterfly Club until October 22nd. Please note that ticket allocations from Melbourne Fringe are completely exhausted, so please check with The Butterfly Club directly for ticket opportunities.
For more information and ticketing, visit:
https://thebutterflyclub.com/show/spunk-daddy
https://melbournefringe.com.au/event/spunk-daddy
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Photography by Liv Morison.