[THEATRE REVIEW] SPUNK DADDY @ The Butterfly Club Review (2023)
Cum, jizz, spoof, baby batter… if any of those terms have offended you than certainly don’t read on because it means Daddy Spunk is certainly 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 thinking ‘is this just a crass show about what medically is known as semen?’
My fears about what Spunk Daddy was 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. It took me a moment but then it hit me… he was a seaman…semen…got it.
Again, that had me thinking that this 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 started the show the first couple of original songs started to ask 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 as an audience we were finding ourselves being confronted with questions like 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 that I have ever expected it would be. As James acted out his journey I found myself on a journey of self-discovery myself as one moment I was singing along to the catchy tunes that we were invited to join in on and the next moment I was exploring my inner-self for answers to questions like – what does it mean to be a father?
As somebody that will never be a father themselves 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 the 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 don’t many who would be brave enough to say that they sat in the donor room feeling completely vulnerable after they had ejaculated their first sample. Not only did James talk about it – he wrote a brilliant song about it.
Not only are the stories at hand here 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 D&M with a close friend rather than sitting in a theatre watching a stranger perform. By the time he read out the letter that he wrote to any future children born from his donations I certainly had tears pouring down my cheeks.
While it may not always be easy to sit through Spunk Daddy is a captivating production. Every original track is witty, catchy and deeply emotional. Add that to the fact that James is such a dynamic performer and the mix is the right recipe for a moving experience that is not going to be soon forgotten by anyone that watches it.
I laughed! I cried! I sang! But above all I learnt something from Spunk Daddy. This is a heart-on-your-sleeve production is completely open about what it means to be a sperm donor. This production is so 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 on at The Butterfly Club from 16-22nd October. Please note that tickets from Fringe are completely exhausted so please check with The Butterfly Club directly for ticket opportunities.