Comic Mark Swivel brings his 'Dad. Joke.' show to the Central Coast

Dad. Joke. is billed as a rousing, ridiculous how-not-to guide on parenting, politics and pools.

There’s a simple premise for the show.

“I’m writing a speech for my son’s 21st and struggling. The audience helps me. A bit,” Swivel said.

“It’s laughs about parenting, politics and growing up with a father who spent a lot of time chlorinating the pool.”

Audience participation, eh? So should we be nervous about sitting in the front rows?

“No. Unless watching a near dead white male embarrass himself makes you nervous,” Swivel told the Lakes Mail.

“This is essentially a cost effective form of therapy for the performer; and an affordable and amusing alternative to box set TV.”

Reviews have praised Swivel for the substance and heart that underpins the show’s observational humour. At times, they said, the show is even “touching and remarkably poignant”.

But most of all the show is clever, engaging, and funny.

OK. So parenting has changed over the generations. But don’t dads, in particular, have an obligation to perpetuate the failed techniques that their father’s displayed?

“Ancestor worship isn't as big as it could be in Australia,” Swivel agrees.

“I am dedicated to ensuring that the sins of the father - mine in particular - are visited upon as many people as possible. It's not so much an obligation as a lifestyle choice.”

Apart from plenty of laughs, what does Swivel hope audiences will take away from his show?

“They'll get a few songs - one or two in Russian. And if they have a pulse they'll feel the odd pang of emotion as parent or child,” he said.

“But mainly they'll come away looking at slippery dips in an entirely new way. (Cushioned landing areas have much to answer for.) And where oh where are the playground rocket ships of yesteryear? Where do kids learn to pash?”