KIDNEY KINGDOM

The best part about ‘Kidney Kingdom’- indeed, anything involving our dear friend Luis and his nice family- is the dedication to character. Were I to meet our comedy host in the street one day, I would be taken aback if he did not burst into cat-song, or give me some useful news.

It’s like a kiddy play, this ‘Kidney Kingdom’ show. I mean that in the best possible way, too; Luis, father Len and brother Luelin are armed with colourfully painted, home-made sets, a lovely little story and, best of all, their own repertoire of simple, endlessly pleasing songs. It’s one of only two shows I’ve seen this comedy festival (the other being ‘Shane Matheson and his Fabulous Singing Bucket of Gravel’) that relies more on subtle comic cues (awkward looks, a beat too long on a delivery) and playful absurdity rather than ‘edgy material’ for the sake of harshness, or deeply cringe-worthy life-’n'-learnin’ stories. If you, like me, are a bit sick of all that, and just want a sweet, endlessly amusing romp in a sea of cardboard fish and Dad jokes, then you’ll adore it all.

The premise goes that Luis needs to head to the faraway land of Kidney Kingdom to get his dad a new kidney. That’s all you will need to know, for you will be lost, after that, in a whirl of adorably self-concious musical joints and Luis’ unending, cheeky positivity (and love for cats, I can definitely get on board with that.)

You can get a vibe for Luis and his charming desire to make all you suckers out there laugh on his YouTube channel if you don’t believe me that he and his fam are the bee’s knees, but you will have only one more chance to catch them live. A very short run, ‘Kidney Kingdom’ will play its last show tonight (Sunday April 15.) I mean, I’m a pretty curmudgeonly old biddy, and I was laughing my damn face off. Take up this last chance to see Luis, Len and Luelin in their magical journey.

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2012/season/shows/luis-presents-kidney-kingdom-lessons-with-luis/

Words: Lisa Dib