Tom Neenan @ Underbelly Med Quad

Everyone has a David Attenborough impression. The short stops between words, a breathy rasp and genuinely marveling at whatever it is that you happen to be describing. Tom Neenan’s new show, in which he plays the famed naturalist and documentarian, begins with a slight Attenborough inflection before casting off the slow drawl in favour of his own voice as he embodies Sir David via his infectious enthusiasm for the natural world and for the animals that inhabit it. An impersonation that’s more inspiration than imitation, and which allows Neenan/Attenborough to be a little loose with the facts as he goes in search of Bigfoot.

The premise sounds as if it’s been done before, or as if it was spurted out by a random Edinburgh Fringe generator somewhere in the depths of an old Buzzfeed article. But, Neenan’s infectious ebullience and slideshow, full of great sight gags and excellent turns of phrase, keep the expedition trundling along. The heavy reliance on the projector means the flow is a little disjointed at times which stifles momentum. And Attenborough’s inherant pleasantness means it’s difficult for Neenan to mine his cautious British manner for big laughs, but this is still a documentary well worth seeking out.