Lawrence Mooney’s new show, Dead Set Country (A Work In Progress), sees the acclaimed comedian diving deep into personal territory with a combination of wit, rawness, and dark humor.

While the title may suggest an exploration of rural life or nostalgia for simpler times, Mooney’s latest offering is more about confronting his own identity, values, and experiences in an unapologetically and raucous performance. The show, still in its “work in progress” phase, gives Mooney the freedom to experiment with material and delivery, which adds a fresh edge to the performance.

There’s an almost intimate feeling, as though the audience is witnessing an artist in the throes of crafting something new. As a result, there are moments that are undeniably hilarious but others that lean toward the more reflective—if not a little self-deprecating. It also meanders into the rambling and hence losers the audience at times. Mooney's trademark observational humor is present and potent, but it’s his knack for merging the absurd with the personal makes Dead Set Country unique. He delves into the challenges of middle age, the nuances of family life, and the often crazy situations that come with living in Bowral- “the birthplace of Donald Bradman”.

The way he intertwines his ability to impersonate accents into his stories is a highlight. His take on mowing his 30 acre property and using a whipper snipper ( done in a German accent) is hilarious. The pacing is, at times, disconcerting. Mooney tends to go off on tangents with drawn-out stories that end with not much of a punch-line. There are moments where he directly engages with the audience, offering a sense of spontaneity- this comes with a warning, don’t sit in the front rows.

Overall, Dead Set Country doesn’t quite deliver the laugh out loud shows previous in his long and illustrious career. As a work in progress, it offers a glimpse into the comedian's evolving material and growth, and by the time it’s fully realized, it’s likely to be even sharper, funnier, and more resonant.