REVUE MOCKS IRWINS DEATH...
By Simon Ferguson

November 18, 2006 12:00

THE family of Steve Irwin has appealed for good taste to prevail after two theatrical satires lampooned his death.

The Wharf Revue at Walsh Bay features a stingray pleading for forgiveness for killing Irwin.
And Babes In The Wood, coming to the Opera House early next month, features comedian Eddie Perfect playing Irwin as a ray stabs him through the heart.

``Try doing the thing you love, find what it is and then make a start/And let that stingray of love pierce your heart,'' he sings.

Clad in khaki, Perfect swims around three rays singing ``I wanna die doing the thing I love'' before one of them stabs him.

As he lies ``dying'', Max Gillies appears dressed as Germaine Greer and sings: ``Steve Irwin died because he was insensitive.''

Gillies said Irwin was always going to feature in the show as a prominent Australian ``and unfortunately he died so we had to put that in''.

Melbourne's Malthouse Theatre is behind Babes In The Wood and yesterday, following outrage after the show opened, director Michael Kantor released a statement emphasising that no harm was meant.

``It is rather an attempt, through the mechanisms of humour and song, to celebrate and question Australia's relationship to its iconic characters,'' he said.

Kantor said the only person being ridiculed was Greer.

``We are simply saying that Steve Irwin died doing the thing that he loved,'' he said. ``It's an attack on those pious moralists who poke a finger at us and tell us how stupid we really are.''

In a sideswipe at those who have complained about the song so soon after Irwin's death two months ago, Kantor said: ``I think Australia is dangerously close to being a bit too pious for its own good and not understanding the satire and irony are a vital part of how we communicate culturally.''
Australia Zoo's John Stanton, who speaks for the Irwin family, said he could not comment on the satirical references since neither he nor widow Terri Irwin had seen either of the productions.

``In general though, you would hope people could show good taste on this matter,'' he said.

Babes In The Wood opens at the Sydney Opera House Playhouse on December 7