ADAM HILLS: Shoes Half Full

5 stars ~

Assembly Rooms (Music Hall), Edinburgh Fringe ~

Adam Hills has earned his stripes on the Fringe for over 20 years, being nominated for the Perrier(now Edinburgh Comedy Awards) with Go You Big Red Fire Engine and Happy Feet.  After four years away he is still a lighthearted yet consummate comedy entertainer enjoying himself onstage and making everyone so happy, having after years storming the comedy circuit found a wider fanbase by becoming host of Channel 4's award winning Last Leg multi-series.  So whichever way your looks at it, naturally his shows, in the biggest space in Edinburgh that feels like an almos tintimate comedy room, have been selling out.

Adam is hugely liked off stage and on, where he always discovers audience members who delightedly are included briefly in his show.  In one of his nominated shows in a cellar in Blair Street, he had the place in uproar when four young and excited volunteers from the audience formed an ‘air band’ on the cramped stage.  He is always inventive, and this year we not only had happy volunteers, but also were saying No to Mariachi.

He is unfailingly warm and endearing, with everything in his admittedly middle of the road show so well thought through that it is really easy for absolutely everyone to be drawn in and enjoy – and as always he happily puts himself on the line.  He has irrepressible energy, and on the basis of this show alone everyone in the room would have adored to have had him as their uncle.

But back to the show itself, which it might be a surprise after the previous paragraphs to learn includes disability (he plays for the Disability Rugby League in Warrington), politics (“if there was less shouting over the last few weeks, the UK would be good”), religion, the Australian accent, trans (with advice he was given that “you don’t have to get it to respect it”), and child related inappropriateness.  And oh yes, he made comedy gold of all that which is mind-blowing, and the delighted audience laughed and laughed.

Go see him if there are still tickets, but if not make sure not to miss him next year or when he’s touring near you – and take everyone from teenagers to great grandparents.

Reviewed by RoxyReviews for One4Review on 5 Aug 2024