Tom Adams? John Smith? Fred Bloggs? All sound like your Average Joe, right? Wrong! He may well have a common name, but Tom Adams’ talent is most definitely unique, and shame on all those who have never heard of him...although I do have to confess that, were it not for a chance witnessing of his 5 minute slot at Up the Creek one Sunday, then neither would I. That’s the trouble; not enough people know about this man! And thus, that day, I and just 10 other people were the only ones to witness his initiation into the ‘Five Pound Fringe’ (previously Adams was part of the ‘Free Fringe’).
In a funny sort of way, my accidental discovery of him and his very anonymity sum him up perfectly; he is both unassuming (in character and as himself), and understated. But by no means should this suggest that he is boring. True, you won’t catch him making diva demands or blowing his own trumpet (a guitar is more his thing), but then again, he doesn’t need to. Quite simply he is a true gentleman whose comedy speaks, or rather sings, for itself.
Greeting the audience personally at the door (something you can’t help but feel he’d do even with an audience of significantly more), he is in character from the word go, hesitantly ushering the audience to the semi circle of chairs surrounding his lone bar stool. With his clean cut look of slick-wet hair, a crisp white shirt and black tie, and some rather sexy specs, you can’t help but notice something of the Clark Kent about him (fitting therefore that in previous years his repertoire has included the song ‘Superman’!). But don’t be deceived, for Adams is oh so much more than the image he has created for himself and it’s when he picks up his guitar that the real magic begins...
For his ability to weave tales into lilting melodies, Adams is unsurpassed. They might not seem like obvious comedic targets but highlights most definitely include accounts of a sausage stealing ‘Meat Thief’, a case of mistaken identity in ‘Stefan’ and a fight of the protagonists in his hilarious Bourne versus Bond parody. For what his songs lack in terms of Maine-esque shock factor (see day 3 review), they more than make up for with their sheer intelligence, quick-wit and the care that has gone into them; his songs are not throwaway musings, but something to be treasured. Not only that but his range of accents, characterisation, and different styles of music all made his gig one of the best value for money shows at the Fringe. Indeed the audience even gets their own songbook to take away! And as an extra bonus to that already added bonus, Adams also indulges in some duck puppet-based physical comedy in a sketch whose very repetition should have rendered the whole thing rather wearying but instead, with Adams’ dead-pan face, had me crying with laughter.
...now if only if those 10 audience members that day told another 10 people about Tom Adams, and so on and so forth, he’d soon get the recognition his Fringe performance so clearly shows he deserves. Tom Adams can’t come, but you should definitely go.
Comedy Hen
