Jamali Maddix strides on the stage and immediately takes some shots at the easier targets in the front of the audience. It marks an entertaining kick off to a show, which starts and finishes strongly but sinks with an uneven middle section.
an entertaining set from a capable and talented comedian
Through the lens of his own experiences both in everyday life and, more heavily, filming the Vice TV show Hate Thy Neighbour, Maddix goes on a tour of observational material which pulls no punches. From interacting with Nazis, to dating and the struggle white women face, the comic takes aim at targets both large and small.
The material works best when he’s talking about racism and Hate Thy Neighbour which provides some entertaining tales and garners some big laughs. It’s shakier on some of the other material, particularly during the middle section when the comedian’s delivery occasionally stutters and runs out of steam.
Maddix is never far from resurrecting his act though. He’s a charismatic performer, working his audience interactions well as he conjures up imagined outrage and camaraderie while leaning on a few stereotypes with enough irony to keep the crowd well onside.
By the end of the show Maddix is back on the subject of racism and the filming that he did for Vice TV. It’s the biggest and easiest target he’s got, and he hits it squarely with a well-told story. It’s a highlight which marks the end of an entertaining set from a capable and talented comedian.
