Tired of the exhausting work of writing shows, Adam Hills has resolved to be rid of routine and base a show entirely around chatting to the audience. At least, this is what he claims. The truth is that, while being an audience based show, the banter is interspersed with more traditional comic anecdotes.
Hills is utterly professional in his execution. It is difficult to decipher how many of his stories are pre-planned and if they came at carefully chosen moments to propel the routine. The publicity states that he has ‘no idea’ where it might go, but either way portrays him in a good light. Faking it would show him to be a superb actor, while complete improvisation would showcase his lightning fast wit. Although it seems more likely that the latter is the truth.
Despite audience roasting having the possibility to be cheap and cruel, Hills’ manner is so disarming and his personality so likeable that nobody ever seemed to be distinctly offended, nor did he ever seem to encourage malice or schadenfreude. Nor even was the interaction limited to chatting: Hills’ mind works in such a way that he can pluck a vast range of scenarios out of nowhere suitable to people who he has only just met. From 15 year olds sitting on Santa’s knee, to blondes with electric fans, the show bounces along vivaciously without ever becoming tiresome.
Making a prominent feature in the performance is Twitter. Acting as a parallel to the audience present, photos and tweets posted by Hills live during the show act as a third comic entity, with the inhabitants of the internet encouraged to comment on the events of the show. As is always the case with the internet, these comments are rather hit-and-miss, but do absolutely nothing to detract from Hill’s all-round magnificent performance.
