Striding onto UWA’s Octagon stage like a returning hero to the strains of ‘In the Hall of the Mountain King’, Adam Hills knows he is assured a Spicktacular welcome. The crowd had braved the first night of Perth’s long awaited winter showers, and the Octagon’s intimate and oh-my-god-we’re-so-close-to-the-stage! setup gave the comedian more than enough leeway to comfortably pick out a few choice ‘victims’, ahem, audience members with which to engage his fine wit and quick improve skills.
He had a gift with his first hit, a fan of the show (her T-shirt practically branded her crew) who was sitting next to two empty seats right in the front row. Did she know the two people in those seats? Yes. Why were they running late? A pole dancing class. Hills’ face lit up so much with the possibilities that he had to thank God, and much laughter ensued from the various sly observations he shared with the crowd.
He also found time to rib a couple about how they met (it involves our own Quokka Isle, a debauched party and chest shaving); and to the left of the stage, two wholesome young Christians friends from Mt Pleasant church…awww…so sweet that bunnies were imagined hopping down the stairs towards them.
But soon it was on to the show. Hills was full of beans and bright-eyed with regular sleep, something he says does affect a lot of his regular stand-up gigs as he usually tapes, writes or works on ABC’s Spicks & Specks during the day and then heads off to work his stand-up sessions at night. But the show has finished taping for the season and he warned us to strap in ‘cos he had energy to burn!
The crowd (including regular stalker, Maria) enjoyed a highlighted comedic pop into Hills’ life, from stand-up in Europe (nothing cuts across the language barrier like Bon Jovi apparently); to the humiliation of having told a ‘dad’ joke; and then his own excitement about being a dad himself one day.
A joyous and sweat tricked version of our national anthem set to Barnsies’ ‘Working Class Man’ ended the night with whoops and cheers – whoa-oh-oh-ooo, Advance Australia Fair!
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Yes the Octagon's a great venue to feel up close and personal. I think Adam Hill's is great, but I think Maria must be stalking him. She was at the Spicks Spektacular show early this year or late last year (when you get on in years time goes so fast it's hard to keep track!. She had been to every one in every state and that one made number 14 or something. Crazy! Jaymez. PS: I went to God of Carnage at the Playhouse (Black Swan Theatre Coy). I loved it but would love to have read a review by you.
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