Monkey Barrel 3
Aug 3-6, 8-13, 17-20, 22-27 (21.55)
De Rerum Natura
Award winning comic Adam Rowe is likeable, relatable and very down to earth despite having appeared on various TV shows and being the host of the globally successful Have a Word Podcast.
Cowboy music plays to a sold out crowd before Adam walks onto the stage in a sports shirt. Naturally charismatic, he’s like the friendly bloke in the pub. We immediately feel relaxed and at home with him. In a strong opening to his hour, he tells us he resents having to come to Edinburgh for a month, because there’s hardly ever any locals in and he visits his fans on tour.
He is 31 years old and worried about his health. He is a passionate Liverpool FC fan but not so keen to participate in sports himself. Having hired personal trainers in the past, but never managing to stick with it. The material about exercise gets many laughs of recognition and his impassioned rants evoke raucous belly laughs.
He moves onto material about his relationships. Often misunderstood by his past romantic partners, he admits he is a pisshead and tells us hilarious stories about the time he had a girlfriend who doesn’t drink. I nearly rolled off my chair laughing when he was talking about orgasms. Then his relationship advice had us all in stitches. His raw honesty is wonderful and refreshing. Uniting the crowd in our common humanity with hysterical recollection of some of his worst hangovers and how he recovers.
There are some very vulnerable moments which create a deep connection with his audience. He talks about his upbringing and how his anxiety is getting worse, revealing participation in schadenfreude brings him comfort at times.
Accomplished storytelling keeps us in suspense as he builds up to revealing what it actually is that is wrong with him. Relatable, enjoyable and hilarious. This is a faultless show, directed by one of my favourite comedians Alfie Brown. From a reviewer’s perspective, comedically – there is nothing wrong with Adam Rowe.
Samantha Pressdee
Mumble Comedy 