Comedy / Reviews
Review: Tom Stade, Comedy Box
We’re greeted tonight by compere Clint Edwards, who applauds our choice of eschewing a cold fireworks display in favour of a night of comedy. Just as well, he adds, as, after Trump gets in, the world will be one big explosion and this might be our last-ever Saturday night. Edwards is an exemplary compere – he keeps the show moving whilst his unthreatening demeanour gets the best from the crowd.
Next up, Fin Taylor admits that, considering his privileged upbringing he is (in his own words) ‘part of the problem’. His rants take aim at white privilege, vegans and Brexit. It’s brave stuff, tackling some big issues – but the bravery isn’t always rewarded with laughs, and the set misses more often than it hits.
Headliner Tom Stade is promising to try out some new material tonight and forewarns us that some of us may be victims. Stade is not one for the easily offended, but there’s a self-awareness that allows him to get away with more than most. Despite living the UK for a number of years, his laid-back Canadian attitude gives him a nice distance from which to observe us Brits.
He talks about how we buy plane tickets to places we’ve never heard of on planes without First Class – just ‘No Class’. He also has a smart idea for a new Caffe Nero jingle – ‘Caffe Nero, for when other coffee shops aren’t near-o’. This might be work in progress but, when it’s combined into a slick hour of stand-up, I’ll be booking my ticket – providing, of course, this wasn’t our last-ever Saturday night.
Tom Stade played the Comedy Box at the Hen & Chicken on Saturday, November 5. For forthcoming Comedy Box lineups, visit www.thecomedybox.co.uk
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