@ King’s Theatre, Glasgow, until Mon 21 Mar 2016
Billed as one of the top names at this year’s Glasgow International Comedy Festival, Aussie comedian Adam Hills does not disappoint. Hills’ tales of having the last laugh before death, and his many appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe (met with a “boo” by the Glasgow audience) is a mere starting point for a memorable and heart-warming comedy gig.
Donning a sporran made of a rugby ball and an Aussie Rules football, The Last Leg star enters the stage downing a can of Irn-Bru. Despite the stereotypes, a strong relationship is formed between the audience and Hills. He begins by discussing his previous experiences in Scotland, and of course, the fact he only has one leg. The latter point is hilariously met with a chant of “no s***’’ by the Glasgow crowd. Reaching for his phone, Hills begins addressing tweets from audience members who have travelled far and wide to see him, as well as addressing heckles through the social media site. Some of the night’s most hilarious moments do not come from Adam, but from the adoring audience. He chats to members of the audience on the front row which leads to one elderly gentleman receiving the biggest applause of the night by admitting that one’s sex life doesn’t disappear after 70. His wife gains further applause when she goes up to speak to Hills on stage and reveals her husband’s occupation.
Hills explains at the end of his show why the tour is called Clown Heart. He had been having a conversation with his three year-old daughter about death, and they both agreed to have as much fun as possible in life. The story is laced with the moving tale of Hills’ father’s demise, and the running jokes which bound the pair throughout their lives.
To conclude the almost two and half hour laughter marathon, a video is shown of Adam Hills and Craig Coombes. Coombes was told in 2013 that he had thirteen months to live, and was using Naked Tuesdays (speaks for itself) as a way of laughing in the face of cancer. The video shows the pair in a naked photo-shoot, recreating famous scenes as a way of having the last laugh. Almost three years on, Craig Coombes is live on FaceTime from Melbourne to close the show. He and Hills strip off to a self-penned cancer song to bring this frank, dark, yet warm Sunday night to a close.
The instant incredible bond formed between the audience and the comedian is indescribable. Listening intently and sharing jokes throughout, Adam Hills provides these two thousand Glaswegians with a deeply funny, painfully true and incredibly warm performance; Clown Heart is a one-in-a-million show.