Adam Hills returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with his show, Shoes Half Full. The mix of stories doesn’t tend to have much structure, but all the while, it is still a very fast-paced hour of enjoyable comedy.
Self-described as “less famous than Hugh Jackman, more tolerable than Mel Gibson”, Adam Hills is one of Australia’s best exports having worked his way up to become a leading figure on UK TV, hosting Channel 4’s The Last Leg, and leading on the station’s Paralympic coverage. He has also hosted several TV Shows in Australia and has been a regular favourite in the stand-up circuit for years.
Adam’s show is a mix of stories focusing on different aspects of his life including his sporting work with some anecdotes dedicated to Disability Rugby which he regularly plays. He also covered aspects of family life including having to sing “Shape of You” on karaoke as it was his daughter’s favourite song. Only halfway through singing he realised the less appropriate lyrics and tried to change them to make them more acceptable.
He also spoke of his daughter’s “superpower” of humour and choosing the right times to use it and when it is appropriate. He spoke of some funny quotes his daughter said when he had to hold himself back from laughing out loud. Adam Hills also starts the show with a nice part of chatting to and getting to know his audience. The highlight of the show is a tale of a Mariachi band and how you should say no to Mariachi until the right moment. As the show ends, we realise that then is the perfect time for some Mariachi and a Mariachi ensemble to join Adam on stage as the audience to end the show on a high.
The show is a fun and fast-paced hour of stories, but with limited structure, it at times feels not coherent. Seeing this production early in the run, the structure will likely get tighter, and feel more polished, but overall it's a fun hour of entertainment performed by an individual who has great stage presence and knows how to entertain an audience.
This show has been rated ☆☆☆
Adam Hills: Shoes Half Full ran at Assembly Rooms: Music Hall until the 11th of August.
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