Tom Gleeson – Great: Life, The Media, Taxis And Everything at The Garden Of Unearthly Delights – Adelaide Fringe Review

The Garden Of Unearthly Delights – The Factory, Sat 13 Feb The Factory it must be said would be The Garden Of Unearthly Delight’s most soulless venue, but it didn’t seem to faze Tom Gleeson. Now very much a household name courtesy of national TV coverage he’s able to create his own atmosphere. He slipped straight into gear by checking what rowdier members of the audience had been drinking, and then, as comics do, told the audience how wonderful their city is. And of course we all believed he was being sincere. (He swore later that everything in the show is true … well almost.) His description of Adelaide being the only the city in the country where Bogans are knowledgeable about wine was wonderful. Like many other satirists he bemoaned the passing of Tony Abbott and the sudden lack of gold material being served up on a daily basis. But on a serious note he shared his pleasure in not having to suffer excruciating embarrassment now that we have a PM who at least knows how to talk. Social media cops a bashing about how it interferes with healthy human relationships, but he hates taxis and has fallen in love with Uber. Marriage and having young children serve up amusing tales of embarrassment and how to help long term relationships endure, and on another brief serious note, how to bring up children as atheists. “We’ve decided that religion does more harm than good basically.” Tales of his slightly obsessive parents running a motel in country NSW, and his gay look alike brother were all good value. Gleeson’s manner is relaxed and engaging – he’s a pro at the comedy game these days and while not always hilarious, it’s always funny, and a great way to spend an hour. We are blessed in this country to have a whole swag of top class comedians and Tom G deserves his place among them. As the show’s throwaway title says – great! Michael Coghlan Tom Gleeson – Great continues at The Garden Of Unearthly Delights – The Factory, at various times, until Sun 21 Feb. Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.