Comedy Night:
Appraisal by Maisie Adam
20th February 2025 – Cheltenham Town Hall
On YouTube there is a clip of Maisie Adam talking with Rob Brydon about her worst ever comedy gig. Adam is honest to the point of hubris in confessing the corporate gig experience that has seared into her memory vault. Brydon is characteristically kind in agreeing, “Yes, it’s the silence that is the worst…”
Kind and voluminous applause filled the main Hall – the advertised Pillar room was simply not big enough due to demand – as our Maisie goofily sidled out centre stage. Rod Stewart’s first gigs with the Faces were crippled by his stage fright and he sang his first few songs from behind the speakers (sic). No such anxiety affects Adam and her stage presence is highlighted by her relaxed demeanour.
Relaxing into the night, the first twenty minutes is Adam’s chance to meet and greet from the stage. Both setting the tone and arming Adam for her main show after the interval. We just knew Julian (with his waistcoat), Emily and her “slop” and the Forest of Dean legend would become part of the show.
“Appraisal” is the title of the opportunity Adam has given her comedy vehicle to look back over her last few years of adulthood. Like all appraisals they are not to be taken seriously. Monumental events have occurred in the recently married comedian’s life; her friend’s private lives have also been enriched by multiple births, hen-nights and twice flowering wisteria. Of course, Adam’s comedy antenna twitchily decodes this information for laughs.
And laugh we did for over 80 minutes – “correct”, as the Swedish would say – as Adam intertwined her routine with anecdotes consisting of Whatsapp faux-pas messages; coupled, with the intense preoccupation of the weight of babies at birth – but not in later life; the likelihood of a policeman turning up at your Hen-party at 3am wearing shades and driving an aging Vauxhall? And preparing for Titanic based questions on primetime TV with only ten minutes to spare.
The observational punchlines are further enhanced by the physical jokes and gestures. Yes, only strippers take their glasses off in that manner. Perhaps all proud parents should, whilst wearing a camo onesie, display their new-born like a landed jack-pike. When regaling us with her annual “curry & catch-up” with her bestie, the act of cupping her own face and leaning in as her mate started gossiping captured a moment we can all laughably recognise.
Maisie Adam’s ability to laugh at herself is commendable. Throughout her show the punchlines were interspersed with our Maisie being at the centre of the joke. Humiliation in the world of Adam is to be burnished and polished so the humour is shining like a gilt-edged gift. Being compared to a young Rod the Mod on national TV would alarm most young ladies. The facial mask of incredulity accompanying the routine was exquisitely timed.
Perhaps the comedy lacks the depth of an iceberg but we know what titanic damage they can do. However, no one was offended and we all got the joke, it never needed to be explained. If Brydon and Stewart were in the crowd I am sure they would have both nodded knowingly at how Maisie Adam has made comedy her business with hard-work and yes, kindness.
“Yes, it is nice to be important but equally important to be nice.” – Mr. Adam
By: Swilgate Scuttler
Ps For Speedy, always the first on the dance floor.