By Nick Pilgrim
The bread and butter of any comedy festival, stand-up is both the most prolific yet unnerving live entertainment artform to master.
Armed with only a microphone and their wits, it is a joy to watch performers stand tall and ride that emotional wave from the get-go. That being said, I have witnessed some spectacular crash-and-burns which make me want to run up from the audience and give artists a consoling hug as well.
What makes this medium so challenging, is the ability to make the same content performed at countless venues nationwide appear vibrant and fresh every single time.
With an extensive background in radio and television, Tommy Little is one of the hardest working individuals on the scene. His laid back yet self-doubting style has earned the comic a solid and supportive fan base. Prior to the performer’s set at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre on Tuesday night, there was a real sense of electricity and anticipation in the room.
In his hour-long routine, I’m Not Proud covers a list of four personal goals Little aimed to achieve in 2024. Three of these being:
- Training for and entering his first amateur boxing fight.
- Hiking to a continent’s highest peak.
- Getting his helicopter licence.
The fourth, no doubt included for hilarious comedic effect, is an X-rated hobby which cannot be repeated here. (Whether Little successfully ticked these ambitious boxes, viewers will need to attend his show in person to find out.)
My biggest takeaway from his presentation, is Little’s natural ability to interact with audiences and generously work the room. For more than ten minutes at the top of his routine, an impromptu aside with a woman in the front row about phone apps unleashed a ream of brand-new material on the spot.
Who knew the unrealised power of UBER as a dating resource! This knack for drawing information out of people and turning it into comic gold, is a true gift which surely takes years to develop.
Other topics up for debate during his performance included:
- Justifying the outrageous spend on a backyard tent.
- Hot rocks as a viable massage experience.
- The benefits of attending a detox retreat in Thailand.
- Why dental retainers are disgusting.
- The near-death moment he had hanging out with surfing champ, Mick Fanning.
- Sharing a classic blooper from his time on The Project that never went to air.
The list goes on.
Having seen Little test new content in person several years ago at The Comic Lounge in North Melbourne, details the entertainer’s unwavering dedication to both his playful man-child brand and fans of this treacherous craft.
While I’m Not Proud is a show designed strictly for grown-ups, how thrilling to see the man himself once again at the top of his game.
