Tom Ward has a very unique fashion sense, from his hair to his glorious trousers, but it makes sense that such a fantastical style is suited to such a fantastical performer. He claims that none of his success (like his performance on ‘Live at the Apollo’) has gone to his head, and that he’s the same old Tom who definitely still lives in a house share.
Ward has grown up, and in doing so has broadened his comedic material, exploring gender identity, sexuality and the class gap. He keeps potentially tricky conversations light, enjoyably masking trauma with some ironically bouncy tunes. Ward really hits all the buzz topics from climate change to veganism in this enjoyably daft hour, but the peaks come with his relatable takes, likening his sex life to the grace of an ageing Premier League midfielder.
It’s no secret that Tom Ward is a stand up pro, his suave demeanour married with his confident oration are a delight to witness. His musical aids are unrelentingly joyful and utilised skilfully. The jingles feed into Tom’s satirical recreations of adverts to dismantle huge corporations’ morality, or lack thereof. There is no doubt that this comedian is very switched-on, witty and a brilliant writer.
Ward gracefully slips in and out of character with ease and no matter who he’s emulating, he consistently hits the nail on the head. His crowd work is really praiseworthy, deftly teasing the audience in line with his scripted material. And the undeniable highlight was the improvised song with a member of the audience about a drag race drag queen.
‘Anthem’ is a rib-tickling show fronted by a brilliant comic. It’s not necessarily ground-breaking but it’s thought provoking and ultimately a really good laugh.
Tom Ward: Anthem, 22:25, Monkey Barrel Comedy , August 11 – 14, 16 – 21, 23 – 28
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=%22Tom%20Ward%3A%20Anthem%22
