Tom’s observational generation spanning routine is tight, smooth and weirdly insightful. He works the crowds choosing three audience members to hit his points home – an elderly gentleman in his 70s, one in his 50s and a younger lad in his 20s. He chose well as they all earned a few laughs from the rest of us with some of their responses.
Addressing the fact he normally draws an older crowd, the 54-year-old has the bearing of someone who doesn’t care what others think – ‘I forgot I’m not allowed to use the word spaz’ he says early on. Offensive? Yes. And I can see how he won’t be to everyone’s taste. His gag about ‘scheduling a fuck’ between Amazon deliveries is a bit low brow but gets a big laugh.
He pulls apart the differences between age groups: how Gen Z has the luxury of Tinder (imagine having to meet someone in person first?), having to scan a QR code to get a restaurant menu, and having to use social media to build a following.
A particular funny part of his routine concerns the man in his 50s who Tom pretended was a plant, ghost-writing the offensive jokes he tells and ‘reminiscing’ about their trip to ‘Epstein’s island’.
It’s unapologetically brash and offensive, and includes jokes that will make you feel guilty to laugh at. Gen Z will probably call it edgy, but I feel there’s a bit more to it than that.
Tom Stade: Naughty By Nature, The Stand Comedy Club (Stand 1), 20:30, Until 24 Aug (not 11th)
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/tom-stade-naughty-by-nature
