Aussie-comic Adam Hill began doing stand-up aged just 19. That’s a heck of a lot of time to hone one’s craft, and boy does it show in this bravura performance on his 40th birthday at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre.

The gig may not be stuffed with one-liners – “I don’t really tell jokes, just stories,” in Hills’ own words – but what stories they are! His topics, be it the Paralympic Games or the unintended racism in sign language, could all be merely offensive in less capable hands, but are discussed here with such generosity of spirit that you feel more than content to laugh your pants off. 

Indeed, if there is a problem with the show, it’s that it’s too nice. The audience interaction at the start generates plenty of giggles, but you can find yourself wondering when the show itself is going to start. There are also occasional lapses into sentimentality – epitomised by a closing motivational speech on how we can be “inflators” or “deflators” in life – where the message supersedes the laughs. But these are minor quibbles, and ones you inevitably forgive Hills given the rest of his act is so gut-bustingly hilarious.

DVD Extras

All four extras are taken from the night of the show. Adam’s friend” sees Tasmanian stand-up Hannah Gadsby warming up the audience. She doesn’t possess Hills’ talent, but the routine is short and punchy. “Adam’s audience” sees her interviewing attendees before and after the show – it proves mildly diverting but mostly confirms the suspicion that comedy should be literally left to the professionals. 

Much better are the two exerts from Hills’ act that were inexplicably cut from the main feature. “Adam’s boyband” has him forming four I.T workers into the “Backslash Boys”, complete with dance routine, while “Adam’s secret selection” sees him skilfully subverting a series of sex toys brought along by another audience member.