Tom Allen – Original Review
Note: This review is from 2005
Review by Steve Bennett
He's only 22, but this former National Youth Theatre actor could pass for a lot older.
His thespian training certainly shows, too, with the sort of velvety, educated, slightly effete and always affronted tones that wouldn’t be out of place on the Fifties Light Service.
His stories would fit that era, too full as they are of grand dames, brigadiers and pure indignity.
His core tale, told in grandiloquent but conversational style, is about how his efforts to be ‘the greatest maitre d’ Bexleyhill’ has ever seen’ were destined to fail, and is rich with deliciously trivial detail.
It’s a strong, clearly defined persona – few stand-ups dare to be quite so formal these days – and one that could clearly have a future beyond stand-up.
Radio, especially must surely beckon. It doesn’t take much to imagine Nicholas Parsons introducing Allen’s slightly supercilious voice on Just A Minute.
Review date: 1 Dec 2005
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
