Edinburgh Fringe comedy review

That the generations are destined never to understand each other is a comedy staple, yet Tom Stade strikes gold with his playfully exaggerated potshots across the ages.

The key to his success is the interaction with the audience. He seeks out a youngish couple to represent the entirety of their baffling cohort, a woman in her 60s whom he cheekily and repeatedly portrays as past it, and middle-aged men like him to provide reassurance that his observations are true, as well as acting as avatars for self-deprecating gags about his own failings.

These people become characters in his stand-up, and the way he keeps circling back to them gives the hour a fluidity and a touch of spontaneity, plus running gags we’re all in on.

At 47 – but not looking it – he says he prefers hanging out with older people who make him feel young. And Risky Business is undeniably a show for old farts like him (though he uses a stronger word than ‘farts’) who are baffled by twentysomethings’ slang phrases like ‘no cap’.  But he sits in the middle, punching up – age-wise – as well as down.

The running theme of ‘stupid youngsters he doesn’t understand’ is mainly expressed via interactions with his entitled 23-year-old daughter, conducted entirely via text, of course.

The British-based Canadian serves up plenty of ‘kids today…’ style griping – especially when it comes to their incompetence offline – but he has a point, and it’s punchily expressed.  However, he’s not much use either: when he tries to adopt an old-school, no-nonsense approach to parenting, it doesn’t take much to cave in to his children’s demands.

It’s a short leap from slagging off the young to asserting that he’s ‘tired of all this woke shit’. However, Stade takes on the super-progressive without going full-on GB News. Instead, he sees insanity in de-gendering Mr Potato Head. Yes, it’s old news, but his disproportionately irate response to this trivial issue is still funny.

For whilewhat he says always bears the tone of irritation, being liberally sprayed with f-bombs, the way he says it comes with a metaphorical eye-roll. It’s mock aggression rather than genuine grumpiness. ‘Take nothing seriously’ is his stated philosophy, and that definitely extends to his own opinions.

The foot comes off the gas as the show goes on to more relaxed routines about drugs and cheap family holidays, but the gags remain highly polished and expertly delivered by an old – or oldish – pro who makes stand-up look effortless.

Review date: 23 Aug 2024
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: Stand 1