The show begins somewhat inauspiciously, Amos’ opening gags faintly familiar. The first five minutes covers bananas and being carded in Darwin, echoing previous shows. It’s obvious Amos sought the assurance of proven material, hoping to set the tone for the show – which is not exactly unreasonable. In the eyes of long-time fans, though, the beginning of The Spokesman may yield momentary disappointment. That might be an important or trivial talking point depending on who you are and what you want from a show, but consider this: The Spokesman concludes with Amos openly taking requests from his audience. This only serves to highlight how familiar his fans are with his work, which, in turn, demonstrates the necessity for fresh material. When you’re a comedian of Amos’ calibre, nothing less will do.
Here, incidentally, marks a return to the prevailing point: this is actually a positive appraisal of Amos’ latest festival show. The Spokesman, aside from a brief detour down memory lane, is an intriguing new hour of stand-up comedy. Amos presents a self-effacing take on his alleged ‘spokesman’ status, wrestling with its suitability. However, therein lies the brilliant irony: in spite of his many and varied suggestions, you can’t help but see Amos as an effective and intensely likeable orator. He is, after all, the epitome of a professional comic, his strike rate impeccable.
Furthermore, it’s not just consistency that defines The Spokesman, but variety too. Amos is, in a very real sense, a crowd-pleaser, catering to all comic tastes seamlessly. Armed with everything from topical material to surprisingly off-colour quips, Amos is unafraid to explore a broad comic spectrum. It could be that most will remember Amos for making cheeky sport of Australia’s cultural nuances. The Spokesman demonstrates this skill in spades, Amos’ recurring commentary both funny and affectionate.
An eloquent and inherently charming performer, Amos has the distinction of being simply hilarious too. It’s this kind of triple-threat that defines great stand-up comedy and, indeed, makes The Spokesman an A-grade affair. If you’re only out to see one or two shows this festival and you need to be assured of a great night, consider Amos one of your go-to guys. Highly recommended.
