Fringe Review: Adelaide Comedy Gala ★★★★★

At The Adelaide Comedy Gala you can have a laugh, discover new talent and enjoy some well-known acts like Fiona O’Loughlin and Tom Gleeson. It’s a great way to sample 12 comedians and if you like their bit, you can check out their show during the Fringe.

Tom Ballard cracked everyone up with a list of extremely misguided Aussie slang words the US embassy posted on X. Apparently we all call a kangaroo a ‘bouncy mouse’. What the …? And Hans the German stole the show with his versions of ‘Like a Prayer’ and ‘I Should be So Lucky’. He had the audience singing, clapping and laughing at his crazy antics. 

Other comedians included Jenny Tian (I know her from Tik Tok) –  her pronouns are ‘that’ and ‘bitch’! And Mark Simmons, who had a very funny, quirky vibe. The show had a strong finish with Amos Gill, Fiona O’Loughlin and Tom Gleeson. Fiona is a national treasure. She entertained us with stories about alcoholism, rehab and her rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. And now she has grandkids, so she’s been working on her grandma sayings, which were hysterical. Tom Gleeson was hilarious with his stories about airport security, car break-ins and overly empathetic police officers.

The gala has been going for 16 years and raises money for the Sammy D Foundation, who educate young people on the impacts of bullying, violence, drug and alcohol misuse. It’s an amazing charity and this comedy gala is a fantastic way to spend two hours at the Fringe.

By Carolyn J Wild