Reviewed by Natalie Low
You can’t talk about Adrian Bliss without bringing up his successful stint on TikTok - the platform which skyrocketed him into internet fame with his never-ending rotation of costumes and great comedic sketches weaved within history and biology. This same formula is translated into an hour-long comedy show titled ‘INSIDE EVERYONE’ where Bliss brings us on a comedic journey through time beginning with an atom. Nicely connected sketches with a throughline of the atom, Bliss brings the audience along for a fun ride that shows off all of his skills. Fans of his TikTok account will be delighted to see some familiar characters, while not isolating newcomers to his work as well.
The show sees an atom who desires to be a part of greatness, and over time integrates itself into the different characters that Bliss plays. The characters include Van Gogh’s ear, William Shakespeare, and his internet famous Sperm character. Each sketch is well thought out, and it’s clear that Bliss has a clear understanding of comedic timing, along with a deep knowledge of history which he uses to his advantage. By making the atom the main character, it allows Bliss to create a connection between the characters he is playing, along with the allowing the audience to form a connection to the sketches as well.
A strong reliance on lighting and audio, it allows for smooth transitions while Bliss gets changed in between sketches. Although it does mean that audiences do spend a lot of time in the dark listening to a pre-recorded voice of Bliss play an atom. Adrian Bliss brings a nice refreshing take of earnestness and appreciation for life with his comedy, which, in a world full of comedians who prefer to take the cynical route, is a breath of fresh air. He really shines through his signature awkwardness and is not afraid to take the piss out of himself. Bliss also smoothly integrates audience interaction into his show, and is polite enough to give the audience members time to warm up to the idea, and then fully embrace it.
The show allows Bliss to showcase all of his talents - the sketches incorporate all sorts - there’s even 2 musical numbers - 1 of which he’s dressed as a worm singing about life. There’s also some clowning involved where he spends about 5 minutes trying to get a mic over a comically oversized Elizabethan era ruff collar. With a show so heavily reliant on props and tech, one would have to be aware that something can always go wrong. For example, there was a moment in the show where a costume was forgotten. Bliss played it off professionally, and improv-ed his way through by getting on another makeshift costume. It’s little bloopers like this that make sketch comedy enjoyable though, doesn’t it?
The ending was surprisingly heartfelt and wholesome, and truly highlights the type of comedy that Adrian Bliss has made his brand: A little cheeky, with tidbits of historical & biological trivia, and a whole lot of love.
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