It’s Tom Rhodes’ first time in New Zealand and I do hope it won’t be the last.  His style of comedy is brash and irreverent but certainly a breath of fresh air especially if, like me, British comedy is more your go-to for stand up.

Tom’s delivery initially seems haphazard but don’t let his erratic train of thought fool you – his set does flow together seamlessly and every story told is well prepared and masterfully set up with punchlines that are nothing short of comedic genius.  Being one of the most well traveled comedians on the circuit, his show is made up of diverse tales that span the globe from Europe to South East Asia.

His material displays a unique, tongue-in-cheek point of view of many things like what he would do to mess up the war (“sometimes bombs, sometimes confetti”), the origins of racism (too much sun) and who he wanted the next Pope to be (“Pope-rah”).  When some stories don’t quite hit the mark, Tom is quick to recover by claiming some of his stuff is prepared as “individually wrapped jokes”, tailored to only appeal to one person at a time – which quickly bring back the laughs.

While his humor is undeniably a little boisterous and sometimes teeters on the inappropriate side, there is genuine and brilliant comedy in the stories he tells.  He easily keeps you entertained for the hour and by the end of it you honestly feel like you have gone around the world – albeit a twisted, slightly more crude version of the world – with him.

Tom Rhodes is not afraid to ride the controversial train so his brand of comedy may not be everyone’s cup of tea.  But if you do not offend easy, I highly recommend this accomplished seasoned pro for a guaranteed raucous night of comedy!

The Whimsical Banana rates Tom Rhodes: 4/5 bananas!

Tom Rhodes is performing for another week (May 6th – 11th) at The Classic – for tickets, click here.