I’ve seen Adam Flood tell the joke about his haircut, which appears in his debut hour, about four times now in different settings. It is a testament to his quality that today it’s just as funny as the first time.
In Remoulded, Stoke-on-Trent native Flood offers a fun take on the musical comedy autobiography. Armed with an Auto-Tune pedal, which he uses to great effect for songs and to slip into different characters, he embarks on a whistle-stop tour of his various identities: teen weed dealer, indie band boy, startup bro and comedian.
There is a standout song about his teenage bender at Leeds festival, and we also hear a snippet of what he promises is one of his indie band’s old tracks. Little sketches break up the hour nicely – his impression of co-workers’ secret weekend activities, an enthusiastic train driver making an announcement and a piece about ASMR videos are highlights.
He is a physical performer, high-kicking and showing off an impressive range of facial expressions. From an impression of a Henry hoover to a vibrating mixologist and overzealous drain unblocker, the energy is high throughout.
Powering through the seasons of his life, it sometimes feels as if we are only skimming the surface. We hear intriguing details about the serious problems at his school, but there’s no time to develop the narrative by delving into it. A few bits of crowdwork slow the show’s momentum slightly. Remoulded is filled with an abundance of comedy gems, but the transitions between them could be a little tighter.
There is a nice comment on comedy authenticity tied up neatly by his meta musical finale. It’s a great note to finish on and introduces Flood as a multifaceted comedy talent to keep an eye on.
• At Monkey Barrel Comedy, Edinburgh, until 27 August.
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