Tom Walker Proves that Mimes Can Be Very Very Funny on His New Amazon Special
Photos courtesy of Amazon
Most entertainment is just watching people sweat, whether it’s the actual perspiration dripping off a runner’s face as they cross the finish line, or the implied sweat of a sitcom character nervously blagging their way out of a sticky situation. Whether literally or metaphorically sweating, it’s all about witnessing the effort people are willing to put forth in order to meet their goal. Australian comedian Tom Walker is clearly a fan of the former tack, quickly turning his light gray t-shirt darker over the course of his Amazon Prime special Very Very.
Now, sweat alone does not make for good entertainment. If that were the case, then everyone who slaves over their clunky screenplay for years would win an Oscar. But when the combination of sweat and talent are just right, you get an hour as satisfying as Walker’s latest release. The comedian devotes his entire set to mime, “the unlovable child of theatre and dance,” though he thankfully talks throughout the set. His physicality is scarily impressive, equal parts believable (you very rarely are lost in imagining what exactly he’s doing) and profoundly absurd (see: the entire bit where he has a giant retractable penis).
Just as vital to the hilarious special is Walker’s impeccable timing. Using a clicker in his hand, he sets off sound effects at the perfect moment to sell a scene. Memorizing every noise and movement seems a Herculean task, but Walker makes it look—easy may not be the right word, considering how sweaty he is—seamless.