Tom Cashman arrives at the Edinburgh Fringe this year with some serious Powerpoint skills on what might be his secret to happiness, told through personal (and slightly risqué) moments from his life.
Staged in a cosy, crowded basement at one of the iconic Monkey Barrel venues, Tom had the audience in the palm of his hand for the entire show—proving not only that he’s an engaging comedian, but also that he’s genuinely enjoying himself alongside the crowd, often breaking into his own unique and contagious laughter.
After a 30-hour journey from Australia, the Taskmaster star shares how his hilarious plane story on the way to the Scottish capital was picked up by the UK media.
While sitting on a plane between two fiancés, Tom refused to swap seats with them, claiming his extra space was just too comfortable. He later shared the story on social media, and it quickly gained traction, with UK and Australian outlets picking it up under headlines like: ‘Aussie refuses to switch plane seats with passenger: Get real, mate.’
Tom turned the mishap into a hilarious opening anecdote for his show at this year’s Fringe—and the audience absolutely loved it.
The Aussie comedian then dives into his new ‘healthy habits,’ which he claims are the key to his personal happiness—presented through a series of effective and exhilarating graphs, followed by some cheeky and risqué games of Wordle.
This technique proves quite engaging, and although some slide transitions were a bit quick, the show feels like an honest, vibrant, and friendly conversation between Tom and the audience.
After a heartbreak, he shares his personal journey through awkward moments in the sauna, hilarious behind-the-scenes stories from Taskmaster Australia, funny attempts at productivity in the library, and insights on how to be intimate with your friends.
Amid the absurdities, Tom’s story wins over the audience with an honest, relatable, and heartfelt portrayal of everyday life—and shows how small habits can help create personal happiness.
Tom Cashman: 2 Truths, 1 Lie and 17 Slight Exaggerations is on at Monkey Barrel 2 until the 24th of August.
Review date: 18th of August
