Maisie Adam- Appraisal review – cheery self-mockery skips lightly across the surface of life

Leicester Square Theatre, London – When it comes to her self-assessment, Maisie Adam might come across as a bit light, but there’s no denying her charm and ability to connect with an audience.

Kickstarting her performance with 20 minutes of lively audience interaction, Adam certainly sets a high bar for the rest of her set. Was she just fortunate to find a few delightfully quirky audience members, each with jobs and tales ripe for witty commentary? Or is it her talent in tapping into their eccentricities that creates such a vibrant atmosphere? It’s probably a mix of both. At 30, she crafts this interaction into an energetic prelude for her touring show.

However, that high energy is tough to maintain throughout the rest of the performance. Titled “Appraisal,” the show is meant to delve into Adam’s personal and professional journey as a young woman from Yorkshire. But if you’re expecting an in-depth exploration, you might be disappointed. Instead, the show skims over the surface, touching lightly on her recent marriage and her success as a stand-up comic. There’s a nod to the societal pressure on her to have kids, along with a cheeky joke about how baby weights are often announced. She reflects on her childhood friends now holding “grown-up” jobs and serves up self-deprecating humor from her experiences on shows like “The Chase” and “Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel.”

While Adam is undoubtedly a charming host, the material sometimes feels a bit shallow. Her anecdotes, like mistaking a stripper for a policeman at her bachelorette party, or the euphemisms she employs to describe her profession, are endearing but lack depth. After those engaging opening minutes filled with the unique quirks of audience members, her reflections on approaching middle age seem fun yet somewhat generic.

“Maisie Adam: Appraisal” is touring until November 7, followed by additional shows from February 1 to March 6.