Adam Bailey: My Three Deaths

At the outset Adam declares he is not a standup comedian, he is a storyteller. He was half correct - certainly not particularly funny, but also his story wasn’t terribly compelling. I found myself zoning out regularly, and was straight-up concerned after we passed the one-hour mark (which I had assumed to be the end).

I certainly understand this could appeal to a certain sort of fringe-goer, but not for me. It’s three and a half disconnected stories, and if there was anything bigger to it it flew right over my head.

This might have been the wrong show to see the day prior to the anniversary of my dad's passing, and 3 days after a less than wonderful trip to the vet with my cat. It took me a couple hours to emotionally decompress.

But Adam Bailey is an excellent story teller (albeit sometimes maybe a little TOO rehearsed, if that's a thing) and each time I attend his shows where the topic is about his life, I'm always struck by how unique and complex his life has been.

I think he and Wendy from Mystery House should go out for coffee to talk about grief because I think that would be a very interesting conversation to be a fly on the wall for.

I'll tell you though, every March, for the rest of my life, I'm going to hear Adam's mother in my head telling me to file my taxes on time.

Adam is a master storyteller. I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. He takes you on such a journey, and I couldn’t have enjoyed it more.

You know the old question: “If you could invite five people, living or dead, to dinner, who would they be?” Well, Adam Bailey has officially made it onto my list. His storytelling is unmatched—he can hold an audience in absolute captivation. He has this rare gift of making you laugh and cry in the same breath, and somehow, even turn the subject of death into pure entertainment.

Great story teller, thank you for entertaining me

This show will make you belly laugh, shed tears, and contemplate life’s bigger meanings. It truly has it all! This was my favorite show I’ve seen in 3 years of going to Fringe shows. It is a MUST see!

Adam Bailey - A “Gay Stuart McLean” By Augustus Williams

We’ve all thought of what it must be like to die. Now, imagine actually experiencing it. Three times. Adam Bailey leads us through the story of the three death experiences he’s had in this funny, gut-wrenching, and deeply personal story of his life. For a play about death, Bailey knew how and when to place his comedic hits for the absolute most payoff. As he says at the beginning of the show, it’s like stand up comedy with less jokes. “Not no jokes - just fewer.” A specific type of gallows-esque humour that Bailey pulls off perfectly, the macabre puns never left the audience feeling uncomfortable - I would even say it made us feel even more at ease. Don’t misunderstand me though - this show is not a comedy. Bailey bravely explores some dark moments of his life (and death), such as his mother’s homophobic boyfriend, his far-too-close call with COVID, and his grandfather’s jarringly sudden passing. To take punches like that that you’ve lived through and put them on stage for anyone to see is a daunting challenge, but Bailey manages it in a way that still feels intimate and personal. Adam Bailey: My Three Deaths points out the absurd and often hilarious nature of death, while still reminding us how important it is to cherish the people we love while there’s still time.

Walk don’t run to see this show! Adam is an amazing storyteller and all around really nice guy! His story is touching, funny, and relatable. 10/10 would highly recommend!