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.