Aaron Wood’s Chameleon is a stand-up comedy show about his experiences trying to fit in while also embracing himself and who he really is. He wants to face his fears and encourages others to do the same. Wood acknowledges the awkward truth: the world is a scary place and we are all just trying our best to live in it. He explores everything from therapy to pets to Magic Mike and you are guaranteed a good laugh.
Wood is there to greet you at the door and country music plays as you take your seat. This helped the show feel more personal, relatable and fun. The devil is in the details: even his business cards on the seats are hilarious. The show begins with Wood introducing himself and his working-class background. He goes on to warn us of the dangers of hay fever, shares his experiences with autism and reveals the secret behind his girlfriend’s perfect Instagram photos. Wood has an infectious smile and energy. He laughs in the face of toxic masculinity: he just wants to be one of the girls gossiping about boys over strawberry daquiris.
The venue was cosy and intimate; there was no hiding in the dark. Wood himself referred to it as a “broom closet” and it is not much larger than that in all fairness. Although this would usually be a nightmare as an audience member who does not want to take part, Wood oozes charm and charisma and quickly makes you feel comfortable. It felt like we were all friends chatting together and audience participation was natural and never forced. The audience were enthused and engaged throughout the show. He claimed to be bad at eye contact, a symptom of his autism, but I would argue he made eye contact naturally with everyone and this contributed to a feeling of inclusion. You could tell he cared about and noted the presence of each audience member, which was unique and refreshing.
I can’t wait to see what Aaron does in the future; he is definitely an up-and-coming comedian to watch out for. He has great potential and is going places, although hopefully not I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! (if you know, you know).
Aaron Wood: Chameleon is on at 16:30 at Hoot 3 at Hoots @ The Apex until 26 August
Tickets available here.
Images provided to The Student as press material.