“Rotterdam, but in the tropics” was how a visiting comedian described Bermuda yesterday on his latest trip to the island, where he will headline a celebratory showcase. Tommy Davidson hailed the calm of the country and its warm waters.

He has come to Bermuda to headline Nadanja’s 50th Birthday Comedy Showcase, which will bring him together with local talent tonight to mark Nadanja Bailey’s milestone.

Mr Davidson, a comedian, actor and jazz musician, promised laughs for Mr Bailey’s event — being held at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts, Devonshire — but admitted the two had never met until this week.

He said: “My friend met his wife at a show and they were best friends and she asked her if I would do this and that is how it came about. So I actually don’t know him that well.

“I love Bermuda, I have been here four times over the past 30 or 35 years and it is quite impressive. It reminds me of Rotterdam, but in the tropics. So it is really interesting.

“I have never really seen anything this good before the way it’s set up. I go to other Caribbean islands, but this is different and modern all the way through, but it has a Caribbean feel.

“I love the calm here. I felt the water the other day and I usually get cold and I am like a little girl — when I get on a plane I have to have a blanket and stuff. But, when I went into the water here, it was like a bath. So I don’t want to leave.”

Mr Davidson appeared on the sketch comedy series In Living Colour from 1990 to 1994, the film Ace Ventura Pet Detective: When Nature Calls in 1995 and plays the titular character on the sitcom The Varnell Hill Show, which premiered on Paramount+ this year.

Mr Bailey said he wanted a “big name” to top the bill at his 50th birthday show and that everything fell into place for Mr Davidson to perform.

The local talent met a woman who happened to be best friends with Mr Davidson’s wife during a comedy show at Tucker’s Point last year and explained: “I asked if she could use her connections to get to Tommy directly, and the rest is history.

“He was secured a long time ago, but it worked out for my birthday.”

Mr Bailey is relishing the many characters Mr Davidson portrays during his birthday celebration, which will also feature Eric Blake — Mr Davidson’s opening act — and local comics Bootsie, Jonathan Young, Jah, Eddie G and Gina Davis.

Mr Bailey will host and perform during the show, set to run from 8.30pm to about 11pm.

For his part, Mr Davidson said: “What can people expect? Well, I don’t know how people will respond to my brand, but my observations are going to be funny, I can tell you that!

“I have been to a lot of places. I have been to Texas for the first time, I have been to Egypt for the first time and every first time I got my observations so that I can give the people my report. It may be short, but they will get it.”

He added: “I still get nerves, a little bit. But then two seconds later I think about the bills and that takes them all away.”