Comedy Review: Phil Nichol
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By Andra Jenkin
Artist: Phil Nichol
Date/Venue: Friday 17 May 2019 / The Classic Comedy Club
No one can accuse Phil Nichol of not being committed to a bit. Here’s a guy who will take off his clothes, rub himself up against a gentleman in the audience, and contort his body into strange and uncomfortable positions, all while revealing the most personal and tragic events of his life, albeit with a side-splitting comedic twist.
Nichol utilises The Classic theatre space to great effect. He moves across the stage, standing out front on the apron to peer deep into the crowd, and walking down the stairs next to the wings to stride through the audience. He talks a mile a minute; cramming a huge amount of material into a show that, while longer than average, never drags. The name, Your Wrong, derives from an internet spat with the kind of idiot who is invariably grammatically incorrect. I hate the troll already.
This is a show that rebels against the Christian tradition that Nichol was steeped in growing up. It explores the difference between miracle and reason and tells a gripping story that takes fascinating and disturbing turns, crafted by an artist whose ability to tell a story has clearly been honed by years of experience.
There are anecdotes about his career, performances that range from impersonating singers (yes he can sing) to Shakespearian monologues (yes he can soliloquy), and impressions of his mother (yes, he can impress). Nichol is versatile with incredible scope. His performance is energetic and entertaining and the music is excellent.
Laughing at the tragic seems sacrilegious, but that’s exactly what Phil Nichol wants. It’s a rollercoaster of a show, from the personal betrayals that affect him alone, to the larger crises that have impacted his family. The audience is cast as witness to a riotous journey that is astounding in its intensity and capacity for laughs.
From the bible to the internet, by way of Ireland and Glastonbury with several interesting tangents along the way, Phil’s gags per set up ratio is extreme. There’s always a punch at the end of every sentence, and though the laid back kiwi audience was at times tough to contend with, Nichol won the battle and had the crowd screeching with laughter in the end.
This is a show by an accomplished professional determined to keep an audience in stitches. World class.