The main thing that you need to know about this show is that something about it is absolutely and completely unexpected. It would be bad form to give away what it is, but suffice to say that this reviewer believes that you should definitely go to see
This show gets five stars because it is one of those insane Fringe experiences that you remember fondly for years.
Phil Nichol is like a ball of raucous, manic energy that fills whatever room he performs to, and in the case of this intimate space at The Stand, he entirely owns it. He is fantastically skillful with his comedy, extracting huge laughs from the tiniest of things at a rate of knots. There is something in his demeanor that makes him seem absurdly positive at all times, even when discussing what would otherwise be very dark topics. Indeed, the theme of this show is Nichol’s own break-ups and loneliness, something he uses to demonstrate just how talented he is at rendering absolutely anything comedic. Impressions of Mexican insects, frustration at people that use their phones while walking, and a truly disgusting discussion of the after-effects of eating some oysters will stay with you long after the show (though in the case of the oysters that is not necessarily a positive).
There is no space to breathe in this show – Nichol hits his audience with routine after routine until you find that you cannot resist, and he wrests the laughter from you. His mania lags in a few places, or turns in a strange direction, and you wonder how deep the heartbreak behind the routine really is. However, he has created a complete and complex piece here, and he ties all of his comedy loose ends together in a spectacular manner.
This show gets five stars because it is one of those insane Fringe experiences that you remember fondly for years, and that could only happen here. Come for the high-quality stand-up, stay for the night that will leave you in a good mood long afterwards.
