After wowing them in Edinburgh last year and taking out the If.Comeddies Award, Phil Nichol brings his show The Naked Racist to Melbourne. In his trademark manic and over the top style, Phil recounts a four day trip to Amsterdam after a fight with his girlfriend.
Those people expecting an hour of drug tales won’t be disappointed but there was actually some depth to the show. He tackles the issue of racism amongst the chaos that is his tale. Despite wanting to point out the seriousness of this issue, it doesn’t stop him from making constant light-hearted jibes at various countries and their inhabitants.
Phil always puts in a high energy performance, running down the aisle of the room tormenting punters and bouncing around the stage like a hyperactive puppy demonstrating the action in his story. He gives an equally spirited vocal performance, shrieking and yelling as he tells the story in the same manner it was initially experienced, in drug fuelled paranoia.
The show has a brilliant musical component to it that pops up during the show. His comically tiny guitar gets a regular strumming and a group of special musical guests appear at a crucial moment in the story.
Phil’s storytelling is a sight to behold, his manic style of performing suiting this story perfectly. The show was littered with many asides that veer of in all sorts of directions but always manage to return to the main thread of the story. He even manages to include some self-referential quips when some characters don’t find his comments funny and he is able to boast about his award in hindsight.
It wouldn’t be a Phil Nichol show without some gratuitous nudity, but in this case it is a vital part of the story. As well as explaining the show’s title, it leads into a sing along finale that has the crowd waving items of clothing in the air as a protest against racism.
Don’t miss this brilliant award winning show with a conscious. Many satisfied Scottish audiences can’t possibly be wrong!
“The Naked Racist” plays from Tues to Sun until April 29. See the “Festival Website”:http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/season/2007/show/398/ for booking details.