Well, it’s another night at the Sosh, with another display of diverse comedy talent.
First up is MC Dani Johns who spends most of her opening set doing little actual material, preferring chatting to members of the audience, in particular a newly married couple near the stage – which leads to the bride considering that she is a starring part of the show, and, by the end, after a number of drinks, actually leaping uninvited on to the stage. Is this actually professional comedy? You decide.
First actual act up is Jack Campbell, who does far less of the audience banter, and has some interesting takes on what makes a bad university; on the appeal of old mens’ pubs; on beer adverts (which he has experience of writing) and how to pitch them; and best of all a deliciously bonkers tale of sexual role play with his missus based on a David Attenborough film of an iguana pursued by snakes. Yes, really: you had to be there.
Plastic Jeezus, the next act, are not plastic and make no mention of the messiah. What they are is a brilliant musical double-act with ukuleles, one of them an electric bass uke, quite a niche instrument. The songs are witty, tightly written and expertly performed. And they draw a deservedly ecstatic response from the audience.
But the highlight of the evening is the astonishing Phil Nichol, who hits the stage at top volume, and takes no prisoners in an amazing display of comic virtuosity, as he takes apart, for instance, the difference between cockney violence and Scottish violence, among many other topics – all the while eye-rolling, switching accents, grabbing a guitar and rocking out mad songs, unfazed by any audience response, including the appearance of the drunk newly-wed onstage, and finally getting the crowd to sing along to a crazed ditty about the only gay Eskimo in the tribe. This is a riotous roller-coaster of a performance that leaves its audience breathless – it’s unique high-energy comic genius. Unforgettable.
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Reviewer: John Christopher Wood | Star rating: ****
