Whatever Phil Nichol is on I’ll have some, please. But maybe a smaller dose. This veritable cyclone of a performer barely pauses for breath in this supercharged show, which embraces crazed accents, full backing band, Norwegian trip-hop and ferociously funny riffs.
In the first section the unashamedly hedonistic award-winner warmed up with an hors-d’oeuvre of well-honed colourful anecdotes. Visits to Amsterdam gay bars and heavy-metal clubs where there is even more studded leather featured prominently. Hurtling around the stage, our host, currently sporting full Joy-Of-Sex beard, demonstrated how he defuses angry confrontations with jazz ballet. He never fights, he shimmies.
The second half was largely a reprise of his 2007 show Hiro Worship, the shaggy-ish story of a Japanese Rolling Stones fan who attached himself, limpet-like, to Nichol. This tale of borderline stalking neatly referred back to his first-half patter. Egocentric yes, mundane no. Nichol’s performance is never less than full-on.
Tuesday to Saturday (0207 907 7060,
www.menierchocolatefactory.com)
Phil Nichol: Welcome To Crazytown
The Menier Chocolate Factory
Southwark Street, SE1 1RU
