Do everything you're not supposed to

Poem from the Glasgow Comedy Festival preview show

More Phil Nichol videos

2007: Nominated for best headliner in the Chortle Awards 2006: Appeared as the producer in Rob Brydon's BBC Three series Annually Retentive 2005: Appeared in BBC Two's Broken News, as camp showbiz reporter Josh Cashman on this BBC2 spoof 2003: Chortle Award nominee for best headliner 2002: Nominated for the Perrier for his Edinburgh show: Things I Like, I Lick 2002: Chortle award nominee for best male circuit comic 2002: Appeared as Philip Salon in the Boy George musical Taboo in the West End

School For Scandal - Fringe 2009
Live Review
Pleasance Courtyard

This Comedians’ Theatre Company production is a riot of corpsing, in-jokes and general mucking about, occasionally interrupted by a Restoration comedy.

It is, apparently, how Sheriden would have wanted it. His Georgian comedy of manners was intended to be loosely performed, allowing celebrity actors of the day free reign to embellish the script and play to their stage persona. In this way it’s the perfect Edinburgh play, able to employ stand-ups who are the stars of this particular month-long insular society, where they are temporarily famous for their individual styles.

The finer points of the plot do get lost amid all the high-jinks, making the overly-busy production more of a playground where the cast can don powdered wigs and extravagant bustles or breeches and run around the elegant set as if they’ve each just guzzled a litre of Sunny D. At one point, an exasperated character utters, with typically anachronistic nod to the audience: ‘It’s Restoration comedy, not Pappy’s Fun Club, for flip’s sake.’ Could have fooled us.

The star casting is 77-year-old Lionel Blair, as the henpecked Sir Peter Teazle, husband of a much younger wife (Bridget Christie, blowing nicely hot and cold), and butt of many a gag about his advancing years. The fact that the jokes could be as much about the character as the celebrity playing him is typical of the essence of the show.

He might be the big name, but he’s not necessarily the star. That honour probably goes to Amy Saunders – best known as sword-swallower Miss Behave – playing the scheming Lady Sneerwell (none-too-subtly named given her propensity to scoff at others) with over-the-top finesse.

King of the scene-stealers, in a cast riddled with them, is Steve Jameson as Moses. In many recent productions, the character’s Jewish heritage has been played down, for fear of anti-semitism. But here, he Heebs it up, wisecracking like Groucho Marx, and almost as funny.

Running him a close second is the foppish Paul Foot, who was born to prance around with such effete exaggeration. Sometimes his physical flourishes are over-the-top even for this unsubtle production, but you still just have to watch him.

Ella Kenion’s Mrs Candour is also a delight; her jaw quivering with delight at the prospect of imparting or learning some fresh nugget of salacious gossip. Marcus Brigstocke gets to be a supercilious, aloof wastrel, Stephen K Amos is a lightweight but flamboyant comic relief, and Phil Nichol is a central fulcrum of relative restraint – that shows just how out-of-control the extravagance has got.

In some ways, it’s an embarrassment of riches, with too much going on – both scripted and otherwise – as the flourishes overwhelm the actual play. Acclaimed director Cal McCrystal could do with tightening some segments up, while still allowing for improvisation, if the production is to have any life outside Edinburgh. Though given the size of the cast and the commitment needed, that may well prove impossible.

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Saw Phil last night at The Stand in Glasgow, and he quite simply delivered one of the best stand-up performances I have seen in a long time. He exudes an infectious joy, fizzes with enthusiasm, and while his actual material may not be overflowing with word play and witticism, his delivery and improvisation makes for phenomenal entertainment. Great night out

Roddy, May 2006

What an outrageous, hilarious, mad man. Crowd rapport and interaction was superb. I cried laughing and wasn't alone. Great show.

Helen Murphy, April 2006

Phil Nichol is the most brilliant and talented artist I've ever seen

Liz Rodgers, March 2006

He was the funniest comedian I saw in the short time I worked for Jongleurs and the only comedian to get an encore. In fact he got 3 encores before begging to be let go. His material may not be that of a Dylan Moran but that isn't what his act is. He built up the most amazing rapport with the crowd and that's impressive when you are that outrageous.

James Evans, January 2006

I wish to lend my support to the opinion of Phil Nicol being a little light on material. Also, let me suggest that 'hilarious' is not a required opinion of his Only Gay Eskimo song - trite seems more fitting.

Richard, January 2006

Absolute nonsense. If all comedy was about was being outrageous Bernard Manning would be the funniest man alive. And he isn't. See Nichol perform twice and you will see the same zany 'randomness', the same 'improvised' insults and the same 'spontaneous' crowd interaction. Predictable, drunken student-orientated stand up. I advise you to steer well clear.

Tom Dowling, December 2005

Everything he says and does is so outragieous that all you can do is laugh - and that's what comedy is all about.

Liz Moss, November 2005

If you like randomness, insanity and total confusion this man will do it for you. He had me in stitches all the way through. I ache I laughed so much.

Melonie, November 2005

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