Review by Steve Bennett

As the Beta Males sketch troupe fragments into its constituent parts, Richard Soames is keen to prove he’s the nice one of the gang… Look at those soft eyes as he thoughtfully hands out cups of tea around the audience as they arrive.

He flatters the front row with the most fulsome of exchanges, then voiceovers from his friends pay near hagiographical tribute to his credentials as one of the good guys – even if his acts of kindness do appear to be from the milder end of the spectrum. It's well judged between tongue-in-cheek and self-delusion.

This icebreaking proves to be a soft entrance to a laudably bold show about personal ethics, in which Soames skilfully blends elements of autobiographical stand-up, his talents as a character performer and some often surreal vignettes to explore the topic in a way that twists and turns to keep the audience intrigued.

His morality tales come via the prism of relationships, attempts at being a teacher – and the finest comic use of dead goldfish since A Fish Called Wanda. As well as his own skilful delivery, he deploys a sound board throughout, allowing him to chop in effects, extra dialogue and musical backings to his story, creating a textured audio almost ready-made for radio. If he can’t have his Beta Males to perform alongside, prerecorded dialogue will fill the gap.

He’s a charming storyteller, living up to the Mr Nice Guy image, even when the tale itself isn’t charming, and he lets his personality shine through all the whistles and bells which adorn the narrative, not overwhelm it. This sense of having a solid core applies to the writing, too, though it’s skilfully concealed, so that only gradually do the component routines and skits reveal themselves to be part of a more ambitious whole.

Really there’s only one word to describe this show: Nice.

Review date: 10 Aug 2015
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: Underbelly George Square