Words by Suzy Romer
Rhys Nicholson makes great comedy look easy with this perfect hour of stand-up. I’d say his manner is self-assured but he’s next level: he doesn’t have to control the crowd because he engages us as equals from the start. You just know it’s safe to relax because this hour cannot go wrong.
He deftly punctuates the show with beginning, middle and end comments but his professionalism and flair are so integrated that you don’t appreciate them until after the show. You’re too busy enjoying yourself. He unfolds stories, experiences, commentaries and one great joke after another on universal themes from parents and growing up to early dates and long-term relationships. He knows how to pace his subject material, starting with more general themes and moving on gradually to the more personal when the time is right. Rarely have I sensed such care and respect for an audience from someone able to treat any subject he wants with ease, precision, and comedy pixie dust.
Do different people do things differently? Yes. But Nicholson navigates the differences and similarities between people without ever being confrontational. He’s above it all with an energy it’s hard to get enough of. I spent the day after the show remembering his jokes and retelling them to anyone who would listen. I even got some laughs, which tells you how fool-proof the material is, but his own unique delivery is just chef’s kiss delicious.
Click here to buy tickets for Rhys Nicholson – Rhys! Rhys! Rhys!
8.25pm | Underbelly Bristo Square (Ermintrude) | until 28 August
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