REVIEW: RHYS NICHOLSON IN DAWN OF A NEW ERROR

2013 MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL

REVIEW: RHYS NICHOLSON IN DAWN OF A NEW ERROR

VENUE AND DATES: PORTLAND HOTEL, CORNER RUSSELL AND LITTLE COLLINS STREET, UNTIL APRIL 21

ASSESSMENT: Nicholson’s sexually graphic confessional comedy not for the squeamish.

STAR RATING: ****.

Inside the claustrophobic Gold Room at the Portland Hotel, dubbed “the Anne Frank room”, by Rhys Nicholson, we spy an anatomical drawing of a penis. That image serves as a visual warning of the 55 minutes of hard-working filth that awaits us.

Beneath the impeccably groomed, Richie Cunningham meets Buddy Holly exterior (black bow tie, grey, three piece suit, horn rimmed glasses), gay, stand up comedian, Nicholson, remains the damaged teenage boy who was heavily bullied while growing up in Newcastle, and who is in therapy for severe anxiety and eating disorders (bulimia). He weighs 64 kilograms. This is brilliant but confronting, confessional comedy.

Despite the confessed disorders, Nicholson is a highly skilled, self-assured performer, who does not stumble during an entertaining performance littered liberally with F and C bombs, and high level, graphic sexual content.

The 22-year old tells us that, despite being in love with Perth bi-sexual, Kyron, he is a miserable celiac with an intolerance to hope, who is sick of positivity.

Nicholson shows us his photos as a cute, chubby, 8, 12, and 13 year old. He then explains how he may have acquired his psychological disorders: after spilling tomato sauce on his Mother’s couch, his Mother retaliated by smearing his bed in tomato sauce. Grotesque.

The show ends on a suitably upbeat note, with Nicholson miming and high-stepping it to Barbra Streisand’s version of “Don’t rain on my parade”.

Provided you can handle the graphic sexual content, Nicholson’s show is a 2013 Festival “must see”.

BY: JOE CALLERI.

NB: REVIEW ALSO PUBLISHED ON HERALD SUN ONLINE, SUNDAY 31 MARCH, 2013.