Phil Nichol The Stand Comedy Club Edinburgh Sunday 24th March 2007

Reprising his 2006 Fringe show the Naked Racist

Geoff got to see this show during last years Fringe and although I saw him in his other two plays I did not get to see his award winning performance until its return to The Stand.

Where do you get two shows for the price of one? The first part of Phil’s act was most of his Nearly Gay show from Fringe 2005. Again I had not been party to this production but had heard some of the material during his last visit to The Stand out with Fringe time. He definitely puts great effort into each performance. I don’t remember him being quite so musical he finished the first half by playing a guitar and singing two numbers.

The second part of the evening was his Naked Racist set from Fringe 2006. He discusses racism in several forms referring back to his history lessons in Canada where he learned about a race of people who refused to fight as it was against their beliefs. When faced with the choice fight or die the whole nation removed their clothing, stood naked and yelled “You can take away our freedom but not our dignity!”  He takes us through one of his true life stories when he realised he might just be a little racist himself.  The final outcome was to make us think deeply about our feelings and the best way to react to our feelings.

Phil’s cheeky looks are so appealing he never fails to put a smile on my face. His performances whether comedy or in straight plays are always given whole heartedly. Where others give 99% all the time Phil seems to give 200% where he gets his energy from I will never know.

Roll on the fringe when I know Geoff and I will be fighting over the ticket to get to see him.

It was also great to see The Stand Comedy Club Edinburgh full to overflowing check out their website for up coming performances.  It won’t be too long until their Fringe schedule is released, usually early June.  www.thestand.co.uk