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New Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of it
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Theatre
A smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusion
Cock
Restaurants
Kitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave
Kitchen W8
Too long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effects
This is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flaws
Alex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factor
London,
Bruce Dessau's rating
Reader rating
Award nominee: Phil Nichol is never less than captivating
And so another Edinburgh Fringe faces the final curtain. But not without more nudity. Phil Nichol is one of the five nominees for the inaugural if.comeddies Award, announced on Saturday, and while there is no denying his storytelling skills, I do not think he would be a contender if his show did not climax with him waving his penis around.
The Canadian veteran's hour is essentially a lurid, manic account of a lost weekend in Amsterdam. The tale takes in sex, drugs, bunions, heavy metal, a rabid marine, a paraplegic, Nazi skinheads and a visit to a fetish club, the latter described, the night this critic was in, with remarkable relish given the fact that Nichol's grandmother was in the second row.
This human Tasmanian devil is a wonder to experience, but prizewise there are misgivings. Even though his monologue is called The Naked Racist and concludes with a pacifist justification for stripping, the full-frontal feels like shock tactics. Under scrutiny this set is strikingly similar in form and content to last year's show, except with added genitals.
Nichol is never less than captivating, though. And given the fact that he is also acting in True West and Talk Radio his stamina is unbelievable. As he jokes at the outset: "Next year I'm also gonna get a jazz band and write a book."
If there was an award for graft he'd romp home, but the if.comeddies prefers act development. Unfortunately, Nichol is merely as excellent as ever.
Until 27 August. Information: 0131 558 7272
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
I don't think Phil Nichol is that funny, to be honest.... his humour is very Canadian, and not as subtle as good old British comedy. And as for irony.... forget it! I saw him ages ago, and I certainly won't see him again. As far as I'm concerned he's someone pretending to be a comedian and not doing a good job of it.
- Migula D'Souza, Islington
Phil Nichol is hilarious, but not very PC. I've seen him a couple of times and every time I do he I cannot breathe for laughing so much - his jokes about heavy metal are particularly brilliant and ones that hit a nerve. Add in his sketch about fetish clubs and you're onto a winner. He's everything Russell Brand wants to be.
- Fiona, London
