The first thing to say about Rhys Nicholson is that he has made an effort. Admirably so. Double-breasted jacket, bow tie, boutonniere in his lapel and shiny patent shoes (no socks but then he’s Australian, so let’s give him the benefit of the doubt). He looks like a 1950s TV game show host as drawn by Walt Disney.
The second thing to say about Rhys Nicholson is that he makes this comedy lark look effortless. Whether riffing on gay marriage, the weirdness of straight porn, the kind of shops divorced women open, being mugged in New Zealand, or dealing with the odd Saturday-night member of the audience or three who have realised they are very much in the wrong show, Nicholson is so on top of this. Masterful timing and full-fat wit and waspishness seems to be his default position.
Nicholson, who in his homeland is a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Queen Down Under, is a queer comedian who has realised he is non-binary (which makes my use of the male pronoun questionable, but then I am an old straight man). And while that broad outline of a character profile might sketch out the territory Nicholson’s comedy covers – yes, at one point he admits to watching Sex and the City; he is disappointed that he turned out to be a “Miranda” when he did the “which character are you?” quiz – there is no sense that his humour is confined to a particular audience or demographic. It has a thrilling, wicked, wildfire quality, a sense of the unsaid being said and a delighted, shocked joy in the comedy of being human.
Straight men don’t necessarily come out of it looking great, but I’m guessing we can probably take a little well-meaning critique. Alternatively we’ll tell everyone otherwise. Loudly.
But, really, what needs to be said is that Nicholson’s humour does not need to be defined (confined?) by references to his sexuality or gender. Rather, let’s celebrate a comedian on top of his game who has a distinctive, unique perspective on the world, one he shares with bravura virtuosity.
So,yeah, basically it’s worth making the effort to see him. Maybe polish your shoes before you go, though.
Rhys Nicholson: Rhys! Rhys! Rhys!, 20.25, Underbelly, Bristo Square – Ermintrude, August 6-28
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/rhys-nicholson-rhys-rhys-rhys
