Reviews

Nina Conti at Bristol's Colston Hall - Review

Posted on: 2016-10-12

You can watch all the TV appearances and DVDs you like but nothing will compare to seeing her in person.

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Admittedly, I entered with a hint of trepidation. My wife is a huge fan and so attending was never in doubt. I have always liked Nina Conti’s comedy, though have never sought it out: for instance, if she was already on the television when I sat down then I would happily watch and enjoy, but if I was scanning the TV guide I would likely not switch over to her. Seeing her live is a whole different experience, however. My cheeks are still sore from the constant smile I wore last night and my ribs still bear the scars of laughter.

 

Nina is well known for both her friend ‘Monkey’ and the masks she adorns audience members with. We’ve all seen it on shows like Live at the Apollo. This show featured both, though in a way that left me in awe of her comedic craftsmanship. Quite how she manages to improvise almost an entire show based on particular people’s jobs, stories or questions is equal parts baffling and impressive.

In very small parts, some of the humour was a little ‘7pm ITV variety show’ in nature, which personally isn’t my taste, though clearly is to many people’s liking so I can’t mark her down for that. However, what I was most surprised by was how little of the show was like that. It was full of rapid-fire comebacks to audience participation that would make Louis C.K. reach for his notepad. Her well-honed routines with Monkey were made all the better by her playing along with us as he ‘spoke’, laughing when we did and really divorcing herself from the fact it’s just her on stage.

 

Speaking of Monkey, for a good 15-20 minutes of the second half he took the floor alone. Admittedly, Nina was laying encased in what was tantamount to a body-bag; I forget the set-up as to why but it made sense at the time! He took questions from the audience and was always facing the person who spoke as he would rattle off his answers and anecdotes. Quite how she was able to do this is so far beyond me I can only applaud. Again, just a master of her, rather unique at this point, craft.

The show ultimately drew to a close with a stage full of eight people and Nina: one family, a couple and a lone fan. A sample pad set up as a drum machine was ably manned by one member of the couple as the rest were involved in what was a rather striking dance-off type affair that followed questions. The older mother and father absolutely stole the show and drew roars of laughter louder and more sustained than I have ever encountered. Genuinely. One thing really struck me and I couldn’t shake the thought – how does she remember who’s ‘voice’ is who’s?! There’s so much going on, what with having eight characters to play, plus herself...it’s more of a human feat than a comedy performance. Again, something that, whether you enjoy her comedy or not, you simply must applaud.

 

The final touch was Nina herself becoming Monkey in what was something genuinely odd yet hilarious to witness. Superb yet unsettling as she had done such a good job of making Monkey his own person, to see his voice coming from a lone woman was startling to say the least.

If you are already a Nina Conti fan then seeing her live is an absolute must. You can watch all the TV appearances and DVDs you like but nothing will compare to seeing her in person. If, like myself, you are appreciative of what she does but wouldn’t really consider going to see her when she comes to town – you must. I was completely won over. I’m as stubborn as a mule and don’t like being proved wrong, but I’ll gladly admit to loving this show.

 

Nina Conti is on tour until the end of November. You can find out all the info you need at her website - www.ninaconti.net

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