Multi-talented genius? Emma McAlpine reviews character comic Nick Mohammed's latest show.
The projector screen is flashing with the words “LEAVE NOW!!!!” but it takes a while for people to get a hold of themselves. What have we just witnessed? Mind-boggling mathematical genius? A masterclass in character comedy? An hour of geeky exhibitionism? Or all of the above, as it happens.
There is much to be impressed by in Nick Mohammed’s new show which sees him revisit his 2010 memory guru character Mr Swallow, although this time he’s focusing on numbers, or as he jokes: “this year’s restrictive theme.” Not surprisingly, this induces a particularly loud bellow of laughs from the seven comics I spot in the audience, including Sarah Millican. Have they heard how good his show is or is he just very popular in the comedy community? Again, I think it’s probably a bit of both.
There are giggles to be had before the show even starts, as Swallow works the room in his camp Northern accent, spritzing Fabreze into the air “Sorry – the act before me stinks!” and gabbling away on his mobile phone. Accidentally dropping it into his pint of water is also a hoot, although an unintentionally expensive gag, judging by the look on his face.
A lot is made of the now ubiquitous PowerPoint presentation and its overuse in Edinburgh shows, but in the right hands, it’s still a very effective comedy tool. The majority of the hour is built around the medium and is all the better for it, with a highly comic script strengthened by the accompanying visuals we get on the screen.
A lecture-cum-workshop of sorts, Swallow takes us through issues he has with well known children’s songs and has some Countdown-style ‘fun’ with the audience. It isn’t really clear what the aim of his presentation is – seemingly a rather random collection of jokes involving numbers (there’s that restrictive theme in action) – but Swallow is such an amusingly harebrained individual it’s not something you spend too much time questioning.
Mohammed throws a lot into the hour, which does hamper the continuity. He makes quips out of character and shoehorns in some of his more random talents so that you’re not quite sure where Swallow ends and Mohammed begins. But he does it with enough panache and humour for it not to detract from the show. What really doesn’t fit (and Mohammed acknowledges this himself) is a random impression of his accountant which sees him abruptly morph into another character. Granted, it’s an impressive demonstration of his acting ability, but it breaks up the flow of the show somewhat.
The BBC have apparently signed him up for a Mr Swallow TV series and it’s not hard to see why. A gifted comic actor with plenty of TV and radio credits to his name, Mohammed’s understanding of the nuances and tics that shape a good character mean he’s one of the finest in the genre. The lovable goon will always make a good comedy subject but there is a lot more to Swallow than a simple idiot formula. For a start, he’s switched on, and thinks he’s quite clever and amusing, which is all the funnier when he gets it completely wrong. One minute he’s snapping his fingers at us for an answer; the next he’s doubting his own witticisms: “Who am I thinking of then?”
This feels like a show of two parts really: one part hysterical character comedy and the other astounding mental wizardry, which makes for one of the most spectacular and brilliantly-executed finales I’ve ever witnessed. But while the wizardry doesn’t quite correlate with some of Swallow’s more stupid moments, it's hard to find fault with it; particularly when I reflect how awestruck I was at the end, with tear-stained cheeks from laughing so hard.
Nick Mohammed: Mr Swallow 2012 is at the Invisible Dot in King's Cross from 5th-13th December at 7:45pm.
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