Duke of York’s Theatre – until 9 September 2023
Reviewed by Claire Roderick
5*****
After touring the UK, Nick Mohammed’s brilliantly bonkers creation has a residency back at the Duke of York’s Theatre.
Addressing fans of hit show Ted Lasso in the audience who have never seen Mohammed’s alter ego before with a sharp intake of breath and “this is a VERY different show”, Mohammed’s squeaky-voiced character effortlessly wins over the audience with his disconcertingly chaotic show.
This is a “Best of” (and, Mr Swallow admits, “Worst of” show) so some of the content has been seen on his appearances on 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, but the material is so insanely brilliant that it never gets old. (Some of the audience were chuckling in anticipation of the upcoming jokes). Audiences who have seen Mr Swallow’s Houdini and Christmas Carol live shows may miss the more manic and egotistical side of Mr Swallow as he berates his co-stars, but this tour showcases the more mild-mannered, but still snarky know-it-all pedant as seen on TV.
Split into two parts with low tech presentations on numbers, then improving your memory, Mr Swallow begins with an increasingly irate examination of the cumulative reality of receiving all those gifts in “The 12 days of Christmas” before taking the audience down a rabbit hole critiquing the plot of “Les Mis”. The audience breathlessly follow Mohammed on various insane and seemingly random meanderings and he even manages to make nonchalantly solving a Rubik’s cube funny. Watching him use the memory linking method he has showcased in ridiculous fashion to recall a set of cards shouldn’t really be this entertaining – and if he makes the wrong (right?) choice of audience member to help him it becomes a masterpiece of polite frustration.
Mr Swallow’s original libretto for Jurassic Park is a highlight that gets funnier each time you see it, and the failed number demonstrations and tricks throughout the show aren’t the disasters they appear, with Easter eggs that the audience missed revealed with glee as Mr Swallow pulls the rug out from under you in a whirlwind mind-melting reveal that highlights the intricate and clever writing and skill behind this seemingly chaotic hour.
Mr Swallow is a unique comedy character that can make you howl with a simple grimace and shrug.
The absurd energy – he performs on roller skates, never explaining why – and ridiculous analysis carries the audience along on waves of laughter leaving them wanting more of this strange little man.
This preposterous but weirdly charming persona is comedy gold – a show full of belly laughs and silliness. Grab a ticket while you can!