Duke of York’s Theatre then touring until May
Reviewed by Claire Roderick
4****
Nick Mohammed’s brilliantly bonkers creation is touring the UK for the first time – and the country is in for a treat.
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 soon has the audience in the palm of his hand as he whizzes through his material. Much of the content has been seen on his appearances on 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, but rather than feeling like a rehash, the show is more of a celebration of greatest hits. 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 solving a Rubik’s cube exciting. Watching him use the memory linking method he showcased in ridiculous fashion to recall a set of cards shouldn’t really be this entertaining, but the squeaks and grimaces as he does the trick are fabulous. 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 in a whirlwind mind-melting reveal that highlights the intricate and clever writing and skill behind this seemingly chaotic hour.
Equally annoying and irresistible – but always hilarious – Mr Swallow is a 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. A seriously silly evening of comedy gold – get your skates on and catch Mr Swallow at a venue near you.
TOUR DATES:
01.04.22 EDINBURGH – ASSEMBLY ROXY
02.04.22 GLASGOW – INT’L COMEDY FESTIVAL AT TRAMWAY
05.04.23 LEEDS, CITY VARIETIES MUSIC HALL
13.04.22 BIRMINGHAM – THE OLD REP THEATRE
14.04.22 LEEDS, CITY VARIETIES MUSIC HALL
15.04.22 DURHAM, GALA THEATRE
16.04.22 SALFORD, THE LOWRY
27.04.22 OXFORD, OXFORD PLAYHOUSE
28.04.22 BRIGHTON, THEATRE ROYAL
29.04.22 BRISTOL, REDGRAVE THEATRE – & MATINEE
30.04.22 MACHYNLLETH COMEDY FESTIVAL
03.04.22 EXETER, CORN EXCHANGE
05.04.22 CARDIFF, SHERMAN THEATRE
14.04.22 NORWICH, NORWICH THEATRE PLAYHOUSE
14.05.22 NORWICH, NORWICH THEATRE PLAYHOUSE – MATINEE
17.05.23 SALFORD, THE LOWRY
21.05.23 LONDON, DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE