BBC Three Comedy Marathon

At the Edinburgh Fringe 2012

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Comedy in the Dark
Live Review

Maybe it is because I work part-time in a cinema that the idea of acclimatising to the dark is second nature to me. But either way, I am underwhelmed by this wheeze.

  Before proceedings kick off we are told to stay in our seats and that we can’t get up and leave without using a safety word. Strap in, then, literally.  

But strap in for what? What’s it like to witness comedy in the dark? Erm, radio? Quite honestly, at a quarter to midnight, it’s the end of a long stream of shows for the humble critic and a great opportunity to rest your eyes without being considered rude.  

Of course I wouldn’t feel so snoozy if there was some mirth emanating from the murk. I’m not saying that the efforts of Anil Desai, Seann Walsh and Nina Conti went unappreciated but they were all made uncertain and stymied to some extent by the conceit.  

Seann Walsh attempted to get around the ‘rules’ by bringing a torch and going all Blair Witch on us but couldn’t use that ruse for too long as the torch was so bright and uncomfortable for the audience. Desai’s impressions are 90 per cent vocal gags, of course, and went unaffected by the premise of the show although he, like Walsh, was distracted and not at full power in his set.  

Conti, meanwhile, was pretty much business as usual and managed to riff on the situation with her grandmother character remarking that was much like any other gig to her, given that she was a puppet.  

Despite my black mark against this show I would go again if the venue was a more atmospheric, in-the-round, space and where acts were trying out material more tailored to the premise. Once more, with a sense of occasion would be the advice.

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Her on QI? Maybe the most unfunny, annoying thing ever. Utter sh!t

Marcus, January 2012

Saw Nina recently at the Union Chapel with Stewart Lee headlining. She's vaguely amusing, but no more than that-got some gentle laughs but that was it I'm afraid, easily the weakest act of the night.

Ted, June 2011

I love Nina far too much. She has taken ventriloqism and revamped it for a new generation. The way she deconstructs her act is brilliant and in each new show I have seen her in she challenges herself to go further. The funniest woman in Britain today? She's up there.

Rich, August 2010

We just finished watching Nina's act on Just for Laughs and I think this absolutely brilliant! This is the most original and creative act I have ever seen and I don't think it would matter if she were a terrible ventriloquist (which I don't think she is) but the act would still be amazing because it actually makes you think. Thank you Nina for thinking outside the box... or puppet...

april, August 2007

I'm a comic from America. I just worked with Nina at Glastonbury and she blew me away. More important she blew the audience away. She spends ten minutes degrading the monkey (anyone who is silly enough to comment on the monkey not being a real Vent doll cares a little too much about ventriloquism and not enough about comedy, showmanship, or great writing) then switched status in an obvious but brilliant way. By the end of her set the monkey was defiling her on stage and the audience was screaming. I don't mean that metaphorically. I mean five thousand people screaming. No one else got a response like that. Don't get me wrong... there were some fantastic comics on that stage but no one had the visceral effect on the crowd that Nina did. There is just something intrinsicly funny about a sweet princess of a girl getting plushy-hypno-raped by a foul mouthed demon monkey doll. But I'm American... what do I know about comedy.

Unkle Paul, August 2007

How did she get such acclaim? She's a terrible vent act. Paul Zerdin rocks, miles better and original. The monkey isn't even a true vent doll, it looks like something you buy a kid at Butlins.

Lee Hathaway, March 2007

I just saw her on Just for Laughs and she is hands down one of the funniest people I've seen on the show let alone one of the funniest vents I've ever seen

Kyle Voltti, July 2006

Bottom line: Nina is witty, amusing, talented, attractive and very creative.

Frank Gerber, June 2006

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