Sam Nicoresti: Cancel Anti Wokeflake Snow Culture | Edinburgh Fringe comedy review
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Sam Nicoresti: Cancel Anti Wokeflake Snow Culture

Edinburgh Fringe comedy review

It seems all-too easy to take a pop at the right-wing culture war comedians crying about being cancelled on their billionaire-owned media platforms, complaining about all the delicate snowflakes while allowing the knowledge that there’s such a thing as a vegan sausage roll utterly spoil their week.

Sometimes adopting the character of one of these fearless warriors, Sam Nicoresti sarcastically makes the usual liberal retorts to the anti-wokists’ familiar complaints. But the shots are well-aimed and wittily executed, even if the parody outstays its welcome.

The comedian also suggests that by bringing this alter-ego to life, a sort of antimatter version also had to be created to maintain the balance of the universe. That’s why in researching this toxic cesspit of angry men, Nicoresti wakened the dormant gender-queer hiding inside themself. Yes, they’re a ‘they’ now, giving up the ‘hegemonical honey’ of being a straight white dude for the rockier path of being a non-binary millennial.

It’s all a very new concept to Nicoresti – who only came out to mum and dad just before the Fringe – and this show lies within the confusion the comic now feels, finding their way in their new identity. Some things seem certain – that toilets seem to have a sudden and bizarrely significant place at the centre of public discourse – others much else less so.

A creative writer, Nicoresti raises important points with good gags and a smart insight which, at its best, is expressed with a knowing absurdity. The very topic makes the comedian vulnerable, too, and we do go on the journey with them.

But it’s a messy show, and sometimes baffling. Especially when it gets obsessed by frogs (something, it seems, to do with Jordan Peterson defining them as ‘liminal creatures’)  and the incel alter-ego’s podcast goes spectacularly off the rails. This eventually leads us to an avant-garde short film, featuring some surreal Terry Gilliam-like animation that will throw no light on the issues raised  – but will weird you out.

Ultimately, an entirely expectedly, Nicoresti has a touching message of tolerance and support for anyone else who may be struggling with their identity, and you can’t but wish the comedian the same serenity. And having too many ideas jostling to find a format, as in this case, is better than the opposite problem that afflicts so many Fringe shows…

• Sam Nicoresti: Cancel Anti Wokeflake Snow Culture is on at PBH's Free Fringe @ Banshee Labyrinth at 8.55pm

Review date: 11 Aug 2022
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: PBH's Free Fringe @ Banshee Labyrinth

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