Although Dario Fo once said that "theatre is the last bastion of democracy", many would argue that in age where plays dealing with politically sensitive issues can be closed with enough public protest, perhaps stand up comedy is the only medium which allows true freedom of speech.  Appropriate it is then that the Comedians Theatre Company have chosen to present this production of Talk Radio by Eric Bogosian, a play which is not likely to incite any kind of outrage but does call into question our need for forums in which we can express our opinions freely and accurately.

Set in the WTLK radio station in Cleveland, 1985, Talk Radio sees host Barry Champlain (Phil Nichol) present his show on the last night before it goes national.  As the show unfolds, and opinions fly around, our character slowly unravels before us until he's left questioning the worth of everything he's worked for until this point. It becomes clear that opinions are indeed like arseholes, everyone has them and in an age of sensational daytime talk shows and voxpop culture, how much do we actually need them?

It’s obvious that Nichol [who bought the rights to this play himself with a view to playing it] is in love with this play, and rightly so; Bogosian's sharp verbalising is it's greatest strength, but Nichol's boiling,  frenetic performance is accomplished and deeply absorbing.  Playing a man who is imagined to spend his free time waiting to come back into work, Nichol truly comes alive when dealing with the numerous callers [all voiced superbly by Tara Flynn, Tiffany Stevenson, Tony Law, Mike McShane, and Will Adamsdale] even if the off mic dialogue with his producer Stu [Stephen K Amos] never seems comfortable and can be a little stilted which is, more than likely, the point. 
 
Ironically, the only real disappointment is in the monologues which one would assume that comedians would be more adept at.  It doesn't help them that they are imposed on us with an alarming lack of subtlety, the responsibility of which lies with the uneven direction, but only Mike McShane really engages. It is McShane, Nichol and Will Adamsdale as over excitable teenager Kent, who really turn in the most assured performances. 

In all, this is neither a three star or a four star show, it's somewhere in between, but Nichol's infectious passion for this piece makes it all the more worthwhile. 

E4 Udderbelly, Bristo Square
3 - 28 August, 5.15pm

Tickets £10 - £14.50