2019 marks the fourth year in a row that Rhys Nicholson has visited Auckland. In that time, he has elevated from sharing the stage with three other comedians to winning the Best International Show Award and hosting the Auckland gala. It's a rapid transition, but one fully deserved for a comedian who, for years now, has been unrivalled at the festival in terms of sheer comedic brilliance.
The title, Nice People Nice Things Nice Situations, is inspired by a catty letter Nicholson received from an aggravated viewer criticising his mannerisms and behaviour and urging him to be nicer. Thankfully, Nicholson has ignored Carol and his new show is as acerbic and biting as ever.
The only real change from last year's equally phenomenal Seminal is that he has done away with that show's more serious tone. Nicholson told the Herald that he wanted to have more fun this time, and it shows, the show keeping its same cutting edge and pointed humour but basking in a more positive atmosphere.
His style is hard to describe if you have never seen him perform. Nicholson is probably the most quick-fire, energetic comedian you will ever witness, though in the most understated way possible. He has a masterful ability to cram a dozen jokes into a single moment, each one delivered with its own inflection, squawk, shout or stumble, so that no matter what Nicholson says or does, every minute is oozing with laughs.
Listen to our Comedy Festival podcast with Rhys Nicholson, Eli Matthewson and James Roque:
