Phil Nichol in Nearly Gay and Benjamin Crellin in Gagz4themassez

Phil Nichol (left) and Benjamin Crellin.

Phil Nichol, Nearly Gay
Herald rating: * * * * *

Benjamin Crellin, Gagz4themassez
Herald rating: * * * *

Phil Nichol is like a giant Newfoundland puppy. He's shaggy, he's slobbery and he likes to hump things. And he's completely adorable.

Having said that, the man's got a mouth like an outrageously camp sailor - and if you're the type of person offended by the "C" word you may want to steer clear of him.

If only someone had told the elderly gentleman in the front row. As the Canadian's act progressed, the man's face went from bemused to horrified as Nichol performed fellatio on his microphone, "necked" a member of the audience, described how he broke his penis and sang a death-metal song about Rohypnol that would give The Darkness' Justin Hawkins' vocal range a run for his money.

Yes, it was sexually explicit. But what else would you expect from a show called Nearly Gay, the premise of which is about how Nichol has spent the past four years trying to prove he's not homophobic?

Nichol was brilliant. Hilariously, provocatively brilliant. It was just a shame that festival organisers had him cooped up in the tiny Classic Studio where his stage was little more than a soap box. As the Comedy Gala proved, Nichol is a master at big laughs, and he deserves a big venue.

One person who did benefit from the small studio setting was local comic Benjamin Crellin. While his set at Friday's gala fell a bit flat, he was back on form by Tuesday.

Crellin's dark and brooding comedy is the antithesis of Nichol's rapid-fire, sing-along, bells and whistles approach. His social and political commentary were at times masterful, but became somewhat lecture-like towards the end.

Like all good comedians, Crellin's humour works because his observations are so true to life. At one point he predicts there will soon be a reality TV show where obese American children swap lives with starving Africans - then adds, "The sick part is, every single one of us would watch it."

He delivered some of the best one-liners of the festival. If you like your comedy smart and scathing, Crellin's definitely the man for the job.

* Classic Studio, runs until Saturday