Tony-scooping Jay Johnson opened at the Arts last week, now Nina Conti arrives in W1 having bagged a prestigious Barry Award at the Melbourne Comedy Festival for this show, which is easily the most fully-rounded voice-throwing hour in town at the moment. The filthiest, too.
Conti's regular sidekick is the mischievous, libidinous monkey named, with minimal effort, Monkey. But his pride of place is under threat as three new contenders are auditioned - a dog, another monkey and a baby with a somewhat adult sense of humour. None make the grade, leaving the way clear for Monkey and his attitude problem to stay centre stage. Keith Harris and Orville this ain't.
In a promising departure from her usual performances, Conti also demonstrates her acting skills - she is the daughter of Tom and was previously in the RSC - by playing characters.
A West Midlands wannabe mermaid is nothing special but her strident South African voodoo expert is full of surprises. Best by far though, is her portrayal of her aged Aberdonian grandfather, also a ventriloquist, who in one genuinely moving scene is reunited with his dead wife.
Much of the patter is knowingly witty, subverting the traditional dummy-master relationship and building to a climactic personae switch which is both freaky and funny.
Conti is an engaging presence, laughing at her bad jokes and feigning embarrassment at Monkey's antics, for which she is responsible. In fact, the irony of this busy, clever show is that ventriloquism may be the least of her talents. When she says "Planet of the Apes" you can almost see her lips move from Dean Street.
Until Saturday (0870 429 6883, www.sohotheatre.com)
Nina Conti
Soho Theatre
Dean Street, W1D 3NE
