It’s fair to say that ventriloquism isn’t the most popular style of comedy today. It brings to mind men in cheap suits sitting on stools with their hands inside creepy dolls doing the RSL curcuit. And then there is the enchanting Nina Conti. Everything about her approach plays off the pre-conceived cliches we have about the art form.

On stage she works with a slide projector, a few well designed props and costumes and a small cast of sock puppet characters but mostly the show’s focus is on the relationship between her and a foul mouthed monkey. He plays the speaker of truths, with Conti as the innocent counter-part and together they explore the manifold theme of Evolution.

As a performer her mastery of  ‘voice throwing’ allows the audience to fall under the spell that you are witnessing two distinctly separate conscious beings arguing on stage. As a comedian she  continually reminds us of the reality of ventriloquism, and ultimately her genius is in the way she includes the audience in the absurdity of it all.

Sure, there are plenty of dick jokes, but it seems the fact that they are delivered by an attractive young woman talking to herself with a puppet on her hand only adds to the surreal quality of the show.

Those who saw her lauded show last year will remember the depth of emotion she gives to her characters and the insightful and touching personal stories that surround her more straight ahead jokes. All of these qualities are still present in her new show Evolution.

Clever , ribald , imaginative and personal. Once again Ms. Conti, we fall at your feet in awe and wonder at just how dirty, twisted and sweet your mind must be.

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