★ ★ ★ ★
Nathan’s show is a self described triple-threat. He tickles you with comedy, massages you with his songs and then elbows you in the back with poetry. For a sweet, vulnerable and open-hearted young guy from L.A, his uncategorisable work is far too clever and idealistic for a cynical, tourist trap Edinburgh Fringe. Yet Nathan lays himself bare each evening, talking through his bipolar breakdown, suicide attempts and hospital stays. His authenticity is admirable.
Nathan has a confident frat-boy humour that may grate on British sensibilities, but it is imbued with the quality of being an outsider, being Asian-American and being authentic.
It was the heart and depth of his feeling, sincere and emphatic that made this show rise above its counterparts. His songs were beautiful and poetry powerful. There were a lot of inspired touches to his hour, especially the audience participation of us using his bipolar meds as maracas.
A lot of reviewers ridicule the male stand-up who bases his hour on a ‘break-up with a girlfriend’ and it is indeed a cliche of a stand-up, but in this case it is entirely justified. This show isn’t really about a break-up, it’s a show about a breakdown. It is about mental health, and suicide in young men, a subject that is so unbelievably important, and for that Nathan Mosher should be lauded, and everyone should see his show.
Review by Simon Jay
Nathan Mosher is Injured C Venues – C aquila 18:05 (55m) Aug 9-28 £9/7 (also available online) 14+
