Review: Reginald’s observations make you think

‘Crackers’, we are told, is a word commonly used by black Americans to describe white Americans - but it’s not, we are invited to understand, a case of racism or any other form of prejudice. It’s just life.

And, Reginald - an American of course - makes sure to tell us from the word go, that black people, himself included, will use the ‘n’ word a lot - but it’s neither ironic, nor ‘claiming it back’. It’s just a word.

All the way through this witty and intelligent show, Reginald makes it very clear that he thinks we should all be more forward about expressing ourselves without fear of how our words may appear to others. Be a good person, be honest - but be direct is the main message I take away.

Being British, he observes, is all about not wanting to be perceived to be a certain thing and getting rather wrapped up in that. Why don’t people talk more about sex? he implores. And why is that topic treated so preciously anyway?

Much as we giggle and laugh at the veracity of this thoughtful man’s observations, I imagine that most of us in the audience lucky enough to have not come to see the show with their grandma are feeling rather relieved as it become increasingly clear that Reginald has no qualms whatsoever about dicussing sexual relations and feelings. But this audience member certainly did ponder over his words for some time afterwards.

In contrast, the Canadian comedian Pete Johansson who preceded Reginald’s act for the first 40 minutes or so, also liked to speak candidly about topics that usually make us squirm - but I was disappointedly left feeling that he was doing so just for the sake of being contraversial, rather than to convey a deeper message like Reginald. Sadly I failed to be amused. It could be that I am a “miserable ****” as put to the audience by so gracefully by Pete. But I would have rather have done without him.

Sundari Cleal