Fleeing Russia after making anti-war jokes, nearly becoming one of Epstein’s new victims, getting dragged to line up for labubus with his daughter. All these experiences beg the question — is Sasha Nezlobin alright? Is he actually fine?
Nezlobin used to be a beloved comedic figure in Russia who lived a fairly comfortable life. But after being pressured to leave to the dismay of his young daughter and almost-ex-wife, he has been almost comedically villainised by Russian authorities as a traitor, and forced to pivot into a new atmosphere in Los Angeles, while adapting his comedy to his (very) secondary language, English.
This Fringe marks Nezlobin’s debut in performing an hour long show effectively completely in English. This is a extremely commendable effort, and he traverses this challenge well. His jokes are delivered with nuanced tone and wit and irony, subtleties which are difficult to replicate in an unfamiliar language. He also adjusts jokes to accommodate the whole audience, making cultural references clear and interesting to all.
Nezlobin talks about themes that are politically and individually important to him, and does not stray away from delicate topics. He navigates these topics with a humorous touch, giving insights into the very real problems that tint his life. His humour feels very natural, as if talking to an old friend, and he gets the audience laughing along with him at his various misfortunes with his befuddled facial expressions and likeable personality.
Hollywood, international relations, family problems, financial instability… Nezlobin touches on them all. Although at times lacking flow due to the show being in English, this was an entertaining, farcical and incredibly promising debut that makes me excited to see where Nezlobin will go next in his career in the Western world.
Sasha Nezlobin: I’m Fine is running until 31 August at Pleasance Dome. Buy tickets here.
Image by Stella Reilly, provided for press use.
