Nic Sampson review: Yellow Power Ranger is a revelation you’ll want to see twice

Edinburgh Fringe

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Edinburgh Fringe 〰️

Image: Matt Stronge

by Zoe Paskett

Nic Sampson is one of those comedians whose live shows feel like an Event. 

His 2022 masterpiece Marathon, 1904 was one of my favourites of that year. A hyper-involved show about a very specific event in Olympic history, it was a whirlwind of joyful and intricate character comedy that only he could have pulled off. This year’s offering, Yellow Power Ranger is a hyper-involved show about a very specific event in Nic’s own personal history: his time starring in Power Rangers: Mystic Force at the age of 18. 

Despite the unusual casting – Chip, who he played in the show was a “loser”, a “nerd”, a “freak”, but in real life Nic was naturally your classic jock type – he thrived in the show’s very successful 14th season. Now grown, he has signed advertising deals, written a novel and honed a daily routine that would terrify Mark Wahlberg.

Including real footage from the series, insights into his social media and fan videos, he paints a picture of a former celeb desperately holding onto his glory days. It’s a revelation of a show, expertly structured and solidifying him as one of the funniest comedic writers and actors around. 

Situating the show as an audience Q&A at fan convention allows him to weave in plenty of brilliant physical gags, as small as the way he shakes hands with an audience member and as big as a extended sketch about his incredulity at the use of the phrase “fingers in a lot of pies”. Every moment is clearly so carefully considered from start to finish, and the character never slips, even as he signs headshots and greets us as we enter. This attention to detail and total commitment are what makes this such a huge success.

As with Marathon, 1904, Yellow Power Ranger leaves you with the feeling that you need to see it again immediately.

Nic Sampson: Yellow Power Ranger is at Assembly Roxy (Outside), 17:45. Tickets here