Finlay Christie is the very picture of modern day privilege – young, white, male, and with parents not short of a bob or two. And he wears it brilliantly. A self-styled voice of ‘youth’, he’s wickedly self-aware whilst also sending himself up. “It’s good to be young,” he proclaims, owning every part of his generational spokesperson persona, carefully not excluding anyone else either. The room is packed, there’s electricity in the air, and he holds the audience in the palm of his hand with barely a single joke that isn’t a fresh zinger. Christie has the connection and smart comedic strength usually associated with comics that play far larger rooms, filling this small one with a show that is pure tightly written, well structured enjoyment.
‘I Deserve This’ takes the form of a richly droll comedic lecture on how to best succeed as a young person. Tongue is firmly in cheek, with points touching on the current zeitgeists of neurodiversity, trauma, and sexual fluidity amongst others, deftly raising tricky questions with a light touch and a mischievous glint. Subtitles help deliver the ludicrous nature of his teenage grime lyrics on screens, and the multimedia nature of his presentation makes sure that every carefully constructed detail of the show is seen and included. Even the fonts look youthful and fun.
Finlay Christie serves up in ‘I Deserve This’ a clever, funny, accessible, and sharp show, showcasing his bright intelligence and enjoyment of wordplay, covered in a shiny veneer of blithe nonchalance that’s fooling nobody. A lovely new voice I can’t wait to hear more from.
Finlay Christie: I Deserve This, 22.50 Monkey Barrel Comedy Until August 25
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=%22Finlay%20Christie%3A%20I%20Deserve%20This%22
