In his new show Champagne Casanova Finlay Christie talks about the perils of the constantly online. A previous winner of So You Think you’re Funny, and nominee for the Malcolm Hardee Million Quid Award he now has two radio shows under his belt.
He tells Entertainment Now why he loves a long pause and why Phil Ellis is his hero.
Tell us about your show. Why should we go and see it?
You shouldn’t necessarily go to see it. There’s so much good art at the Fringe that I wouldn’t blame you for seeing someone else. In fact, don’t see it. If he was that good, you’d already have heard of him. Like Micky Flanagan, or Jimmy Carr. People always knew who they were, because they’re proper comics. I’m probably rubbish, and woke.
What is your favourite thing about your show?
I have a throwaway joke about Hawaiian shirts in the third act that never gets a laugh from audience members, but comedians absolutely love it.
Or you could go see a comedian who panders to the audience by trying to get “laughs”. Pathetic.
Do you have a Fringe idol?
Phil Ellis. He’s the Jamie Vardy of comedy. He has been brilliant for ages, and is getting the recognition he deserves quite late, because he defies every archetype of a successful comedian. All you need to know about him is that he turned down Live at the Apollo because he knows he’d sabotage the performance on purpose.
He once almost accidentally hanged himself on stage with a microphone cable. I’m so glad we didn’t lose him that day.
What three words best describe your performance style – and why?
Measured, gag-heavy.
I’m often described as being quite slow, because I really enjoy building tension in a room. I love a long pause. If you come to my gigs, expect a lot of silence. Mostly silence.
Who are you looking forward to seeing in Edinburgh?
Phil Ellis, Eric Rushton, Chris Kent… Many more.
Chris Kent made me cry laughing recently at the Kilkenny Cat Laughs festival. I can’t remember the last time a stand-up made me do that. His stuff is incredibly simple, yet effective. I’ve heard he’s James Acaster’s favourite comedian, and I’m not surprised.
What do you hope to achieve in Edinburgh – what are your hopes and dreams?
Stephen Fry once told me that the worst thing you can do in life is to set yourself goals, because you’ll either not meet them, and be disappointed, or meet them and think: I’m here, now what?
All I can hope for is that I become a better comedian by the end of the month. Everything else is a bonus. I also want to hang out with my friends. Can you imagine being friends with the next generation of great stand-up comedians? It’s bloody brilliant.
What are the biggest obstacles you face as a performer at the Fringe?
Reviewers defining my entire self-worth for the next 6 months, and alcoholism.
Halfway through the Fringe, I start needing a cheeky pint before the show, just to get myself up to that same fresh energy from start of the run. By the end of the run, to be perfectly honest, it’s more like three pints pre-show.
What do you hope the audience will take away after an hour in your company?
My merch.
How do you plan to relax and recharge when not on stage?
Bed rot. I love to just lie down and accumulate mould and lichen on my body. I stay as still as possible and sometimes I wail.
What is your idea of a perfect Fringe day?
Wake up. 5 stars from the Guardian. Extra shows added. My girlfriend’s coming up in the afternoon. Leave my accommmodation. Bump into my friends. They’re all having a great run too. We talk about comedians we hate, who are having terrible runs. We separate and smash our shows. We re-unite. We convince a pub to let us all have a lock-in, since all the pubs have late licenses, but they never use it because they’re worried about not being busy. We pack the pub out with great comedians. Billy Bragg’s “A New England” comes on. Big sing song. I black out from this point on.
Finlay Christie: Champagne Casanova, 22.40, Monkey Barrel, August 3 – 31
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/finlay-christie-champagne-casanova
