Finlay Christie owns his privilege like a big cat prowling, without flinching and with a light touch. He skirts the dangerous waters of billionaire sex islands and posh comedian cliches, diving into a mugging story that may be familiar to fans of his previous work but this time expanding it further to build upon the solid laughs.
Christie is smart, confident, and unafraid to play with old forms of gag structure in fresh ways. There’s a lovely punchline switching up what not going to a single sex school might mean that’s playful and contemporary. The same applies to his take on his champagne socialist Islington neighbours, deconstructing their political standpoints for a pithy payoff. ‘Champagne Casanova’ is friendly and caustic, clever and juvenile. There’s just not enough of it.
When Finlay Christie was last in town two years ago with ‘I Deserve This’ the show was packed from start to finish with great content. This time around the content is still of quality it’s just not as densely packed at all. Rapt silent attention is stretched, giving the impression that this is a good chunk of an excellent show but with longer set ups and some distractions that don’t necessarily lead to anywhere that might maintain the quality of the material.
‘Champagne Casanova’ is fair. It’s a taster of how clever and funny Christie can be. It would just be good to have a little more of it.
Finlay Christie: Champagne Casanova, 22.40, Monkey Barrel 4 at Monkey Barrel Comedy, 3-30 August (not 18th)
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/finlay-christie-champagne-casanova
