Champagne Casanova is a self-deprecating, self-aware, and simultaneously self-indulgent work of comedy that at times verges on genre-bending. Finlay Christie commands the room, toeing the line between edgy and witty, swerving around audiences’ expectations. He isn’t afraid to step into political subject matters, drawing thoughtful comparisons that are equally funny and thought-provoking.
One of the main themes of Champagne Casanova is Christie’s privilege as an upper-middle class man. He jokes about his private school upbringing in Islington, taking on the persona of someone so aggressively posh that they don’t know what a joiner is. This material is funny, and self-deprecating enough to not come across as boastful, but lasts long enough that it does begin to feel tasteless at points. He also isn’t afraid to step into political subject matters, comparing incels to Marxists and declaring his love for North Korean propaganda films.
Christie originally built his following on social media, with almost 180,000 followers on Instagram, and this success translates well to live comedy. Champagne Casanova is a well-considered show, with Christie weaving in and calling back to stories throughout the set that build in hilarity in each instance. Christie also works with the audience well, using them to drive home punchlines and managing to find the humour in bits of crowd work that weren’t really working.
Possibly due to his beginnings outside the world of stand-up comedy, Christie steps outside of traditional genre constraints towards the end of the show. With smooth jazz playing in the background, and dim, purple lighting descending onto him, he pairs material about the British empire with a parody of a 20th century detective film.
Throughout the show, Finlay Christie acknowledges and exaggerates his own hypocrisies, poking fun at stereotypes across all ends of the spectrum. He indulges himself with jokes about his privileges but is self-aware enough to tell stories that paint him in a less-than-flattering light.
Finlay Christie: Champagne Casanova is running until 30 August at Monkey Barrel Comedy.
Buy tickets here.
Image by Rebecca Need-Menear, provided to The Student as press material.
