Fin McLachlan Fin, Like the End of a French Film – Melbourne Comedy Festival – Review
Playing to an intimate, small but packed audience, the charismatic, energetic and certifiable twink, Fin McLachlan took his indelible smile to the stage with a rousing applause from his familiar audience and immediately held the room in the palm of his hand.
With a well placed intro and audience banter, Fin led into the theme of his show, his coming out story. With what would have otherwise easily been received and dismissed as merely self-indulgence, Fin was able to draw the audience into his deeply personal story while articulating the intrigue and striking the balance between detail, emotion and comedy.
Although Fin’s performance was professionally delivered and reasonably well polished, some references and one liners did not land with the entirety of the audience, particularly the over 25’s, and this added some colour to the show when Fin himself acknowledged this.
Some aspects were quite out of place, such as some veiled drug references that were out of place and not connected to his story, but loosely connected to throw-backs that just didn’t seem to fit or move the story on.
Fin delivered what is moreover a great basis for a play, firmly placing this act mostly in the form and style of a monologue, rather than a traditional stand-up routine. It would be astute to recognise that this show is somewhat ungraduated and caught somewhere inbetween the two forms.
Audiences in their thirties and above or any individual whose personal story eclipses that of Fin’s, may have difficulty relating to and appreciating the significance of Fin’s journey. Despite this, Fin’s story and delivery makes for an overall highly entertaining evening.
Summary: Ended far too soon, Fin McLachlan's story telling ability is profoundly mature and engaging. An entertaining evening with a bunch of laughs.