REVIEW BY KATYA EWING
EDITED BY EMMA PARFITT
Upon entering the upstairs room of the Butterfly Club, my friend remarked “well, this is intimate.” As comedy-show novices, we found a spot on some Parisian chairs in the back corner, me trying to discreetly hide my notepad, hoping not to draw attention to myself. However, it was quickly put away when McGrath threatened his wrath at anyone wielding a reviewer’s notebook. And for good reason—McGrath effortlessly pulls the audience into the show. He delivers a versatile range of sketches, leaving me, notebook discarded, completely captivated and entertained.
Watching Finn McGrath’s This Show Will be Considered for Awards feels like being inside a pinball machine. Buzzing with energy, pinging from one sketch to the next, the show is a glorious patchwork quilt of a Gen Z’ers musings, struggles and observations from life in Melbourne. Expect musical numbers, PowerPoint presentations, a mid-performance call to his therapist and spontaneous improv.
Initially, I wondered whether I’d be entertained for the full 60 minutes, but before I knew it, the hour had passed in what seemed like an energy-fuelled buzz, driven by McGrath’s relentless drive to keep us on our toes.
The presence of stage manager Liv over the speaker, combined with the use of multimedia and an assortment of props helps maintain the show’s rapid pace. McGrath guides the performance with animations, literary slide breakdowns and an impromptu advertisement. These elements not only inject humour but also allow McGrath to control the energy of the room. He masterfully threads these sketches together, ensuring that the show retains a hurtling and energising momentum.
One of his standout techniques is starting a joke and leaving the audience hanging, creating a sense of delicious unpredictability and quirkiness. It’s this unpredictability that fuels much of the charm of this show.
Dynamic and ever-moving, McGrath’s acting background shines through clearly. Holding a BFA in theatre from VCA, he infuses his performance with theatrical flair, delivering a multi-faceted display of song, dance, impressions and improvisation. As a 24-year-old comedian, McGrath’s performance struck a chord with me as a fellow Gen Z, but it’s clear that his unique blend of humour resonates with a wide range of audiences. A man in the front row literally went horizontal with laughter.
Labelled as a night of social commentary, one of my favourite parts of the show was his breakdown of Melbourne’s infamous PTV system. McGrath masterfully takes us on a journey from his Melbourne home to Coburg, navigating the chaos of the city’s transport system – an all too familiar experience.
Will this show be considered for awards? While there are moments where it feels like McGrath is pinging from one random thought to another, he skilfully ties these disparate moments together, creating a performance that is both chaotic and masterfully executed.
Katya Ewing (she/her) is a third year English and Theatre studies/Media student. She loves immersing myself in the theatrical world whether it be acting, watching or reviewing!
Photos included in this review are from Finn McGrath’s Connection Interrupted at the Double Tree Hilton in 2024.
Finn McGrath’s This Show Will Be Considered For Awards plays at the Butterfly Club as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival until April 6th.
The Dialog is supported by Union House Theatre.
The Dialog 