By Jennifer Beasley.
Casey Filips, What A Character, is the natural cerebral evolution for this talented comic, whose exceptional observational skills delves deep into the minutiae of characters to stunning effect .
I was keen to see Casey Filips this year, after reviewing his fascinating show, Virtuoso, at last year’s MICF. With all the critiquing one does, you get a feel for potential. At tonight’s show, What a Character, Filips has come into his own.
Drilling down into characterisation is what defines Filips. Presenting four different characters, a smattering of audience participation, AV visuals and sound effects, Filips has found his groove.
Coming on stage as the first character, let’s call this guy, the world weary bored security staffer, Filips, carrying a clipboard with a printout of all the attendee audiences, begins by calling out names at random and checking bags (found a gun), body searches (found nothing but ooh, have you been working out?) and a few other very funny objects that have the audience squealing with laughter as po-faced Filips reveals in the power of this ‘demi-God’ character.
This isn’t a format I’ve encountered before, as Filips sends audience members outside, then to the back of the room, or through the backstage. Quick witted and so, so good at the snappy retorts, Filips pivots with speed while still in character, making the most of the generous audience’s capacity to become the act!
Shifting tonally, the next character, an inept spy, comes in. My pet hate is the overdone spy genre; however, Filips was able to find a new angle, with guns going off every-which-way as he flounces around the set.
The third character was pure brilliance. Almost totally silent, Filips acts as that obsessive sound guy that ruins every TV and film show. This resonated with me as I find these guys on every set. Where’s the perfect sound? Is it a giggle? Oh, lets run around and keep looking. Brilliant comic timing and oh-so-hard to do, Filips is a master of downplaying the humour, while keeping the suspense. This isn’t rapid-fire wit. It’s a slow and intelligent build as you realise the real joke is how patient everyone in the audience is with this guy who must find the perfect sound emitted from the crowd. Very, very clever.
The last character was surprising. Enter- St Peter with a lisp!
Watchdog of the Pearly Gates, St Peter divides the worthy and the unworthy, or Heaven and Hell. Even I, scribbling in my Winnie The Pooh notebook was ‘choosen’. Luckily, as a reviewer St Peter sent me to Heaven, but then changed his mind and sent us all back to Earth because it was too much work!
An excellent, SOLD-OUT show, and the STANDING OVATION was well-deserved for a fabulous, clever, and 5-star show.
Well done Casey.
Casey Filips, What A Character now playing at the Trade Hall at various times until 19th April 2026.
