Comedian and TikTok sensation Christian Brighty performs Playboy at the OSO Arts Centre
It is a sign of the times when TikTok sensations” are transferring to the London stage. Or more accurately storming it, writes Christopher Walker.
Comedian Lord Christian Brighty certainly does.
His cheeky send up of Bridgerton is raucous student humour that has the audience in stitches. I am sure we will see a lot more of him.
Christian has 400,000 followers and 15million likes on Tik Tok. I guess that counts as a sensation in anyone’s books.
He’s well-spoken and good looking, so he is “a natural” to play the kind of Jane Austen hero which Bridgerton so ruthlessly exploits.
However, this Tik Tok Mr. Darcy raucously sends up the type.
Christian said: “I think the imperious, high status, men of period dramas are so ridiculous; it’s lovely to let audiences laugh at them and me at the same time.”
Ostensibly his show Playboy tells the story of Lord Christian Brighty’s romance with a society duchess, though this is the flimsiest of plots to hang his comedy routine on.
It is a fast-moving show, packed with blue humour and physical antics. “I’m an idiot clown! I absolutely love playing with an audience, and showing my stupidity,” he said.
Christian certainly is not “stupid.” He won the 2019 Otherplace Award at Brighton Fringe. Apparently, he is also a student of legendary clown school Ecole Phillipe Gaulier.
Christian wrote Playboy with fiancé Amy Greaves (who also voices the somewhat northern duchess).
Comedians Dan Lees and Georgia House, and director Ben Clark also all contributed to the collective effort.
Christian said: “It’s delightful to create through playing in a room together and making each other laugh.”
Christian’s playing with the audience can be very “hands on” so I advise the timid to avoid the front row. Indeed, maybe it’s best they avoid this rollicking show altogether.
For the rest of us – come and play. As Christian said, he puts the pro in reprobate, the don in hedonism, and the key in chastity belts.
Bridgerton watch out. He threatens, “I just now want someone to cast me in a period drama to let me do it on screen!”
He’d be a wonderful addition.
Brighty was completely sold out at the Edinburgh fringe.
I caught him at the marvellous Soho Theatre, and he will be performing it again in the OSO arts Centre in Barnes.
Tickets: https://osoarts.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173628262
Picture: Christian Brighty Picture: Ben Meadows
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