The cattle call portion of the audition process can be a tough time for any performer. The revolving door and line of other actors and actresses all vying for the same role is a daunting sight. There’s the thought of what could have been when you see rejected audition tapes of Cillian Murphy as Batman, Henry Cavill as James Bond, or James Caan as Michael Corleone.
Then, you have examples like the “Hello Mister Kubrick” guy who figured the best way to stand out was to scream the poignant “Stay gold” monologue from The Outsiders at the top of his lungs. Well, if that performance was too subtle, we have just the actor for you up next. Audition #86 is Tobias Finlay-Fraser (Casey Filips) and he intends to knock your socks off!
Tobias Finlay-Fraser: The man. The myth. The idiot. A classically trained, brilliantly gifted and ruggedly handsome legend in his own mind! He’s a born star, as all his 1-star Uber Eats reviews can attest to and is a performer to be on the lookout for, as his local council’s community watch public notice gives warning of! It’s difficult to be this much of an over actor AND underperformer at the same time, but Tobias pulls it off. As judges, we didn’t get his headshots, his resume, his credits or even want him here, but he’ll leave an impression on us, nonetheless!
Casey Filips is an award winning and heralded comedian specialising in stand-up and character work. Since 2020, he has been performing to packed rooms in Australia and abroad with his shows selling out during 2024’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival. His debut solo show is Virtuoso a brilliant hour of character and improv, poking fun at the pomposity of theatre culture but more so, a person’s intent to succeed. Casey‘s character Tobias is affable, goofy, and (dressed in his signature turtleneck) above all, A THESPIAN!
Playing up theatrically and with desperation in his eyes, Tobias gives us everything he has to prove that he’s got what it takes for the role, displaying his “talents” in singing, dramatic… pauses and so much more. He presents the audience with his signed photos, growing comedically and ridiculously larger and larger to match his ego. Then we’re taken on a masterclass of his abilities and prepared material. The only problem is, Tobias is a forgetful and lonesome man, so it’ll be up to the audience to help him along. Ding dong, who’s there? STARDOM!
It takes balls to build a show as much around crowd work and audience participation as Virtuoso, but if his Lycra tights are anything to go by, Casey‘s got ‘em! The audience is interacted with frequently as part of the show, making for a fine comedy hour to experience for the extroverted among us. As Tobias, the character, forgets his lines, he’ll ask for someone to call it out (whatever that may lead to). Tobias also seeks direction and tips on how he should play the part. This, along with any other unpredictable quirks of the night, becomes a running joke for the rest of the show.
People will also be invited up to be as much a part of the show as Casey himself. While this can be embarrassing, the brave audience members received immediate rounds of applauses and supportive appreciation from the rest of us. These moments, as well as Casey‘s ability to roll with whatever suggestions came his way, made for some of the nights biggest laughs.
Truly a great show with enough variation in its nightly formula that you could see Virtuoso time and time again, with completely new laughs each outing. Tobias Finlay-Fraser has all the loveable buffoonery of a Rowan Atkinson character, and I’d love to see Casey Filips roll him into another show in future. Until then, Casey Filips is brilliant and I cannot recommend Virtuoso highly enough.
Casey Filips‘ Virtuoso is currently playing at Melbourne Town Hall‘s Lunch Room until April 20th as part of the 2025 Melbourne International Festival.
For more information and ticketing, visit:
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/casey-filips-virtuoso
https://www.caseyfilips.com
Photography supplied.