A More Disturbing Option by Christy the Comedian

Folks who pay attention to the lively stand-up scene in Tallinn will have noticed the recent presence of comedian Christy Inhulsen at open mics around town and, indeed, across Europe as she worked on putting down roots locally, culminating in her stand-alone special at Heldeke! on 14 March. Following a performance of the recently-reformatted Burlesque (gone are the delightful entre-acte intermissions, resulting in a more tightly-paced, still titillating show), on this night the audience was a mix of burlesque attendees, local comics coming out to support a new one of their own, and people who’d seen her sets or met her in the streets as she promoted and flyered for this event. Inhulsen’s show was, after all, a one-night affair – for now, at least. 

Welcoming the audience is an excellently-curated pre-show playlist, and the screen set off to the side on Heldeke’s house piano promises an audio-visual component to come – though early arrivers and burlesque lingerers may have gotten a sneak preview during the tech prep. This night’s warm-up act is Ana Falcón, the number one Mexican in Estonia, who clearly enjoys the role reversal of being thoroughly integrated into Estonian society while the American she opens for faces an insecure visa status. With insights and observations from both America Mexicana and the Baltics, Falcon had the crowd shouting with laughter in the run up to the main attraction.

Christy the Comedian, as she introduces and markets herself, originates from the US state of Georgia but has traveled extensively over the past couple decades, spending much of her time in the many and varied countries of Asia. Her manner of dress and speech suggest demure Southern belle, but this is a sly misdirection as her stories unfold, crass and clever and sweetly delivered, with a knack for dropping new and horrifying euphemisms that are instantly and regrettably recognisable, even if the terms themselves are initially unfamiliar. No holds are barred as Inhulsen launches into her set, whether talking about religion, medicine, sexual assault, or aging – and all the multitudes of human experience between birth and death. She happily sets herself as the target of many of her jokes, without coming across as self-deprecating or depressed. If anything, her outlook neatly balances self-awareness and naivete, secure in the person she’s become and the decisions she’s made that have brought her to this point.

Chekhov’s television screen did indeed see use at a couple of points, including when she brought on another local comedian, Rivo Roost, for the finale. While the show was heavily tilted towards sexual humour, Inhulsen elevated the delivery through her use of language and physical presentation, with a fine sense of when to hold tension and when to release, and a willingness to talk about bodies and their functions that are too-often left in the realm of unspoken-and-serious. She impeccably wove polite tone with decidedly impolite tales, and brought a delighted audience along on her journey.

Christy the Comedian can be found on Instagram and will be returning for the Tallinn Fringe Festival this autumn, though she would happily return sooner if someone in Estonia gives her a job. The comedy scene, and its audiences, would thank you for doing so.

For more stand-up comedy at Heldeke!, keep an eye on their calendar – and for open mics on the wider scene, other venues to watch include (but are not limited to) Ratas & Kohv, Winkel and Ükskõik.

Author: Laurie