Review by Steve Bennett

Anyone familiar with the ancient British kids’ comic strip The Numskulls – or even a certain Woody Allen scene – will recognise the territory Xavier Michelides operates in.

The Brain Whisperer is a look inside his lonely comedian’s mind, with his various, conflicting emotions and urges all given their own distinctive characters.

And, my, is Michelides excellent at this: niftily hopping from one persona to the next, each fully realised through convincing accents, facial expressions and quirks.

As a showcase for his comic acting, this is impressive stuff indeed – with his conviction, versatility and timing all perfectly displayed, especially when two of his characters enjoy a brisk dialogue.

The show is not all so inward-looking – over-enthusiastic footie fans, the vacuous chat of the women on The Circle, lap-dancing etiquette and even God, gleefully working on his next virus, are given the once-over in more straightforward stand-up routines, designed to demonstrate the product of all those internal monologues.

Michelides is more of an actor than a natural stand-up, never convincing the audience these segments are any less of a performance than when he’s pretending to be his own memory. Although whether that’s an issue in a show that’s as obviously theatrical as this is a moot point – Michelides’ aloofness is all part of the show.

The attention to presentation is clear, right down to the carefully chosen soundscape which adds an air of import.

It’s a show that’s more clever and impressive than laugh-out-loud funny; though it certainly has its moments. For example, his Robert De Niro-Chewbacca mash-up hits the spot, despite employing two of the impressionists’ most tired targets. It also hits a couple of crass lines, too – such as the Amy Whinehouse skit that doesn’t back the bad taste with much funny.

Though less an insightful examination of what makes the self than a clever way to interlink fast-paced sketches, The Brian Whisperer allows Michelides to be silly, but with a convincing voice of authority – even though it prohibits the natural, loose feel of the funniest shows.

Review date: 12 Apr 2012
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
Reviewed at: Melbourne International Comedy Festival