Taylah Whelan is turning 26. Their mum was pregnant with them at 26, and Whelan is now having something of an existential crisis. Welcome to Happy Birthday Taylah Whelan.
Whelan is surprised to see us all in their house, though they did invite us over to celebrate their birthday, so it’s only natural we’d be there. They are slightly awkward and unsure of what to do, but when they realise the drink they have taken from a friend is called "The drink that makes you reminisce,” there is little left to resist. While they initially fight the urge, it proves futile, and before we, and they, know it, Whelan is on stage, reminiscing.
Whelan takes us through a series of milestone birthdays, beginning with their fifth. As they explain, being Irish and born on St Patrick’s Day meant no one remembers their first birthday. Through deadpan delivery, they offer insights into their mindset, aspirations, and ideals. A highlight of the comedy comes from observing their interactions with their parents, and it would have been great to see this explored a bit more, particularly given the final moments of this work.
Each time they have a sip, we jump forward to another birthday. We are simultaneously watching Whelan relive these days as they describe them to us, revealing the thoughts that sit beneath their words. Their strong command of their material results in an interesting perspective that draws the audience in. A couple of minor instances of forgotten lines occur, but overall the performance remains confident and engaging.
In what is becoming a welcome feature of their work, the show includes another animatronic animal, this time Elvis the cat. Designed by Max Arnold and voiced by Elliot Wood, Elvis serves as both a sounding board for Whelan the character and a useful comedic device for Whelan the performer.
Elvis is not the only element of the set. The staging, also by Arnold, consists of felt props, including a chest of drawers, a stool, a framed photograph of Whelan and their mother, a lava lamp, and a few other surprises. These contribute to a childlike, nostalgic atmosphere that complements the show.
Whelan allows the structure of the show to mirror its central theme of reflection and self-awareness. What begins as a simple birthday gathering gradually unfolds into something more layered, balancing humour with introspection. Happy Birthday Taylah Whelan succeeds as a character-driven piece and the personal unwrapping of growing up and trying to figure out who you are and who you want to be.
SHOW DETAILS
Venue: The Motley Bauhaus, 118 Elgin St, Carlton
Season: until 4 April | 7:15pm
Duration: 55 minutes
Tickets: $33 Full | $29 Conc
Bookings: Melbourne International Comedy Festival
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