A Canadian Explains Eurovision to Canadians

Reviewed by Brian Morton 

The vibe of this play is PRIDE!

Matti McLean is an engaging performer originally from North Bay, Ontario, who later moved to Ottawa and discovered his authentic self as a Queer man. McLean is also obsessed with the Eurovision song contest; put those two facts together and you get a wonderful hour of musical performances and anecdotes about self-discovery.

The one-person show is a staple of Fringe festivals, but this production was particularly fascinating to me simply because the stakes are so high, as the stories told are all true. To me, the best theatre is something that is personal and unique to the artist who created it.

 Matti is a talented singer who has found his voice by becoming a fan; the core origin of the word fandom, of course, is fanatic. Essentially, this original play is a playlist of greatest hits by all of these Eurovision artists, spanning 50 years of musical delights. 

McLean skillfully weaves these songs through his personal story as a gay man coming out, despite his upbringing as the son of a religious pastor in Northern Ontario. We learn about his lovers, his ex-husband, his friends, and even his tattoos! 

There are elements of stand-up comedy, and yet there is also some wonderfully powerful dramatic material about growing up and discovering who you are and being true to yourself. The production comes straight from the Toronto Fringe, which means it was particularly well-rehearsed.

Highly recommended from me! People need to see this show! 

Event Details

Age Suitability: Parental Guidance (ages 13+)

Genre: Theatre—Comedy, Musical/Concert/Opera, Storytelling/Solo Show

Run Time: 55 mins

Creator

Matti McLean

Warnings

None