Monthly Archives: August 2015

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2015 – Aardwolf Presents: Wet Behind the Ears

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#A last minute change to our programme, as a result of the change of timing for Ozymandias – but it gives us an opportunity for some late night stand-up which is always welcome. Here’s the promotional blurb for Aardwolf Presents: Wet Behind the Ears: “Wet Behind the Ears brings you the finest new comedy talent from across the country. This year Mancunians Scott Walker and Ben Wearmouth, Stoke-ess Jo D’Arcy and Brummie boy Tom Christian take to the stage to show you why they’ve made such a splash on their local comedy circuits. If I were you I’d come and see them for free, before they get on telly and start charging £25 a ticket!”

I’ve done my best to research these four comics online and only had a certain degree of success; none of them is on Chortle (my usual comic reference site) or ComedyCV; but I think I found their twitter feeds so I can vouch that they all definitely exist and do some comedy. So let’s give the guys a go! It means staying up till midnight (gosh!) before it starts at Laughing Horse @ the Counting House. I guess that also means I’ll feedback our instant reactions sometime after 1am! And you can find out how we’ll be starting our Wednesday too.

Update:

Back in our hotel room after a day at the fray. That final show was fascinating – I enjoyed it more than Mrs Chrisparkle, who didn’t enjoy it much, although I definitely heard her laugh quite a few times! We only had three of our promised four comics and, guys, I want to give you honest feedback. With better material, you could all be successful. I really liked Scott’s attacking style and the rapport he set up with the audience. He could nearly get away with murder but we’d still be on his side.  Just needs punchier punchlines. Jo probably had the best material but it needed more structure and the ability to follow funnier tangents when the opportunity arises. Tom, the material with the letters went on way too long. Trust in your own personality to give us those little observations about life that we all can recognise.

To be fair, a really hot room doesn’t help the atmosphere, and I still found plenty to laugh at with all three comics, but they all needed more. Good luck!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2015 – Ozymandias

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Our mid evening break between shows is ten minutes longer than planned, due to the change of start time for Ozymandias. This did have a knock-on effect on our late evening plans, but nothing insurmountable. So, Ozymandias then, King of Kings, look on my works ye mighty and despair. Yes, I studied this, not for English literature as you might imagine, but for the form elocution prize, which, I modestly add, I won. We did things differently in 1974. Back to the show: “Ramesses the Great (Ozymandias to his friends), invites all passing travellers to an unsurpassable evening of wit, charm, intrigue, profundity, music, storytelling and career advice. The privilege of the company of the King of Kings is quite unlike any other; all should prepare to be humbled before him. Winner Best Show Durham Drama Festival 2015. ‘Startling, profound, baffling, but brilliant’ (TheBubble.org.uk). ‘Ozymandias is not safe. It is different … and isn’t that what you want from theatre?’ (Community.dur.ac.uk).”

So, I’m expecting not so much of a history lesson, but more an insight into a narcissistic, unpredictable and over-powerful mind. Durham University’s Raving Mask theatre presents Hugh Train in the role of Ozymandias, and from what I read, I believe he’s extraordinarily good. I think we’re going to be held hostage to whatever whims he fancies, which might throw us deep into the challenging end of the spectrum, but I’m always up for an experimental piece of theatre. It starts at 22:20 at TheSpace @Jury’s Inn, and I think it’s quite a short show, so do drop by shortly after 11pm to see if we escaped his clutches unscathed. And you can also find out about our final show tonight.

Update:

A little nugget of theatrical perfection. Ozy (he’d hate to be called Ozy) deconstructs the one man play by breaking so many rules it’s insane. But it works fantastically well as each member of the audience gets individually challenged by the Big Fellah. It nicely takes the mick out of the balance between genuinely deep theatre and portentous nonsense. A really intimate and personal performance. This chap has definitely got to be One To Watch. I absolutely loved it.

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2015 – Rob Beckett: Mouth of the South

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First, let the blurb do the talking: “Beckett’s back with a brand new hour of funnies and he’s taking on the big issues like Kit Kats and flatbread! Star of BBC One’s Live at the Apollo, BBC Two’s Mock the Week, Channel 4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats & ITV2’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here Now. ‘…a revelation’ **** (Scotsman). ‘Relentlessly smiley, perpetually grinning Londoner whose unshowy, unpretentious but thoroughly funny shtick has every chance of winning him a big audience…’ (Guardian).”

Until recently I’d only seen Rob Beckett as part of the I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here ITV 2 squad, and I have to admit I didn’t get the joke. But then we saw him on one of those incredibly long Channel 4 night of comedy things and we finally did! So I’m really hoping he’s going to be as funny in real life as he was on that programme. His new show is Mouth of the South, which, as a title, I really rather admire for its rhythmic knowingness. It’s on at the Pleasance Dome – Ace Dome at 20:00 and the tickets are selling fast – and if Kit-Kats and flatbread will play a part then no wonder. OK… So please check back shortly after 9pm to see if Mr Beckett wowed us! And the preview blog for our next show should also be available by then.

Update:

What a star! First class material delivered with wonderful self deprecation, with so many references that everyone would recognise. And he has a terrific rapport with the audience, and he even waits outside to thank you individually for coming. Absolutely brilliant – I’m a new fan!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2015 – Liberation

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One of the criteria for choosing shows to see in Edinburgh is to select productions that are highly unlikely, for whatever reason, to make it to our hometown of Northampton. I could stake good money that Liberation wouldn’t be seen in the hallowed portals of the Royal and Derngate. For one thing, they’d never get the paint stains off. Confused? Perhaps the blurb will help: “Paint is thrown onto the naked body, as art and theatre combine in an explosion of colour and movement. Liberation is a theatrical dissection of modern life, an exploration into what it means to be liberated. We’re born into a system that always has us preparing for something that’s going to happen and conditions us to be in desperate need of a future. This thought provoking piece examines ‘the life that never gets there’ through dance, theatrical clowning, live music, choral singing and exquisite imagery. A vivid and visceral experience. Sometimes violent, sometimes beautiful, always messy.”

We celebrated Holi in India a couple of years ago but it was nothing like this. The Alchemist Theatre Company have put together a piece that I think will be riotous in its abandon, appealing to the playful child in us all, and a great leveller; but spare a thought for the poor ASM who’s got to clean it all up afterwards. It’s on at 18:00 at Zoo Southside – Main House. Does coloured paint make a naked body sexier or funnier? Or both? Come back after it’s finished, around 7.00pm and I’ll let you know what we thought. And you can see what we’ve got next in store this evening.

Update:

If you were a great dancer, and had no qualms about getting your kit off, I think you’d have enormous fun performing in Liberation. This is full of wit and humour, and is a colourful spectacle of dance and innocent nudity. If it has one message, it’s don’t stop playing. It’s very well choreographed and the music is terrific too. I liked the surprise contribution of the musicians! Really enjoyable – and yes, definitely not the kind of thing you’re likely to see back home!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2015 – Barry Cryer and Ronnie Golden – Old Masters

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After a rigorous dollop of Sarah Kane, I think we might be in need of a good laugh. Surely that’s guaranteed in an hour in the company of Barry Cryer and Ronnie Golden. According to the blurb: “Expect comedy songs and gags galore from the well-loved duo, back at the Fringe to prove they’re still alive and old’s cool. Barry will have an aviary of new parrot jokes and Ronnie will be cleaning up after them. ‘Two of comedy’s most fabled masters’ (Festival Times). ‘I laughed incontinently’ (Guardian).

It definitely sounds as though they’re going to be trading on their age, but I’m sure there will be more to it than that. Anyway, with Mr Cryer at 80 and Mr Golden being of an unspecified age (according to Wikipedia – but late 60s I reckon), there’s heaps of life in the old dogs yet. I’ve admired Barry Cryer’s comic prowess for as long as I can remember – as a kid I loved both Jokers Wild on TV and Hello Cheeky on the radio – and this will be the first time I’ve seen him in real life, so I am really looking forward to it. It’s on at 16:15 at the Gilded Balloon Nightclub, so check back around 5.30 to see just how funny they were. You can also find out what’s next on our Fringe agenda for Tuesday.

Update:

Well that was fun! A nice blend of comedy songs and jokes to pack out the Gilded Balloon nightclub on a wet Tuesday afternoon. I particularly enjoyed the song “FIFA” to the tune of Fever, and the love song to Nicola Sturgeon. Mr Cryer is indeed a splendid 80! Good parrot and pub jokes too!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2015 – Cleansed

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Earlier this year we went to Sheffield and saw Blasted as part of their Sarah Kane season. It was the first time we had seen a Kane play – I had always wanted to – and I found it fascinating. It stimulated my interest in her work, so when I saw that Fear No Colours were performing two of Sarah Kane’s plays in Edinburgh this summer, I knew I had to book for both of them. So the first is Cleansed, at 13:00 at C Nova – Studio 1. Here’s the blurb: “Sarah Kane’s darkly passionate play turns the heart into a torture camp where losing love is a fate worse than death. And this love is the most violent thing in the world. Loss of love is the loss of self, and anything may be endured to avoid that. In a torture institution of the heart, the indestructibility of love creates a waking nightmare where not even death offers a way out. Explore the violence of love and love’s catastrophe in a language that pushes the boundaries of theatrical representation to the absolute extreme. Welcome to our sensible hell.”

Formed in 2015 by students and graduates from the University of Glasgow’s theatre department this will be Fear No Colours’ first appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe, and I’m looking forward to seeing the same group of young actors perform both plays in daily repertoire. That must be a challenge! It’s a fairly shocking play to read so I will be interested to see how the shock on the page translates to the stage. Check back shortly after 2.15 to see our reactions, and also to discover what delights await us next!

Update:

Was that worth seeing or was that worth seeing! Amazingly mature and technically brilliant performances from this young cast. This is very physical theatre in a confined space but they work every available inch of it with huge invention and terrific control. Sarah Kane doesn’t give you much to work on regarding stage directions but I can’t imagine how this play could have been better staged. If you like a challenge in the theatre this is a must see. Congrats all round!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2015 – The King of Monte Cristo

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If we’re awake early enough, Tuesday 18th August will start with a 11:05 visit to TheSpace on the Mile – Space 1 to see Watch This’ The King of Monte Cristo. Here’s how the blurb describes it: “An award-winning, narcissistic writer director duo are set to stage their fifth play together. But things go wrong when the writer turns up to the first rehearsal with a completely different script. Joining them (and complicating things) are their eclectic cast – a Hollywood superstar, an actor who thinks Harold Pinter is a brand of posh paint thinner, a soap opera star with an inferiority complex, and a shy, polite and baffled first-timer. The King of Monte Cristo is a fast-paced comedy about the trials of the creative process and the temptations of success.”

I like plays or songs that are about the creative process so I’m hoping this will have some interesting things to say about clashes of creative personalities. It should at least have some laugh-out-loud moments of theatrical absurdity! Watch This are the Drama Society of the University of Birmingham who appear (from what I can see) to concentrate on improvisational comedy. I have a feeling I might like this more than Mrs Chrisparkle, but time will tell! Check back sometime after noon and I’ll give you our instant reactions. And then you can also check out the next show we’re going to see!

Update:

Going to bed at 2:45am so seeing this play is on the critical list – I reckon it ain’t gonna happen!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2015 – Spank!

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One of the absolute highlights of our visit to Edinburgh last year was seeing Spank! on the Sunday night before we left to go home on the Monday. And ever since we decided to come back this year we’ve been looking forward to extra helpings of Spank, and our midnight show at Underbelly Cowgate (Belly Dancer) tonight is only the first of three that we have booked for this anarchically wonderful comedy melange.

Here’s what the blurb has to say: “Spank returns for an incredible 12th year with sexy hosts, awesome comedians and inevitable gratuitous nudity. You love it! ‘This is what the festival should be about’ (List). ‘Legendary party night … get down there right away!’ (Time Out).” Last year’s brilliant host Lames Loveridge will be joined by Abigoliah Schamaun, who is new to us so I’m very much looking forward to seeing what she has up her sleeve.

It’s going to finish at Whenever o’clock so check back much later on – or maybe tomorrow morning – to find out how much spanking took place. And you can also find out about our first show for Tuesday. Are we halfway through the week yet? Not quite!

Update:

Spank (we love it!) was as brilliant as ever! James and Abigoliah were the perfect hosts and the place was pretty much packed out for a Monday night. I ended up on stage twice: first time was because a younger guy two spaces along was spitting image of me 30 years ago, so he got us up to compare. The second time was to receive and chew a Mintie from the warm undergarments of Miss Penny Greenhalgh, who had previously been roller blading with another guy from the audience – you had to be there. Other amazing acts included Christopher reading from his World War novel, Danny O’Brien discussing the ins and outs of cunnilingus (as you do), Woman, Matt Reed and Janie Godley. Brilliant stuff.

And how could I forget the fantastic Billy, from The Big Breakfast, doing the naked promo! Good man!!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2015 – Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

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For years I have faithfully watched the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on television, broadcast on the August Bank Holiday Monday around teatime but always much more atmospheric if you record it and watch it with a bottle of wine around 11pm when it’s not a school night.There was always something so respectful and reassuring about the late Tom Fleming’s commentary, and I really miss his voice.

So we are both really looking forward to seeing this at 9pm tonight, Monday 17th August. I booked our tickets way back in December when they first went on sale so I’m hoping I chose wisely – Row N of Section 9. I note that this performance of the Tattoo will be one where the TV cameras will be present, so that adds an extra frisson! The theme of this year’s Tattoo is “East Meets West”, and apparently we can expect “a spine-tingling presentation [that] will include pipers, drummers, singers and dancers as well as one of the world’s most sensational percussion groups, Switzerland’s Top Secret Drum Corps.”

Check back once it’s all over – not sure how long each show lasts to be honest, but I presume sometime after 11pm. And then you can see where we’ll end up for our late night show.

Update:

Such colour! Such sound! Such spectacle! A really enjoyable and skilful performance, even if the Top Secret guys from Switzerland dropped a drumstick or two. The TV makes it look smaller. Definitely something everyone should see at least once!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2015 – Keith Farnan: Anonymous

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After all that afternoon food abuse, I definitely think it’s time for some comedy. So at 18:00 we’re off to the Underbelly Cowgate (Belly Dancer) to see Keith Farnan: Anonymous. Here’s what the promotional blurb has to say: “Liberty. Privacy. Comedy. Irish comedian Keith Farnan (Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow) tries to combine these three elements before the first two disappear. Every day, more of our personal data is either given away, acquired in the interest of national security, or sold to the highest bidder. But maybe we don’t really need our privacy, so let’s start by getting rid of curtains and go from there, shall we? ‘Artful, satirical … with a lightness of touch and a hefty helping of roguish Celtic charm’ (Sunday Times).”

We saw Mr Farnan at one of our regular Screaming Blue Murder nights in Northampton a couple of years ago and he was absolutely brilliant, so I have very high hopes of an hour full of intelligent observations flavoured with Irish whimsy. Lack of privacy is a real hot topic so I’m sure this is going to be full of highly relevant stuff. Check back when it’s all over – say shortly after 7pm and I’ll let you know! And then you can also read about our next, rather special, show this evening.

Update:

Well that was a great laugh, based on some interesting and alarming facts about Internet security, specifically how governments could do what they like with the information we and the likes of Google feed them. I must be looking older as Mr Farnan pointed out that I averaged up the age of the audience – not offended, honest. Great connection with the crowd, highly recommended!