Monthly Archives: August 2023

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 14th August 2023

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How about a list of today’s shows? There’s a big day ahead!

Here’s the schedule for 14th August:

10.00 – Mirandolina, Hill Street Theatre. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“Mirandolina, the captivating landlady of an inn, is wooed by a penniless marquess, a wealthy count and her besotted servant. She enjoys their attentions but values her freedom. When sworn bachelor Ripafratta comes to the inn, can Mirandolina bend him to her will? Ranjit Bolt’s sparkling comedy is translated from the original work of Carlo Goldoni, the 18th-century Italian comic playwright best known for A Servant of Two Masters.”

Goldoni is ace, but I only know two of his plays, and Mirandolina isn’t one of them, so this is a good opportunity to fill a gap in my knowledge!

12.00 – In Conversation with… Jack Monroe, The Stand’s New Town Theatre.

“Food writer and anti-poverty campaigner. Joined the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service in 2007 working in their control room. Left 2011, unable to work the night shifts as a single parent with a 20-month-old son. Started writing her blog, A Girl Called Jack, in 2012, in response to a local councillor claiming that ‘druggies, drunks and single mums are ruining the High Street.’ An Oxfam ambassador. Her seventh book Thrifty Kitchen, published January 2023, contains over 120 brand-new, delicious, low-cost recipes, plus money-saving household tricks.”

Cutting down on the Spoken Word shows this year, but we couldn’t resist hearing what Jack Monroe has to say about the world today in person!

13.50 – The Real William Shakespeare… As Told by Christopher Marlowe, Greenside @ Riddles Court.

“’Make my words reside in your language as if they never knew any other.’ Marlowe, murder… Morocco? The truth behind Shakespeare is steeped in blood and political intrigue, but now Christopher Marlowe is ready to tell all. Matchmaker Theatre Productions present a provocative new production that asks: who was the real William Shakespeare? Christopher Marlowe, famed playwright and spy, has the answer. But just how far will others go to protect this secret? ‘Chaotic playfulness… mixing in heaps of Queer history and theory’ **** (CorrBlimey.co.uk, The Masks Of Oscar Wilde, 2022).”

There’s always an abundance of Shakespeare-based shows at Edinburgh and sometimes they’re great and sometimes they’re far from it. Fingers crossed for this one!

15.45 – Olaf Falafel: Look What Fell Out Of My Head, Laughing Horse @ The Pear Tree.

“Join the best-joke-list-bothering, holey-cheese-flinging, diaphragm-jiggling comedian as he presents a hostess trolley full of stuff he finds funny. ‘A big, beautiful bearhug of a show’ **** (Scotsman). ‘Visual gags piled on top of other visual gags’ **** (BeyondTheJoke.co.uk). ‘Several gags to rival his best joke of the Fringe in 2019’ **** (GonzoMagazine.co.uk).”

Edinburgh isn’t Edinburgh without at least an hour spent in the company of Olaf Falafel! I’m sure it will be hilarious as always.

17.20 – I Killed My Ex, The Space @ Niddry Street.

“Enjoy a deliciously wild ride on a brand-new play by writer-director Emilie Biason and confess: some exes are better off dead. I Killed My Ex is a hilarious dark comedy following two dear friends, Tina and Lola, who impulsively kill Tina’s ex after he leaves her at the altar, embarking on a hectic journey to get rid of his body. Jump in the dark with your new fav clumsy killers in this funny, provocative social critique, and let’s face it: a woman should never be left at the altar.”

I love a dark comedy – and the premise for this one sounds brilliant. Let’s hope it delivers!

18.40 – Paved with Gold and Ashes, Greenside @ Infirmary Street.

“Based on a true event in New York City, 1911. With immigrants arriving in floods from all over Europe, for many the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory is one of the most coveted places to work. Some say that in America the streets are paved with gold – full of wealth and opportunities. But as these five young women battle poverty, capitalism, unfair working conditions, and – on one fateful morning in March – one of the deadliest workplace disasters in US history, their dreams soon turn to ashes… ‘An unflinching mirror to today’ ***** (BroadwayBaby.com).”

This sounds like a good, meaty drama – an account of a historical event that is very relevant to today’s world. Hope it goes well.

22.20 – Why I Stuck a Flare Up My Arse for England, The Space @ Niddry Street.

“This is football. This is what defines my happiness. This is what makes or spoils a weekend. This is what fills my soul with joy and despair. Billy is a die-hard football fan. When he goes viral for sticking a flare between his bum cheeks before England’s final, he begins to question his own love of the beautiful game. This new one-man play, written and performed by Alex Hill, asks what it means to be a “die-hard” football fan and explores themes of belonging, tribalism and toxic masculinity.”

As titles go, it’s a classic. Everyone remembers seeing that photo in the news or online – and it will be fascinating to see how the play incorporates it into this examination of toxic masculinity.

Check back later to see how we enjoyed all these shows!

Edinburgh Fringe 2023 Reviews – Those Who Can’t Do, Santi and Naz, Stark Bollock Naked, The Quality of Mercy: Concerning the Life and Crimes of Dr Harold Shipman, and Andrew Frank: Ecstatic Blasphemy

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Those Who Can’t Do, Laughing Horse @ The Brass Monkey.

Balancing a life as a responsible teacher on the one hand, and a party larrikin on the other is a tricky business, as Ty Gray’s very funny Those Who Can’t Do shows. Making sure the kids don’t see your social media, trying to avoid being caught out hungover, and avoiding visits from your partygoing mother are all vital personal goals! Ty is a very likeable guy and has some excellent material with some great punchlines. In Saturday’s show he had a very awkward moment when he dropped his glass of water and it smashed everywhere, causing the show to be suspended for a good five minutes; but he used the hiatus as a strength and came back fighting – which a less confident performer would have found a struggle. A strong performer and a funny show!

3-stars

Santi and Naz, Pleasance Courtyard.

The partition of India is a frequent inspiration for drama; and in Santi and Naz it is used as the backdrop for the tale of two best friends. To what extent will they be separated by religion, partition and sexuality? Santi was always fascinated by books and wanting to know more about the world – even though she always expected to spend her life in the village and working with the sugar cane. Naz had no interest in reading; all she wanted was to be Santi’s best friend. But as the two grow older into adulthood, and an arranged marriage is on the cards, what does the future hold for both of them? Rose-Marie Christian and Karendip Phull play Santi and Naz with great conviction and affection, and the text has some beautiful passages of lyrical writing. But it is too long; too much time is spent establishing the girls’ childhood friendship, and the issue of Naz’s sexuality is only lightly touched upon. Enjoyable performances, but it could all be a little tighter and pack a greater punch.

3-stars

Stark Bollock Naked, Assembly Roxy.

Two very engaging performers deliver an innovative and imaginative show about that age old issue of the female body’s ticking clock and the right of the woman to choose her own destiny. The first part of the show involves video and imagery projection on one of their (naked) bodies and is funny, telling and very clever. The second part loses impact as the two performers become the woman’s brain – it took me a long time to realise they were her brain; I thought the unusual headgear suggested her intestines, which made no sense at all. There’s also a very silly song that potentially trivialises the importance of its earlier message – although maybe that was its intent.

A very good idea for a show that starts strongly and then disintegrates as it progresses.

The Quality of Mercy: Concerning the Life and Crimes of Dr Harold Frederick Shipman, The Space @ Surgeon’s Hall.

Shipman is in his prison cell, reciting his thoughts into a tape recorder to set the record straight – he doesn’t want to be associated with that louse Ian Brady, after all. His first thoughts are to his mother, who died of cancer at the age of 43, and who suffered terribly from the illness. If only he could have shortened her suffering by bringing her life to an end earlier? This gives him the justification for committing the unspeakable series of murders for which he was responsible, hiding behind the facade of benevolent euthanasia. As his crimes increase, the names of his victims appear on a projected backdrop; eventually you are mesmerised by the sheer numbers involved. Edwin Flay’s magnificent writing allows Shipman’s true motivations to seep out, despite whatever the wretched man may pretend; and his performance as the vain, megalomaniac arbiter of life or death stands out as one of the best I’ve seen for a very long time.

Andrew Frank: Ecstatic Blasphemy, Hill Street Theatre.

Andrew Frank was educated – for want of a better word – at a school – if you can call it that – subjugated within a Christian Fundamentalist church, adjacent to a highway in Arkansas, where their father was the pastor. And if that isn’t a recipe for a disastrous childhood, they don’t know what is. Ecstatic Blasphemy is a hilarious hour revisiting their upbringing, family life, and all the little repressions and – let’s be honest – lies that blighted their childhood. With a mass of very funny material constantly on hand, Andrew is a naturally very funny and ebullient performer whose main purpose on stage is to show the ridiculousness of strict religious adherence, which they do with charm, personality and a huge amount of laughs. Terrific stuff.

4-stars

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 13th August 2023

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Another full day of shows in Edinburgh? Yes, although we are also meeting up with a friend!

Here’s the schedule for 13th August:

11.00 – Wiesenthal, Pleasance Courtyard. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“Wiesenthal, by Tom Dugan, performed by Christopher C Gibbs, is based on the life of Simon Wiesenthal, who survived the Holocaust and devoted the rest of his life to bringing Nazi war criminals to justice. Filled with hope, humanity and humour, it is the true story of an ordinary man who did extraordinary things. Intelligent, funny, flawed and noble, Wiesenthal was a universal hero. His unbelievable dedication and tenacity over decades is honoured in this play. It takes place on his final day in his Vienna office in 2003.”

Another of these plays that tells a most important story that we must never forget about. If this is well done, I expect it will be very emotional.

12.45 – Tarot: Work in Progress, Monkey Barrel Comedy.

“The best show of 2019 according to Chortle. The sixth-best show of 2022 according to The Guardian. Come watch us continue our slow descent into mediocrity in 2023. This is a work-in-progress show. We’ve made the tickets cheap so you’ve got somewhere to sleep for an hour without having to sell a kidney. ‘Bark out loud funny… the whole show is startlingly live’ **** (Guardian). ‘One of the balls-out funniest show of the Fringe’ ****½ (Chortle). ‘Tarot will not give you nightmares, though you might wake laughing your head off’ **** (Evening Standard). **** (Telegraph).”

This is the first of two shows we’re seeing this year featuring the incredible Tarot pack! We saw them last year and they were brilliant. I have high hopes!

14.25 – The Life Sporadic of Jess Wildgoose, Pleasance Courtyard.

“The creators of smash-hit The Man Who return with an explosive new show. Tarantino meets Pixar in this electrifying thriller, exploring universal themes of ambition, failure, revenge, and high-risk equity trading. Jess has it all – until she doesn’t. After suddenly losing her job, sense of reality, and sexy French beau, Jess embarks on a brutal quest for revenge. With virtuosic acrobatics, live music, and physical theatre, this madcap tragicomedy unnerves and astounds in a genre-defying cinematic adventure. ‘Physical Theatre at its most immaculate’ **** (Scotsman, for ‘The Man Who’).

I admit now, I am much more a Pixar man than a Tarantino one, so I hope this show makes sense to me! We will see! However, we saw The Man Who… last year and thought it was excellent, so we had to give this show a go as well.

16.50 – Giving the Gift of Offence with Martin Rowson, The Stand’s New Town Theatre.

“Multi award-winning political cartoonist, author, ranter, illustrator, broadcaster and poet. In his new show Martin takes us through 40 years of British politics with his personal and cartoon responses to the individuals he has met, including the perennial challenges of working out how to draw the “fresh meat” of each new Prime Minister, alongside the cavalcade of events we’ve all witnessed and he’s depicted. Refreshingly indiscreet in revealing the people beneath the pomp and spin, as well as spilling the beans on the true nature of journalism. This show is fully illustrated.”

I was friends with Martin at school so I am using the show as a shameless vehicle for catching up with him again! But it will be fascinating to hear him talk about his work. I remember seeing the cartoons he did as a teenager and they were brilliant!

20.50 – I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical, Gilded Balloon at the Museum.

“The definitive comedic musical revue revealing all about musical theatre, and the people who love it on both sides of the curtain! Updated version featuring new songs. Lauded with an unprecedented 35 five-star reviews for its previous sell-out fringe and London seasons. ‘Flawless’ ***** (BritishTheatre.com). ‘Sharp satire, undiluted fun’ ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). ‘Delightful’ ***** (BroadwayWorld.com). ‘Hilarious… Wonderfully witty’ ***** (EdinburghGuide.com). ‘Crisp, perfect, immaculate, hilarious. Unmistakable gem!’ ***** (Musical Talk, podcast). ‘Laughs come thick and fast’ ***** (MusicalTheatreReview.com). ‘Loving tribute to world of musicals’ (Matt Lucas). ‘Must-see’ (Tim Rice). ‘Brilliant score’ (Miriam Margolyes).”

A last minute change to the original plan, as the guy flyering for this show did such a good job on me!!!

Check back later to see how we enjoyed all these shows!

Edinburgh Fringe 2023 Reviews – Wiesenthal, Tarot: Work in Progress, The Life Sporadic of Jess Wildgoose, Giving the Gift of Offence with Martin Rowson, and I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical

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Wiesenthal, Pleasance Courtyard.

Tom Dugan’s inspiring and gripping play tells the story of Simon Wiesenthal’s last day at work at the War Crimes Office in Vienna in 2003 – we, the audience, are the last group of visitors to come in and observe his work. He tells us of his motivations, about some of the worst Nazi criminals and the methods by which he hunted them down, and his relentless drive to keep going. It’s a heartwarming and important work, written with great style and performed by Christopher C Gibbs with a huge affection and respect for the man and his work. Wiesenthal is only retiring because of his age – he’s 94, but there’s a beautiful moment at the end when he passes the baton of responsibility to continue his work to us – and it is indeed up to all of us to continue to root out extremism wherever we see it.

4-stars

Tarot: Work in Progress, Monkey Barrel Comedy.

When it comes to Edinburgh sketches shows Tarot are the Kings on their thrones – or should that be the jokers in the pack. It’s a Work in Progress, so they present for our delectation a series of sketches that were approved by yesterday’s audience, plus a few rejects that didn’t go down quite so well on the previous day – and pretty much every one of them was a winner. The Tarot team have such a brilliant bond with each other, with an amazing understanding of how each others’ mind works that they dovetail together with effortless ease. And they’re not remotely afraid to look stupid or make each other look stupid. Absolutely top quality!

The Life Sporadic of Jess Wildgoose, Pleasance Courtyard.

The story of the rise and fall of Wall Street wonderkid Jess Wildgoose, Kansas’s most dynamic export, from her rejection-filled early career, where she never got further than barista level, to ruling the roost at a top New York financial institution, and her survival through several near-death experiences, all told through the Voloz Collective’s inimitable style mix of mime and imagination. If you liked The Man Who Thought He Knew Too Much, you’ll love this; the story hangs together perfectly with a delightful combination of humour and silliness, and is performed with manic athleticism and a touch of the surreal. Hugely entertaining and highly recommended.

Giving the Gift of Offence with Martin Rowson, The Stand’s New Town Theatre.

To his complete credit, Martin Rowson starts his hour analysing the art of offending via the art of political cartooning by holding his hands up about his recent misadventure with the Richard Sharp cartoon that was perceived to be antisemitic. After some classic examples of historical cartoon satire, he moves on to his own career, starting with the work he did at Cambridge before becoming a “proper” cartoonist, which has been his life over the past forty plus years. His hour is packed with material and anecdotes, spilling the beans on some of recent history’s ghastliest political figures, and it’s all very intelligent, entertaining and insightful. I have to declare a personal interest here – Martin and I were at school together and it was great to meet up afterwards to share a couple of pints and lots of memories. How does one give a star rating to an old friend? I decided to drop him down a star just to keep him on his toes!

4-stars

I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical, Gilded Balloon at the Museum.

I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical starts with a deliberately stereotypical opening number and then follows the fortunes of a stereotypical musical theatre performer, through auditions, chorus work, understudy duties then finally as a full-scale performer and then maybe, even, a diva. Alexander S Bermange’s songs are terrific pastiches of musical theatre style songs, with dozens of clever nods to well known musicals without ever actually parodying or stealing from them. The brilliant cast of Jennifer Caldwell, Sev Keoshgerian, Rhidian Marc and Julie Yammanee bring huge professionalism to the show, which has the audience in hoots of pleasure and rapturous applause throughout. A fantastic homage to the undisputed Queen of all the Arts!

Edinburgh Fringe 2023 Reviews – Raising Kane, Dough, Nobody’s Talking About Jamie, The Way Way Deep, and Richard Cobb: Couple’s Massage

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Raising Kane, Assembly George Square Studios.

David Shopland takes us through the highlights of Orson Welles’ life and career, including the War of the Worlds fiasco, his relationships with other theatre and movie makers, and, of course, Citizen Kane. It’s an absorbing presentation, and you feel you get to know a little of what Orson Welles the man must have been like – his character’s personality somehow emerges through the artificiality of the story-telling. The show has a surprise up its sleeve, but you certainly won’t hear what it is from me – and no, it’s not Rosebud. Engrossing, entertaining and very well put together. An excellent way to start your Fringe afternoon.

4-stars

Dough, Pleasance Dome.

Almost from the moment he is born, our hero sees his life framed by money – whether he is making it or losing it (more likely the latter, he’s not to be trusted with dough), or whether others around him are doing better or worse than him. David Lescot’s smartly written play follows his fortunes through his parents, his lovers, his daughter and his colleagues. You come away from the play with a slight feeling of stasis, as the end takes us back to the beginning, and  there’s been no real progress – as the character himself admits, at the end of his life he’s not really achieved anything. Thus the message of the play – if there is one – is that nothing has changed; no matter what your connection with money is, it doesn’t make that much of a difference. The staging is simple but effective and the performances from Zach Lusk, Matthew Brown and Hannah Mitchell are clear and enjoyable, although I would have liked it more if their voices hadn’t been quite so loud! These three actors know the art of projecting their voices in a large theatre – so I recommend you sit towards the back!

3-stars

Nobody’s Talking About Jamie, Underbelly Cowgate.

Definitely a contender for Best Title in the Fringe, Nobody’s Talking About Jamie, written and performed by Jamie Finn, is inspired by his own close friendships with women, and examines the loss felt when platonic friendship ends.  Dumped by his beloved Cordelia for someone with a better personality, Jamie seems condemned to spend every New Year’s Eve in front of the telly watching Jools Holland with his mum. But surely life has more to offer than that? In what sounds like a personal confessional, but is actually a very cleverly written and structured play, we meet Cordelia, Lily, Maxine, Lily’s best friend Alison and Cordelia’s new beau Warren. At first, Jamie is the epitome of the self-deprecating beta male, but you soon realise he’s much more resourceful than that. An extremely funny play about love, friendship, rejection and spin bikes; plus some superbly pitched songs that dovetail perfectly into his story. It’s a brilliant comedy performance!

The Way Way Deep, Underbelly Cowgate.

You can’t keep Patrick McPherson away from creating his one-man poetic monologues; hot on the heels of last year’s Colossal, in The Way Way Deep he plays Ben, out at a work’s pub night when he suddenly recognises his old childhood friend Jack. Ben and Jack were inseparable from the age of 6 till they left school, and then drifted apart, as you do. But Ben can’t wait to catch up with someone who played such an important and formative role in his boyhood development, and bask in his reflected glory, if only for a night. But the fun turns to tragedy due to a stupid, thoughtless incident. Mr McPherson has such a strong stage presence and enviable story-telling skills; he is a perfect wordsmith with a deft lightness of touch. Perhaps less complex than Colossal, nevertheless it’s still delicately written and emotionally performed.

4-stars

Richard Cobb: Couple’s Massage, Laughing Horse @ City Cafe.

Two days before their wedding, Richard Cobb and his bride-to-be had still not booked their honeymoon. She wanted to go to Cuba, he wasn’t sure because there had been severe weather and he didn’t think they’d see it at its best. He was right, but she still wanted to go – so they did. This is an account – amongst a lot of other little side stories – of their holiday experience, culminating in a less than relaxing couples’ massage. Richard is an engaging storyteller and has excellent presence and stage authority, and this is an entertaining hour of gentle comedy, if a little light on the belly laughs. With some more telling and dangerous material, he could have a great future, but for now, it’s all just a little safe for me.

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 12th August 2023

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Have I got a list of shows for today? I sure do!

Here’s the schedule for 12th August:

11.30 – Those Who Can’t Do, Laughing Horse @ The Brass Monkey. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“Ty juggles a double life between being a respectable teacher during the week, and a fun-loving party animal on the weekend. Hiding this from the students is hard. Anecdotes and jokes from Ty’s first few years as a teacher, and the lengths he must go to so that he can hide his personal life antics and budding comedy career from his students.”

Teacher turned stand up is not an uncommon career change! Look forward to seeing it.

13.30 – Santi and Naz, Pleasance Courtyard.

“Best friends Santi and Naz live in pre-partition India. One Sikh, one Muslim, they have little understanding of how religion will divide them. As the political situation in their country worsens and the threat of separation looms large on the horizon, they decide to take drastic action. Award-winning company The Thelmas explore queer love, identity and loyalty, set against the backdrop of a country soon to be changed forever. Winner of the Pleasance’s Charlie Hartill Fund. Praise for Ladykiller (2018): ‘A smash hit’ ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). ‘Superb’ **** (Scotsman).”

As a lover of India, and fascinated by its recent history, I’m sure this will provide a fascinating perspective.

15.10 – Stark Bollock Naked, Assembly Roxy.

“Is the motherhood question bugging you too? An international smash hit about our reproductive shelflife and what (not) to do with those (ageing) eggs. Featuring stunning video mapping, comedy-infused storytelling and a live score of gynaecological instruments, stark bollock naked is a multimedia show with a real naked body and an honest conversation about reproduction, abortion and the biological clock. Game Ovar-ies. ‘Winningly hilarious and visually enthralling’ (FringeBiscuit.co.uk). ‘A satirical homage to eggs. Perfect comic timing’ (Luxembourg Times). VAULT Festival Pick of the Week (Lyn Gardner).”

A title like that doesn’t offer much of a hiding place, but it sounds like it’s going to make lots of serious points. We shall see!

17:35 – The Quality of Mercy: Concerning the Life and Crimes of Dr Harold Frederick Shipman, The Space @ Surgeon’s Hall.

“From his cell in the early hours of the morning, Dr Harold Shipman records a confessional tape as he prepares to end his life. Patiently fashioning a crude noose, he reflects on the choices, compulsions and fascinations that cemented his place as the most prolific serial killer in British history. Exhaustively researched, this multiple award-nominated drama interrogates society’s attitudes towards death, justice and compassion, and is written and performed by Edwin Flay, the grandson of Shipman victim Renee Lacey.”

This is one of those shows that only the Edinburgh Fringe can throw up every so often. The fact that it is performed by a relative of one of Shipman’s victims only adds to the closeness and intimacy of the experience. I expect this to be very hard-hitting indeed.

19.30 – Andrew Frank: Ecstatic Blasphemy, Hill Street Theatre.

“Named one of the Best Undiscovered Comedians in America by Thrillist Magazine, Seattle comedian Andrew Frank delivers a hilarious set about growing up as a pastor’s kid, finding queer joy beyond fundamentalist Christianity, and performing subversive stand-up for more than a decade in America’s Bible Belt. In an hour of rapid-fire jokes, Frank takes aim at the constructs and symbols of evangelical Christianity, re-contextualizing them through the lens of empathy, creativity, and scepticism. Provocative and fiercely vulnerable, Frank creates moments of collective healing and euphoria through the liberating power of laughter.”

I’ve not heard of Andrew Frank before – but he sounds a complete hoot!

Check back later to see how we enjoyed all these shows!

Edinburgh Fringe 2023 Reviews – The Trials of Galileo, Burned Out, The Great Ruckus, Pitch, Stuntman, and Little Ward of Horrors

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The Trials of Galileo, Greenside @ Infirmary Street.

Galileo sits alone, surrounded by papers and his beloved home-made telescope – x32 magnification would you believe! He puts on a brave face but he is a broken man, as he tells us about his trial by the Inquisition, the falsification of documents to be used against him, and the duplicity of the Pope. Tim Hardy won Best Actor for this performance at last year’s Buxton Fringe and I’m not at all surprised. It’s a fantastic performance, providing us a flowing, natural story-telling that involves us intimately in his plight; aided by a superb text written by Nic Young. It’s fascinating to reflect from today’s perspective that questioning the science of the universe equalled heresy, for which the punishment was severe beyond our comprehension. A gripping story, deftly told. A superb way to start the day!

Burned Out, The Space @ Surgeon’s Hall.

Becky is a hard-working, diligent nurse, who’ll put herself out for anyone. Respected by her colleagues and the local community, she nevertheless doesn’t earn enough for her 60-80 working hours a week to feed her family without having to resort to the local foodbank. When a local business is sold to Lee Woodcock, an entrepreneur, because it can’t make money, he stops its regular contributions to the foodbank; and when Becky discovers there is hardly any food available to her and people like her, she, along with Michael, one of Lee’s disgruntled ex-employees, decide to take the matter into their own hands. There’s no doubt that the play comes from a good place, and has an important story to tell. However, it felt over-ambitious with the number of themes it was trying to handle, and didn’t quite succeed to do any of them justice; and some of the plot developments stretched credulity. The actor who plays Becky is extremely convincing; some of the other acting is a little patchy. I wanted this to be better.

The Great Ruckus, Pleasance Courtyard.

Jo and Ida’s mother has died – and we witness the first few days of their coping with grief. We also meet their wider family and associates, and they’re all a dysfunctional bunch. As they all pull each other apart, the production is accompanied by projections of grotesque caricatures of the people and locations involved. This was a hard watch; not because of the subject matter, but because it is a relentless bombardment of words; there is too much to take in and make sense of it before the story moves on, and, personally, I found it alienating and tiring to follow. It probably doesn’t help that the characters are, on the whole, so unlikeable. I’m sure other people will get more out of this show, but it wasn’t for me.

Pitch, Pleasance Courtyard.

Five players, five goals: to play football, meet new people, get fit, support each other, and go to the pub. Pitch is a celebration of the relationship between football and the queer community – something that’s perhaps even more relevant than ever, following the Qatar World Cup. Kate, Aimee, Clo and Squid encourage new player Bill to join their team – the Muddy Studs – because they’re looking for flesh blood in the midfield. He lacks a bit of confidence but that will come with time. The team is a safe space for queer players, but, even then, they still come up against moments of homophobia that throw them off their tracks. Five very likeable performers play five very engaging and likeable characters; November Theatre are looking to expand and develop the play and take it on tour in 2024. As it stands, it does need that development, because the play is fine as far as it goes – but at the moment it doesn’t go quite far enough. Nevertheless, it’s still an enjoyable and heartwarming show – and there are some fairly nifty football skills on display too!

3-stars

Stuntman, Summerhall.

Well, there’s no denying the commitment and physical strength of these two guys – they must have cores of steel! David and Sadiq pace predatorially around each other in front of blazing lights as they fight, shoot, attack, knife and undertake all other forms of combat with each other with the regular cry of Welcome to Hell Motherf*cker! or something similar. In an exploration of men’s relationship with violence, the show reveals how men can cause each other immense pain and injury (as well as numerous methods of killing) but are also capable of showing tenderness and support to each other. If there is a message to be taken from the show it’s that there is always an alternative to violence, no matter what the problem may be. It’s an arresting hour of entertainment, and David Banks and Sadiq Ali hardly ever stay still for more than a second or two, and whatever they do, they do compellingly and with precision skill. I do hope they have access to good shower facilities after the show!

4-stars

Little Ward of Horrors, The Space @ Surgeon’s Hall.

Performed by medical students from St. George’s Tooting, Little Ward of Horrors is a medical sketch show, and, like most sketch shows, is a bit of a hit and miss affair. Unfortunately, the misses do rather drastically outweigh the hits, and, when the directors of the show came on stage at the end and said the cast only had a week to write and rehearse the whole thing, because of the pressure of their studies, I’m afraid it shows. No wish to be cruel, but there are thousands of great shows out there on the Fringe vying for your ticket money, and I don’t think you get your bang for your buck here. With about five of the twenty-five or so sketches making me laugh, that equals a 20% success rate, which explains my star rating.

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 11th August 2023

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Have I got a list of shows for today? I sure do!

Here’s the schedule for 11th August:

12.00 – Raising Kane, Assembly George Square Studios. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“In 1941 a precocious young upstart of New York’s glittering theatre scene tried his hand at making a movie and accidentally created the greatest motion picture of all time. His name was Orson Welles. Fake Escape Artistic Director, David Shopland, returns to the stage after more than a decade to portray one of the most unique personalities in Hollywood history. Triumphs, tragedies and the truth are twisted upside down until fact and fantasy inevitably collide. Presented in glorious black and white! A Masterpiece. ***** (WestEndWilma.com, for Fake Escape’s Saving Britney).”

The story of the creation of Citizen Kane, then, I presume. Should be fascinating!

13.30 – Dough, Pleasance Dome.

“A fast-paced darkly comic drama from internationally acclaimed Moliere award-winner, David Lescot. Exploring a lifetime through one person’s daily interactions with money, three actors portray forty characters, examining the transactions we engage in to build a life. ‘You can’t keep accumulating all the time, you see… You can’t always be gaining, earning, winning; you need to lose as well. We need loss.’ Written and directed by Lescot – associate artist of renowned Théâtre de la Ville in Paris – who makes his Edinburgh Fringe debut. ‘Mesmerising, nearly perfect’ (StageBuddy.com). ‘A swift, humorous and sometimes bittersweet tale’ (ManhattanDigest.com).”

I don’t know the works of David Lescot, but if the reviews are to be believed, this will be a first-rate play, so I’m looking forward to it.

15.40 – Nobody’s Talking About Jamie, Underbelly Cowgate.

“After Jamie’s dumped, spin instructor Lily takes him in and he spends five years learning how to move forward, on a bike that doesn’t move. But what do you do when a friend breaks up with you? Celebrating the dizzying romance and heartbreaking tragedy of friendship, Jamie Finn blends storytelling, comedy and original music as he explores the chaotic wilderness of platonic love and searches for someone who will finally talk about Jamie! ‘Jamie Finn will make you feel better… fresh and funny’ (Michael Palin). BBC Comedy Awards Regional finalist, 2021. Musical Comedy Award finalist, 2019/2020.”

To be honest, I laughed out loud at seeing the title. This sounds like a wholesomely good hour of musical comedy.

17.20 – The Way Way Deep, Underbelly Cowgate.

“Following the award-winning, sell-out festival hits, The Man and Colossal, Patrick McPherson’s new play The Way Way Deep debuts in Edinburgh. Blending bold storytelling, spoken word and original music, McPherson brings his inimitable style to a new piece that follows the ecstasy and chaos of a twenty-year friendship. Moving from beautifully nostalgic to bitingly poignant, The Way Way Deep delivers an hour of unforgettable theatre. Previous acclaim: ***** (Scotsman). ***** (List). ***** (TheatreWeekly.com). Winner – Best Show, Edinburgh Fringe 2002, Theatre Weekly. Winner – Best Theatre Show, Perth Fringe 2023.”

Patrick McPherson is back again, this time with a solo show that I have every expectation will be simply sensational.

19.25 – Richard Cobb: Couple’s Massage, Laughing Horse @ City Cafe.

“In October 2022, Richard Cobb was on honeymoon in Cuba. The weather was fabulous, the all-inclusive drinks were flowing and the food was… fine. He was having a lovely time with his lovely wife. Then he went for a massage and got distracted for an hour and all hell broke loose in his mind. In this show he’ll explain why. The debut show from Scottish stand-up/author/guy that will literally try anything to be famous, Richard Cobb. It’s basically about love, doubt, guilt, family holidays, football, near-death experiences and pugs. Oh, and it’s got a happy ending.”

We once had a cringe-inducing couples’ massage in India – I have to listen to Richard Cobb tell the story of his escapade in order not to feel too bad about our own!

Check back later to see how we enjoyed all these shows!

 

Edinburgh Fringe 2023 Reviews – Yoga with Jillian – A New Comedy, Nuclear Children, Unforgettable Girl, Almost Adult and Joe White: Ethiopian and Still Not Hungry

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Yoga with Jillian – A New Comedy, Pleasance Courtyard.

A play with a difference, as Jillian invites members of the audience to join her on stage for a yoga class, whilst the rest of us sit cowardly in our seats to watch the fun. Jillian has had a tough time over the past few years – Covid hasn’t been kind to her, nor have her attempts to become a yoga teacher after years as a lawyer. But she’s a survivor, and River has given her a few slots at the studio to see if she can make her mark with a mat and a few asanas. If you’ve ever been to a yoga class you’ll recognise all that chakra stuff, and you’ll also know – unlike Jillian – that when the body goes OUCH you don’t blast through the pain barrier… Michole Biancosino invests Jillian with a wonderful blend of hearty encouragement and bitter resentment, and Lia Romeo’s play is beautifully structured and written, surprisingly realistic – and also very, very funny! And you don’t need to be a yoga freak to enjoy it!

Nuclear Children, Pleasance Courtyard.

The story of Isla, an English literature student, who has hallucinations and intrusive thoughts – no doubt made worse by her father’s death in a submarine accident. It hasn’t helped her mother either, nor her grandmother; no wonder her brother is travelling the world to escape it all. Ezra England gives an amazing performance as Isla in this terrific play, which they have also written and imbued with dark humour and unsentimental precision. An exploration of Isla’s life trying to contend with the worsening world around her, and her mental condition, it’s also a very effective examination of the struggles within a family when no one knows quite how to handle grief. The play is packed with devlilishly wicked observations which helps us to understand what Isla, her flatmate, her boyfriend and her family are really like. Punchy, profound and very very funny.

Unforgettable Girl, Pleasance Courtyard.

Every so often a show comes along that is almost completely uncategorizable. The Fringe website describes this as a dark comedy but that only tells part of the tale. Unforgettable Girl is the brainchild of writer and performer Elisabeth Gunawan, and came about as a response to her never being on the right side of “white”; she was always subject to “Asian Othering”. But the show also exposes the grim realities of the Thai Mail Order Bride industry. I’ve known of at least two men who have married Thai Mail Order Brides, and I wasn’t aware that it was simply a front for human trafficking, more fool me. Split into three parts, the first is a funny, albeit challenging, introduction to an apparently willing young woman eager to do anything to please you. The second – an interlude – is a side reflection by an Asian woman who identifies as white and pities/ridicules anyone not like her. She challenges white members of the audience to explain what it is about being white that they like – #awkward. The final part is a harrowing examination of the reality of people trafficking. If the show aims to bring the horrors of the trade to our attention, it works. However, no matter how laudable the aims of the show might be, it is at times excruciatingly painful to watch, and implies a complicity from the largely white, middle-class Edinburgh audience in this appalling practice. It feels overlong, a little repetitive, and I felt that its ideas are stretched. I was definitely challenged – which is a Very Good Thing – and I also felt very uncomfortable, which is, maybe, questionable. In any event, it certainly leaves you with masses to think about.

3-stars

Almost Adult, Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose.

Hope has grown too big for her dull home town of Macclesfield and seeks the bright lights of a flat share in London. After a few days of doing the tourist thing – including buying the all-important London Underground T-shirt and socks, she applies for a job working at Dino-World; starting off by cleaning the toilets (obvs) but then progressing to dancing in the windows and bar work. It’s long, hard, zero hours work, but she doesn’t mind. Her boss Daz is a bit of a knob, but she thinks she can cope with him; and anyway, he’s arranging for a team-building night out, free bar all night, what could possibly go wrong? Written and performed by Charlotte Anne-Tilley, her very realistic and entertainingly written play is based strongly on Hope’s open kind-hearted nature, and it’s a relatively gentle amble through “office” politics and sexual misconduct. She portrays Hope as a hugely likeable character, and it pains you to watch her being easily manipulated by colleagues and flatmate alike. Fortunately – there’s a happy ending! An all too predictable story about an ordinary young woman who doesn’t suspect the ulterior motives of bad people – and thus it’s very relatable and recognisable. Engaging and enjoyable, and extremely well presented.

3-stars

Joe White: Ethiopian and Still Not Hungry, Gilded Balloon Teviot.

It’s always fascinating to see a comedian who’s a complete unknown here in the UK but has a big reputation at home – and Joe White fills that bill. Originally of Ethiopian heritage, he lived in a refugee camp in Sudan until his mother somehow managed to bring him and his five siblings to safety in Australia. As a result, a lot of his material is based on contrasting comparisons of Ethiopian and Australian culture, and encouraging and coaxing his mother to say the right words in the right way so as to fit in with her new environment. He has a very laid back, gentle style, likes to spend a lot of the show getting to know the audience in a warm, unconfrontational manner, and the show is a feelgood, supportive hour or so. Nothing too challenging, nothing too risque, nothing too in-your-face. Just kind, good-humoured comedy.

3-stars

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 10th August 2023

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Have I got a list of shows for today? I sure do!

Here’s the schedule for 10th August:

10.15 – The Trials of Galileo, Greenside @ Infirmary Street. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“In 1634, Galileo is ordered to stand trial for heresy. Galileo never understood his differences with the Church were not about reason, logic, and scientific fact. They were about politics. When he finally came to realise this, it was too late. Written by Nic Young, Hardy has toured the Trials of Galileo throughout the UK, America, Malta, and Spain and had a sold-out run at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe. Winner of the Best Actor Award, Buxton Fringe 2022. ‘The superb Tim Hardy triumphs as Galileo. His acting is outstanding in a spellbinding story…’ ***** (EdFringeReview.com).”

Having seen the promotional video for this play, it looks as though Tim Hardy delivers a brilliant performance, so I am very much looking forward to starting the day with this production!

11.50 – Burned Out, The Space @ Surgeon’s Hall.

“Burned Out follows a nurse who is barely making ends meet. When the food bank she has been relying on to feed her family loses its main benefactor, Becky makes it her mission to find who is responsible. Selflessness prevails in the end, proving our NHS is more than worth fighting for.”

Very much a story for our times, I shall be very interested to see this examination of the problems facing our nurses – and I’m expecting a tough watch!

14.00 – The Great Ruckus, Pleasance Courtyard.

“Two sisters have to navigate their way through their mother’s funeral and quickly find the warm embrace of their family turns into a seething snake-pit of selfish and self-absorbed relatives. Grandparents argue over whether the funeral reception will be a celebration of Marks and Spencer catering packs or a piece of Victorian Gothic tragedy. Jo and Ida dutifully march to death’s drumbeat, only to tumble as their delicate relationship cracks under the pressure. Izzy Tennyson, writer of award-winning ‘Brute’ and critically acclaimed ‘Grotty’, returns with Etch Theatre with this wickedly dark play about people behaving badly.”

That sounds like a jolly family drama! Plenty there for most people to recognise at least a little of what goes on in family circles. Should be entertaining!

15.45 – Pitch, Pleasance Courtyard.

“A bold, joyful, goal-scoring exploration of the relationship between football and the queer community. In the wake of the Qatar World Cup and in the midst of the 2023 Women’s Tournament, Pitch blends documentary storytelling and theatre, investigating what it means to watch, play and love the beautiful game. November Theatre (one of The Stage’s Top Picks of the Fringe, 2022) imagines a future in which queer representation in football is more than just a debate over a rainbow armband. Expect a hat-trick of true stories, dirty tactics and dancing! Winner of the Pleasance’s Charlie Hartill Fund.”

Looking forward to a hard-hitting examination of homophobia in football and how to boot it out.

17.50 – Stuntman, Summerhall.

“An intensely physical, funny, and tender duet by two men wrestling with their relationship to violence – both onscreen and off. Fusing the Pow! Biff! and Wallop! of over-the-top stunt fights with personal stories of real encounters with violence from the performers’ lives, Stuntman explores the relationship between violence and masculinity and the impact this has on our perceptions of men. A show for anyone who has ever enjoyed a violent action movie (but felt a bit weird about it). ‘A thoroughly exhilarating 60 minutes that certainly pulls no punches’ ***** (TheRecs.co.uk). MadeInScotlandShowcase.com”

Important subject matter, and I’m intrigued by how it will be portrayed via dance and physical theatre – should be good!

19.45 – Little Ward of Horrors, The Space @ Surgeon’s Hall.

“The Malignant Humours have returned to the Fringe yet again! With 10 sell-out shows under our belts and multiple five-star reviews, you’re going to want to Seymour of us. The Little Ward of Horrors is a medical comedy sketch show that will have you in stitches! And if you’re feeling a bit under the weather yourself, don’t worry – our cast, made up of healthcare students, are certified to perform emergency laughter-inducing procedures. So come down to the Surgeon’s Hall, plant yourself in a seat and enjoy 45 minutes of award-winning sketch comedy.”

Hopefully this will provide a comic antidote to the hard-hitting Burned Out that we saw this morning. Carry On Doctor for the 21st Century? Although I suspect there’ll be a more than a dash of Little Shop of Horrors in the mix too!

Check back later to see how we enjoyed all these shows!