Monthly Archives: August 2024

Edinburgh Fringe 2024 – It’s a Wrap!

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Phew – What a Fringe! We arrived on 30th July and we left on the 27th August. During that time we saw 158 shows, which was four fewer than I had planned but was thirteen more than last year; and last year we also saw thirteen more than in 2022, however I can’t see that record being broken next year. With Oasis currently scheduled to have three concerts during the Fringe, I can’t even see how half the performers will be able to afford to be in Edinburgh!

Here’s a quick reminder of the 4 and 5 star shows we saw, by star rating and in date order of when we saw them:

5 STARS:

Mhairi Black: Politics Isn’t For Me

Goose’s Quizzes Elimination Game

Casting The Runes

Tarot: Shuffle

Catafalque

Janie Dee’s Beautiful World Cabaret

KAREN

Our Little Secret

The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return

Robin Grainger: Refurb

It’s The Economy, Stupid

For The Love of Spam

I Am George Massey

Emma Sidi is Sue Gray

Pete Heat: Bogus

The Book of Mountains and Seas

MILF and the Mistress

Galahad Takes a Bath

1 Moment in Time (Sean Alexander)

I Am Your Tribute (Sarah-Louise Young)

Garry Starr: Classic Penguins

Josh Jones: Put a Sock in It

Werewolf

Weather Girl

The Bookies

The Scot and the Showgirl

Tom Greaves: Fudgey

4 STARS:

Shellshocked

Sell Me I Am From North Korea

Will Sebag-Montefiore: Will Of The People

Reginald D Hunter: Fluffy Fluffy Beavers

Liam Farrelly: Flipbook

Cabaret of Filth

House of Life

Glitch

Arturo Brachetti: Solo

1 Hour of Insane Magic (After Dark)

Kavin Jay: Unsolicited Advice

Heckling Masterclass with Diploma (Ben Clover)

SILENCE! The Musical

Ascension

Daliso Chaponda: Feed This Black Man Again

Malion

The Last Laugh

A Jaffa Cake Musical

Colin Hoult: Colin

The Shadow Boxer

Rob Auton: The Eyes Open and Shut Show

Pillock

Come Dine With Me: The Musical

Rhys Nicholson: Huge Big Party Congratulations!

Dead Mom Play

The Shroud Maker

N.Ormes

Jack Goes To Therapy

The Gentleman of Shalott

Alexandra Haddow: Third Party

Lads of the Flies

Ajahnis Charley: Thots and Prayers

Dan Tiernan: Stomp

Dissociation

Fifty Minutes to Save the NHS

Martin Rowson: Shred the Front Page

Randy Feltface

If I Live Until I Be a Man

Yes We’re Related

Tales from a British Country Pub

Sherlock Holmes: The Last Act

Nick Schuller: Still Dry White

Chloe Petts: How You See Me, How You Don’t

Finlay Christie: I Deserve This

Joe Wells: Daddy Autism

Lessons on Revolution

One Man Poe: The Black Cat and The Raven

Ryan Cullen: Cullen in the Name of

Leni’s Last Lament

Ghost Light

A Montage of Monet

Naughty or Neurodiverse – Magic from Another Planet (I Am a Mentalist – Angus Baskerville)

Sam See: And I Can’t Feel at Home in this World Anymore

Shower Chair

Notice Box

When Vincent met John

Crime and Punishment

Michael Porter: Love and Brain Damage

Milo Edwards: How Revolting! Sorry to Offend

The Grim

With All My Fondest Love

The Dreamer – Live

An Act of Grace

It’s a Mystery!

September 11 1973: The Day Salvador Allende Died

All The Fraudulent Horse Girls

Stuart Laws Has to be Joking?

Best in Class

The Ghost of White Hart Lane

Kelly Bachman: Patron Saint

What the F*ck Happened to Love and Hope

Phil Henderson: Space Cowboy

Ben Miller: Volcano

Annaliesa Rose Sings the Peter Allen Songbook

Joby Mageean: Titty Icarus

Di(n)e

100% My Type on Paper

Little Deaths

Moscow Love Story

Black Velvet (38 more than last year)

 

Congratulations to all these great shows. I’m fascinated to discover that, although we saw 13 more shows than last year, I’ve awarded 4 stars to 38 more shows than last year – but 10 fewer 5 stars than last year. Also – unlike last year – no 1 star shows, hurrah! And as to working out which of them are the absolute best – you’ll have to wait until the Chrisparkle Awards for 2024 are announced in January!

And thank you, gentle reader, for sticking with me throughout this busy month! My viewing/reading statistics continue to climb upwards and are about 50% higher than the numbers who checked out my reviews at the 2023 Fringe – so thank you very much for that! And remember – reviews are only what one person thinks, they’re purely a personal reaction. And star ratings are even more unreliable!

Edinburgh Fringe 2024 Reviews (final day) – Moscow Love Story, Black Velvet, The Scot and the Showgirl, and Tom Greaves: FUDGEY

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Moscow Love Story, Pleasance Courtyard.

4-stars

With the help of cassette tapes from 23 years ago, Paul Jenkins relives the time when he moved to Moscow to teach English for a year and to spend the time embracing Russian culture, food, music and getting to know the people. It had been well over ten years since the fall of the Berlin Wall and things were very different in Moscow from the Communist era, with a much greater Western influence; for every pickled cucumber seller, you’d find a Gucci handbag on sale. While he was there, Paul met Angie, a student from Manchester, and they had a riotous time together, trying different experiences – in retrospect, not all of them advisable – as well as falling in love. Moscow Love Story demonstrates that you should never deny the experiences of the past, even if you wouldn’t choose to do them today. A fascinating structure for the show, and Paul Jenkins brings his memories to life with a riveting and engaging performance. I found the story spellbinding!

Black Velvet, Bedlam Theatre.

4-stars

Llew goes to visit his mum’s grave for a catch-up chat with her; he brings his tea and biscuits – they could be in for a long session. Just as he’s settling down he realises a young Irish girl, Aoife, has been sleeping rough behind the grave. Neither is best pleased to realise that they’re not alone, but a series of turbulent conversations sees them both accepting and learning from each other. Grief takes many forms, and this play not only considers the effect when one’s parent dies through suicide, but also examines the unusual problem of a child losing a parent to early-onset Alzheimer’s. A tough and moving problem indeed. Engaging, at times troubling, and always thought-provoking, it’s immaculately performed by Charles Ison and Christina Knight, whose Irish accent is phenomenal! Very impressive throughout.

The Scot and the Showgirl, Pleasance Dome.

A cabaret-de-force from the incredible Frances Ruffelle and Norman Bowman (the Showgirl and the Scot in reverse order), telling the story of their relationship through an inspired selection of songs from the shows and other popular music, accompanied by the terrific Kate Shortt, Nick Anderson and Ryan McKenzie. So many musical highlights include a spiky Country House duet from Follies, a stunning performance by Beausy of Burt Bacharach’s A House is not a Home, a fantastic Man That Got Away by Frances Ruffelle and – to make the hairs on your arm stand up on end – Frances gives us a tear-inducing On My Own from Les Miserables – she was the original Eponine, after all. A truly quality of hour of emotional musical power – I loved every minute of it.

Tom Greaves: FUDGEY, Assembly Roxy.

We all know a Fudgey. He teases, he boasts, he charms and he bullies. He’s got great mates, but only if he can get the better of them. He oozes confidence, but it’s built on a precipice of fragility that only he needs to know about. And who is Fudgey? He’s the product of an archaic educational system where a boy goes to boarding school at the age of seven to make a man of him; ignoring the fact that at seven you’re neither a man, nor do you need to be one. Tom Greaves’ blisteringly funny but heartbreakingly painful Fudgey propels a boy who can’t even pronounce Maid Marian correctly into the realms of sporting hero and misogynistic smartarse. A mixture of superb physical comedy, clowning, brilliant crowd interaction and – let’s not deny it – outright therapy, Fudgey is a stunning show that develops in the mind and the heart long after you’ve gone home. Amazing work – highly recommended.

 

Edinburgh Fringe 2024 Reviews – Seconds to Midnight, 100% My Type on Paper, Sameer Katz: Whether Conditions, Dr Dolittle Kills a Man (and Reads Extracts from his New Book), Lorraine Hoodless: DINK, and Little Deaths

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Seconds to Midnight, Pleasance Courtyard.

3-stars

What would you do if you knew a nuclear attack was on its way and you’d be dead in seven hours? Apart from send a few hurried messages to my nearest and dearest I reckon I’d just give up, get drunk and go back to bed. But not Eddie and Jo. Besties, queer, but not in a relationship with each other, they’re trapped in Eddie’s house and fed up with playing family games. They recall the loves they lost, the parents, a few fun times, and how they met. Not a lot actually happens in Jessica Tabraham’s Seconds to Midnight, and I must confess it didn’t hold my attention throughout. However, there are two good performances from Elise Busset and Cosimo Asvisio – and it does make you think what you would do under the same circumstances.

100% My Type on Paper, C Arts C Venues C Alto.

4-stars

Sammy and Clyde are on a first date. Very awkward, very tentative, and very nervous. He tries to make light of it with some ill-conceived jokes; she can barely hide her disdain at his appallingly clumsy approach. As the first meeting gets played out in different ways, and the characterisations change, the play’s director steps in and tries to make Sammy and Clyde act it out differently – again and again and again. A very clever and at times hysterically funny play by Lola Annesley, 100% My Type on Paper examines the elements that make up the perfect date and whether the audience might want something different from the participants. Deconstructing dating – and very nicely done.

Sameer Katz: Whether Conditions, Laughing Horse @ The Counting House.

3-stars

There aren’t many Indian men who, unmarried and with no children, would have the courage to have a vasectomy. But of those that have, I doubt any of them would have told their parents. That’s just not the usual run of events! But Sameer Katz did (have a vasectomy that is, definitely didn’t tell the parents), and that bold decision is just one aspect of his slightly unconventional life – he’s a comedian, not a doctor, after all. With a very relaxed, quiet style, he gives us his comic observations on safe topics like not finishing his PhD, and dangerous topics like suicide. There is an edge to some of his material that is perhaps more probing than downright funny, but it’s still an enjoyable hour of confidently delivered material from a Californian/Indian perspective.

Dr Dolittle Kills a Man (and Reads Extracts From His New Book), Underbelly Cowgate.

3-stars

Depending on one’s age, everyone has their own Doctor Dolittle to cherish. When I was young I remember that many of my schoolfriends had the original Hugh Lofting books. I can only assume they belonged to their parents! My own Dolittle memories are of Rex Harrison, Richard Attenborough and the push-me-pull-you. Today’s Dolittlers will mainly associate him with Eddie Murphy – much to this Dr Dolittle’s annoyance. Aidan Pittman plays the eponymous speaker-to-animals as he takes us on a journey across continents and through jungles, on the quest of finding the [expletive deleted] ruby. This is an immensely silly show, crammed with physical comedy, which Mr Pittman performs with huge commitment, attack and a lot of tongue-in-cheek. It’s the kind of show you either get completely or which totally goes over your head, depending on your own personal level of outright silliness. I will be honest: it wasn’t really my cup of tea, but many of the audience were hooting with delight throughout. Oh, and he does, genuinely, kill a man.

Lorraine Hoodless: DINK, PBH’s Free Fringe at the Southsider.

3-stars

I think most people know what a DINK is (double income, no kids); but did you also know you can have SINKs, PINKs, and even GINKs. Perhaps you’re a DINKWAD – Lorraine Hoodless has just attained that dizzy status – or a SINKWAC? I think our nearest is a NINKWALD – no income, and our dog died years ago. This is a fun examination of the benefits of being a DINK – the freedom to do what you want, to go where you want to go, and to spend all your money on yourself! There is a serious side to all this too, depending on whether your DINK status is by choice, or if life forced it on you. And if there’s a lesson to be learned from all this, it’s that it’s best not to assume one way or the other the reasons why someone is DINKy. Lorraine Hoodless has a friendly, welcoming style on stage, is open to loads of audience participation (not the scary type, but the neighbourly type), and her material is very relatable and recognisable. There’s a hilarious sequence when she’s recounting how difficult it was for her partner to play his part in the IVF procedure (NB: it really wasn’t). She delivers her comic observations with a lively warmth and excellent timing, and there’s genuinely something for everyone in this show. Good fun and unexpectedly educational too!

Little Deaths, Summerhall.

4-stars

It’s 1997, at school. Charlie and Debs meet for the first time. It’s a slightly awkward moment but you can tell that theirs will be a perfect friendship. From the heartbreak of Geri Halliwell leaving the Spice Girls to the stresses of one of them moving to New York with a job opportunity, and from helping each other through their first periods to welcoming a baby into their midst, they’ll always have that bond between them. Won’t they? Amy Powell Yeates’ Little Deaths explores the many little deaths that a profound friendship encounters over the years, yet Charlie and Debs inevitably overcome them. Beautifully written and constructed, with two fantastic and mature performances by Olivia Forrest as Charlie and Rosa Robson as Debs. A truly heartwarming play.

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 26th August 2024

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After today’s shows, that’s it for our Edinburgh Fringe 2024 experience. Let’s take a look at the last batch of shows.

Here’s the schedule for August 26th.

11:40 – Moscow Love Story, Pleasance Courtyard. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“Moscow 2001. Echoes of Soviet Russia linger and young Putin is flirting with the West, when two rebellious souls lose themselves in a vodka-fuelled romance. Bringing audio diaries made on an old Walkman to life, Moscow Love Story is an untamed exploration of love and memory, paralleling personal boundaries with geopolitics in a world on the brink of transformation. Developed with support of Alma Alter Theatre Laboratory, Bulgaria and Sherman Theatre, Cardiff. ‘Jenkins weaves a substantial, ambitious play of ideas’ **** (Telegraph, for First Person Shooter).”

And a fascinating sounding play to start our last day, I’ve always found ex-Soviet or Iron Curtain countries exciting to visit, and I’m hoping this play can give some of that vibe together with an exploration of that “vodka-fuelled romance.”

14:00 – Black Velvet, Bedlam Theatre.

“’You know, I never liked flowers for graves. They’re just this morbid reflection of death, as if this place needs any more of that…’ When Llew arrives at the graveyard with flowers for his mum, the last thing he expects to find is a feisty, possibly feral girl hijacking his night. Llew can’t stand her cynicism and Aoife thinks he’s an eejit, but the two are apparently stuck with each other, with nothing in common but grief. As heart-warming as it is heart-wrenching, a new dark comedy about time moving forward when it feels like everything should stop.”

A graveside is an interesting location for a relationship to develop; if this is well-written and well-acted it should be highly entertaining and insightful.

15:50 – The Scot and the Showgirl, Pleasance Dome.

“Starring Tony Award-winner Frances Ruffelle and West End leading man Norman Bowman. The Scot and The Showgirl is a true(ish) wee musical thingamajig about a perfectly imperfect relationship that began 28 years ago at Edinburgh Waverly train station. She, a Broadway icon and Edinburgh Fringe survivor. He, a shy Scottish musical theatre lover. Together, with their crackin’ band, they celebrate their quirky romance in a touchingly funny song cycle – from Brigadoon to Broadway and from Scotland to Sondheim via Costello, Bacharach, The Proclaimers and more. Expect love, laughter and tartan. World Premiere.”

Some mid-afternoon cabaret, Frances Ruffelle is always an amazing performer and it will be interesting to hear their interpretations of show tunes and Scottish pop. Yay to Bacharach and Sondheim – not so yay to the Proclaimers (unless it’s Letter to America!)

17:55 – Tom Greaves: FUDGEY, Assembly Roxy.

“A brutally funny dark comedy about boarding school. Through the character of Fudgey: your quintessential, tone-deaf man in a suit (you know, the “harmless” type… until you find them running the country), award-winning, Gaulier-trained Tom Greaves explores the complexities of his own privilege in this mind-bending, tour-de-force debut. As Fudgey’s reality hits breaking point, Greaves embodies a carousel of personalities and puppets in an anarchic and virtuosic performance, ultimately facing Fudgey’s past to find his own (Tom’s) future. Strap in for a thrilling ride of laughter, tears and transformation. ‘Funny, clever, and disturbing’ **** (TheatreAndArtReviews.com). **** (MervsPOTFringe.com).”

We all know how disastrous some of those “harmless” types can be! Here’s hoping indeed for a tour de force to end our Edinburgh experience for this year.

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

Edinburgh Fringe 2024 Reviews – Someone Has to be Counting, Joby Mageean: Titty Icarus, Di(n)e, Weather Girl and The Bookies

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Someone has got to be Counting, TheSpace at Surgeons’ Hall.

3-stars

Based on a true story, Someone Has Got to be Counting painstakingly follows a laboriously annotated life where every aspect of one’s day is counted and written down (in a coded shorthand) in an exercise book. As someone who uses Excel probably more than I should, at first I could see the appeal of doing something like this; but it doesn’t take long for the downsides of this lifestyle choice to become apparent. What particularly comes over is how the obsession completely imprisons the person doing the counting. They are never free from their grid of numbers, crosses, dashes and squiggles; miss a day, or do it in the morning not the evening (or vice versa) and it completely blows their mind. Lisa Vetta gives a compelling and meticulous performance, and the production is enhanced by a superb soundtrack by Lai Power that truly adds to the nightmarish pressure of the obsession.

Joby Mageean: Titty Icarus, PBH’s Free Fringe at Whistlebinkies.

4-stars

Joby Mageean is back at the Fringe after five years with a one-off work in progress show, Titty Icarus, in preparation for a proper Fringe Blitz next year. Joby has a wonderfully relaxed, communicative and warm-hearted style and tells his stories with terrific fluidity and naturalness. He has some great new ideas here for a show, including how easy it was to become a father, some unusual parenting awards, and how skinny dipping is easier for two. There are also some more serious – and completely unpredictable – observations about his mum. When the show is fully worked up for next year I’m sure it will be a winner; in any event, Joby is just one of those comedians you never tire of listening to, as those comedy nuggets keep on coming.

Di(n)e, TheSpace on The Mile.

4-stars

Slumped on the floor, Noah wakes up to discover his old girlfriend knocking at his door. Then his brother; then his father. They all bring food. Sounds cosy, doesn’t it? Just one thing, however; his girlfriend, brother and father are all dead. So is Noah too? Awkward introductions and reconciliations follow; as does the arrival of a takeaway delivery guy. But who orders a takeaway if they mean to kill themself? Connor Rock’s Di(n)e is an unexpectedly heartwarming and positive play that examines love and relationships, regrets and hope; and Invisible Strings’ engrossing and entertaining production is smartly acted and mines all the humour present in this unusual and provocative situation. Very enjoyable!

Weather Girl, Summerhall.

Stacey reports live from a Californian wildfire; it’s hot enough for her make-up to run, but it could have been worse – she could have been living in the household where everyone died because they assumed it was all a government hoax. Back in the studio, she’s a professional who can skip from pointing out 102 degrees in Bakersfield to introducing the cookery segment – so much so that her bosses promote her to a new job based in Phoenix. Phoenix! The driest place in the country! An awful date with a man whose name she can’t remember, her secret stash of prosecco rumbled, and a night on the town with her homeless mother all contribute to a nightmare scenario where the temperatures just get hotter, but life somehow has to go on. Brian Watkins’ gripping yet hilarious play treads the balance of looking climate change head on whilst recognising all those excuses to pretend it doesn’t exist. A stunning performance by Julia McDermott holds our attention from the first to the last moment, spanning every conceivable emotion under the (incredibly hot) sun. Very effective lighting and staging help bring this important story to life. You’ll be tingling all over from both the pleasure of the performance and the pain of its message.

The Bookies, Summerhall.

If Joe Orton was Scottish and currently writing for the Edinburgh Fringe, I reckon he’d come up with The Bookies, the hilarious story of Pat, an aggressive bookmakers’ shop manager, his compliant assistant John, his ruthless area manager Michelle, and ex-mountaineer client Harry, who’s addicted to the roulette machine. Pat is expecting Michelle to give him the employee of the year award (together with its all-important £5000 prize) – instead she has other, less beneficial plans for him. But Michelle has also let things slide, including not instructing the shop safe to be repaired. With everyone feeling hard done by, thoughts turn to revenge and theft. But by whom, and will they get away with it? Alongside the humorous plot and strong characterisations, the play also demonstrates how work-placed banter can easily trip into bullying and racism. Brilliant acting, a hilarious and inventive script and some no-holds-barred comic stage combat; I loved every minute of it.

 

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 25th August 2024

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More adventure awaits us, let’s have a look.

Here’s the schedule for August 25th.

11:45 – Seconds to Midnight, Pleasance Courtyard. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“What would you want to say to your best friend if the world was about to end? Exploring queer friendship, platonic love and nuclear anxiety, Seconds to Midnight asks what happens in a world with no consequences. Diving into the parallels between beginnings and endings, we follow Jo and Eddie through the first seven minutes of their friendship and the final seven hours of the world. Praise for previous work: ‘A brilliant addition to the queer theatre landscape’ ***** (BroadwayWorld.com). ‘Tender and original’ **** (Skinny).”

So what would you do if you knew the world was going to end in seven hours? One of those impossible questions, but maybe this play will provide an answer. An intriguing scenario – it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

13:20 – 100% My Type on Paper, C Arts C Venues C Alto.

“Sammy and Clyde are on their first date. It’s cute. It’s awkward. It’s bad jokes and forced laughter. Sweaty hands and wondering who gets the next round. It’s ‘I really want to kiss her’ and ‘I hope he doesn’t try to kiss me’. It’s excruciating, but that’s a first date, right? As Sammy and Clyde get to know each other again, and again, their reality slowly falls to pieces. Missed jokes become hilarious one-liners. Awkward silences become witty repartee. The customers become an audience. Everyone starts watching – and Sammy and Clyde? They become disposable.”

A relatively late addition to our schedule because I just thought this play sounded terrific fun; something of the Truman Show to it, perhaps? Who knows, it will be great to find out!

15:00 – Sameer Katz: Whether Conditions, Laughing Horse @ The Counting House.

“Sameer’s gotten to the age where everyone who says they love him seem to want something in return. Money, babies, his unending devotion! What happened to unconditional love? A Cambridge PhD dropout, Sameer uses his keen observational talent to poke fun at family, friendship and relationships. Sameer has performed across the UK, America and the world. ‘A laugh-packed way to spend an hour’ (Scotsman). ‘A Seinfeld-Lite line in relatable observational comedy’ (Chortle.co.uk). **** (Deadline.com). Two jokes featured in the Times as part of (a guy called) Dave Top 10 Jokes of the Edinburgh Fringe 2021.”

Many a time I’ve intended to see Sameer Katz live – and every time it hasn’t happened! Let’s hope we finally make it this year.

17:25 – Dr Dolittle Kills a Man (and Reads Extracts From His New Book), Underbelly, Cowgate

“You’ve seen him on Countryfile, Blue Peter and that episode of Springwatch that the BBC have tried to scrub (scrub!) from the internet. Now, join Dr John Dolittle, PhD (yours truly and the very same), as he thrills with an animal adventure from yesteryear – before the fame, before the fortune, before they took away his OBE. So come on, let’s laugh, buy his new book afterwards, and dare-I-say-it-yes-I-do have a really great time! Starring Aidan Pittman: ‘Sheer talent… a guaranteed hilarious performance’ **** (BroadwayBaby.com).”

I have a feeling this is not going to be Dr Dolittle as we have known and loved him for decades! I’m looking forward to seeing Aidan Pittman’s interpretation!

19:00 – Lorraine Hoodless: DINK (Double Income No Kids), PBH’s Free Fringe @ The Southsider.

“Lorraine has found a new box to put herself in. DINK life is an alternative way of living. Fantastic, free-wheeling and fun, according to Instagram and TikTok anyway… With freedom to do whatever you want with your life, apart from procreate, finding meaning and purpose can lead to a rollercoaster of adventures and massive indecision. Lorraine has yet to embrace this lifestyle. A humorous look at life choices, love and labels. ‘Thoroughly deserves to be seen’ (One4Review.co.uk). Wildcard semi-finalist: Amused Moose New Comedian Award 2020. Semi-finalist: British Comedian of the Year 2021.”

Lorraine Hoodless is another new name to me but I am excited by the prospect of this show, being a pair of Dinks ourselves, I reckon there will be much to recognise!

20:55 – LITTLE DEATHS, Summerhall.

“’This is just the start. Of Everything. Of Us.’ It’s the late 90s. Charlie and Debs have perfected their Wannabe routine. They’re drenched in Impulse Blue. And they’re each other’s everything. But as the world pulls them in different directions, their friendship begins to strain. It dies. Again and again and again. If a female friendship dies many deaths, how many can they survive? Spanning 25 years and the countless lifetimes of one friendship, this new romcom explores the heartbreak of platonic love. Written by Amy Powell Yeates. Directed by Claire O’Reilly.”

How friendship endures across the decades; a fascinating subject to examine in a play. I’m sure this will be both hard-hitting and entertaining.

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

Edinburgh Fringe 2024 Reviews – What the F*ck Happened to Love and Hope, Phil Henderson: Space Cowboy, Ben Miller: Volcano, Annaliesa Rose Sings the Peter Allen Songbook, Werewolf, Pali and Jay’s Ultimate Asian Wedding DJ Roadshow, and 4 girls the first letter e

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What the F*ck Happened to Love and Hope, TheSpace on The Mile.

4-stars

Faye and Nina are trying to play it cool at school, both of them fancying Harry – but it’s clear that Harry prefers Faye to Nina, so Nina’s brave attempt to ask him out is fruitless. Still, she can (just about) forgive her for stealing her not-yet boyfriend and have a giggle at sexting and dickpics instead. But a real night out on the town gets disastrously out of hand for both of them. Powerfully written and performed, the play highlights the vulnerability of young women and girls when boys and young men don’t care about the consequences of their own actions. Rape can take many forms, but – no excuses – rape is always rape. Excellent performances from Heidi Steel and Olivis McGeachy, who also wrote the play. A painful watch, but an important one.

Phil Henderson: Space Cowboy, Just the Tonic at the Mash House.
4-stars

Do you know what a white cowboy hat signifies? I didn’t, but I do now, thanks to Phil Henderson’s Space Cowboy show. To be fair, there’s not a lot of actual cowboy content, but Mr H does have a huge amount of extremely funny and original material, exploring sexuality, politics, prejudice, and what it was that really appealed to him about his late cat. Phil Henderson has a terrifically unhurried yet confident style; his material flows naturally and often brings us back to his love of wordplay – which is superbly judged (not too much, not too little). A very likeable persona on stage with some first-rate punchlines and observations – many of which take you by surprise as being unexpectedly challenging. A great show that deserves a bigger audience!

Ben Miller: Volcano, Just the Tonic at the Caves.

4-stars

Ben Miller (not THE Ben Miller – as he points out in the show) takes us through an illustrated journey of his time as Artist-in-Residence at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. As well as facts about volcanoes, Mr Miller also includes topics such as the dumb questions that people ask Volcano Park Rangers, the poverty of Pompeiians, and when does magma become lava. Who says the Fringe isn’t educational? Ben Miller has a charming, wry, laconic delivery and the show is full of very funny lines and observations as well as… well… more stuff about volcanoes. An unexpectedly entertaining and undoubtedly unique show!

Annaliesa Rose sings the Peter Allen Songbook, Speakeasy at the Royal Scots Club.

4-stars

Here’s a show that does exactly what it says on the tin. As Annaliese Rose points out early in her set, it’s a huge surprise to most Australians that the British have absolutely no idea who Peter Allen was. However, as Mrs Chrisparkle was brought up down under, Peter Allen is no stranger to our household, and the show is a delightful reminder of some of his amazing songs. They wanted to bring some of his less well-known numbers to the Fringe, and there are certainly a few songs in the set that were new to us; but you’ll enjoy hearing old favourites like I Still Call Australia Home, Tenterfield Saddler and Quiet Please, There’s a Lady on Stage. However, in their quest to bring his more obscure songs to our attention they omit I Go to Rio, which really ought to be a sackable offence! Annaliese Rose has a great jazz voice and is accompanied by her musical director Daryl Wallis on the keyboard. A charming and nostalgic afternoon’s show.

Werewolf, Summerhall.

Welcome to the containing room; a room that is your safe haven. Enter the room and sit on a seat with a card on it. The information on the card is for your eyes only, and for you to act on it, when the time is right. Before long, it becomes clear that two wardens are patrolling and looking after the people in the room. They’re there for our safety, right? A third warden arrives late. Suspicious? Perhaps. And we’re there for seven days – unless the werewolves get us first. Part immersive theatre, part role-play, part improvisation; these all combine to make a thrilling and scary hour where you’re confronted with questions of trust, conspiracy theories and a spot of lycanthropy. New Zealand’s Binge Culture cast guide us all through this spooky and alarming set-up, with bags of uncomfortable and awkward laughter and sudden unexpectedly missing audience members. Stella Reid, Hannah Kelly and Joel Baxendale are brilliant as our helpful wardens, and this is a hugely entertaining and totally unique theatrical experience.

Pali and Jay’s Ultimate Asian Wedding DJ Roadshow, Assembly George Square Studios.

3-stars

Love, respect and generational differences are highlighted in this rather charming and emotional little show about an uncle and nephew DJ team, bringing a bit of Bhangra and Bollywood to the wedding parties of Southall. Older Uncle Pali has his problems, with an imminent divorce, fertility problems (a big no-no to confess when it’s the man who is “to blame”) and an unlikely and illogical fear of his audience and clients. The younger Jay has no fears and few boundaries but he’s too lazy to wash his own clothes and gets videoed throwing up outside a gig after drinking too much – such behaviour is not good for business and is not what the nice folk of Southall are willing to put up with. Cleverly put together with two likeable performances from Tez Ilyas as Pali and Viraj Juneja as Jay (who also wrote the play); my only criticism of the show is that it probably could lose a quarter of an hour and be a little punchier as a result. But it’s an entertaining look at the Southall showbiz scene and a heartwarming portrayal of a family dynamic.

4 girls the first letter e, Greenside at George Street.

I was at a severe disadvantage watching and appreciating this show. Firstly, I have no experience of gaming online against live opponents (things have moved on since I started playing Tetris and Mah-Jongg); and I’d never heard of the Slenderman or the event when two girls stabbed their friend on his instruction. As a result, I watched this play in total bafflement as to what was going on; I appreciated that the four girls were playing a game and that the goal was trying to please The King, but that was as far as it went; in fact, at one stage, I wondered if it was a religious allegory. It was only in conversation on the way home that – I think – I understood part of it; that The King is a paedophile who uses “the game” to entrap vulnerable children. Sadly, I think I’m forty years too old to appreciate this play. I’m afraid I also found it rather boring. That said, I can now see that it’s a clever way of telling its story. But more than that, I am not qualified to comment!

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 24th August 2024

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Only 5 shows today – let’s take a look.

Here’s the schedule for August 24th.

11:55 – Someone Has To Be Counting, theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“Someone has been keeping a record. Every day, for 20 years. It’s all in her notebooks: hours worked, money spent, cigarettes smoked; 38 categories that serve as a record of how each of her days has been spent. Why did she start? What kept her returning to them? Phoebe Benson directs this experimental one-woman play that explores a person’s attempt to grapple with the incessant flow of time through daily rituals and habits. Starring Lisa Vetta, this play is inspired by the real notebooks of Dalia: aunt of artist and playwright Vytautas Bikauskas.”

This sounds like a very appealing and intriguing play. As someone who is known to have an army of spreadsheets at my disposal, keeping a record all sorts of different elements of my life, I really understand that urge to diarise to the limit. Hopefully it will give me an insight into myself!

13:30 – Joby Mageean – Titty Icarus, PBH’s Free Fringe – Whistlebinkies.

“Sometimes you wish your life was carefree, like a duck on a duck slide. Then you notice the food suspended just out of reach. Each duck strives to grab what seems achievable before they inevitably fall and the cycle continues. Then you realise you are a duck on a duck slide. Joby Mageean is doing a comedy performance. It is very important that you come. He is really cool and has well-written and thought-provoking material. ‘A comedian willing to embrace his own uncoolness… happy to lean into a dad joke’ (Chortle.co.uk).”

Joby Mageean is only doing one performance at the Fringe this year – and this is it! Always one of my favourite comedians, I look forward to seeing him jostling with ducks (if the above description is anything to go by!)

15:15 – Di(n)e, theSpace on the Mile.

“A man has decided to take his own life and finds himself in a state of limbo between life and death. Here he meets dead family, loved ones and a former enemy, each with something to say about his choice. With only an hour before his body dies, his soul must decide between life and death.”

Reading that description, I can’t see that there will be many laughs in this play. But hopefully, if it’s written with a lightness of touch there will be; if it’s written with appropriate mature gravity laughs won’t be required. Fingers crossed either way.

18:00 – Weather Girl, Summerhall.

“Smile while it burns. Stacey is a California weather girl. An oversexed and underpaid harbinger of our dying planet. But today, her regular routine of wildfires, prosecco and teeth whitening descends into a scorched earth catastrophe, before she discovers something that will save us all. A dizzying rampage into the soul of American strangeness. The award-winning producers of Fleabag and Baby Reindeer bring you a blistering dark comedy about wrecking the places we love. From Lucille Lortel Award-nominated Brian Watkins, creator of the hit Amazon series Outer Range, and Drama Desk-nominated director Tyne Rafaeli.”

This play takes on quite a sizeable topic! I’m hoping for a good mix of comedy and hard-hitting drama; let’s see.

19:35 – The Bookies, Summerhall.

“Kit Bromovsky Productions present The Bookies. Two Edinburgh bookies feel the pressure of signing customers up for online betting accounts, signing their own jobs away in the process. They come up with a plan to fight back. But a mountaineer from Mount Everest gets in their way. ‘Fast and witty production’ **** (Scotsman). **** (TheWeeReview.co.uk). ‘Sharp, cynical comedy’ (Stage). ‘Riotously funny play… well worth attending for a fun night out’ (Skinny).”

Moving business online inevitably reduces levels of employment, so this is an important and relevant subject for today. Not sure how the mountaineer will get involved!

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

Edinburgh Fringe 2024 Reviews – Josh Makinda is Probably Fine, The Ghost of White Hart Lane, Mark Row: A* in the Making – Revision Lesson, Kelly Bachman: Patron Saint, and Thank You So Much For Coming

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Josh Makinda is Probably Fine, Just the Tonic at the Mash House.

3-stars

Only seven people turned up to see Josh Makinda is Probably Fine at Just The Tonic at The Mash House; nevertheless Mr M gave us a very entertaining show, albeit probably a little different from the act he normally delivers. He’s a very funny guy indeed, with a delightful ear for the mischievous and the surreal, constantly wandering up comical garden paths to explore whatever comedy nuggets might be hiding. His material includes the pitfalls of his previous job protecting vulnerable children, exploring his venue for glory holes, and his experience of US healthcare. He sets up an excellent connection with the audience and cuts a warm and appealing persona on stage. He fully deserves a much larger audience – sometimes at the Fringe it’s worth taking a risk on someone you’ve never heard of – you might just strike gold.

The Ghost of White Hart Lane, Underbelly Bristo Square.

4-stars

John White was born in Musselburgh in 1937 and died aged 27 in 1964 from a lightning strike; a freak accident – he was sheltering under a tree from a thunderstorm at the time. He was also an international football player for Scotland, and a player for Alloa Athletic, Falkirk, and most significantly, Tottenham Hotspur. Martin Murphy’s tightly written and nimbly structured play calls for a powerful and versatile performance from Cal Newman. He plays John White, both in the early days of his career and at the time of his death, and John’s son Rob White, as a brave eight-year-old fondly keeping souvenirs of his father in a trunk, and as a mature adult with a family of his own. The play jumps around the time periods somewhat, but Newman’s performance always nails the characterisations and accents perfectly. Though sad, the play is never maudlin, and is a fitting tribute to a sporting hero cut down in his prime, and the son who wants to celebrate and cherish his memory.

Mark Row: A* in the Making – Revision Lesson, Laughing Horse at the Hanover Tap.

3-stars

Mark Row dishes out the background stories and classroom anecdotes that make up life as a schoolteacher. His subject is Drama, which, as we all know, is merely about pretending to be a tree; but Mr Row has an alternative method of looking at that particular cliché. He is an imposing yet friendly figure on stage – in fact, you can exactly imagine what he would be like as a schoolteacher; the authoritative voice, the ability to control a group of people (not in a bad way), and the truly positive wish for his schoolkids to develop into the best people they can possibly be. It’s a very enjoyable and entertaining hour; perhaps I expected his material to be a little edgier and push the boundaries a bit more. I did, however, learn about the code teachers use when they’re writing reports, when they can’t be as truthful as they would like to be – you’ll be rooting out all your old reports to decode them and discover exactly what your teachers thought of you! Engaging, funny, likeable, and very recognisable.

Kelly Bachman: Patron Saint, Assembly Rooms.

4-stars

Now and again a show comes along that stops you in your tracks because its content is so personal and so painful; but it’s the kind of content that just needs to be told. When someone is the victim of so terrible a crime as rape, it’s not for anyone else to tell that person how they should deal with it. Kelly Bachman has turned her own experiences into Patron Saint, a show that puts rape centre stage, looks at it straight in the eyes, gives it no hiding place, and makes it the butt of its own joke. Her ability to turn this awful crime on its head is not only a way of coping with it, but also of ridiculing it, even demystifying it. Ms Bachman has a superb comic timing and a terrific ability to mine comedy from what one would normally think of as – at the very least – an extremely unfunny subject. I can only suggest you see it yourself and draw your own conclusions.

Thank You So Much For Coming, Underbelly Cowgate.

3-stars

Cynthia is known for her great parties, and we are invited! It all starts promisingly as we are offered hors d’oeuvres (not that After Eights are really hors d’oeuvres, but that doesn’t matter) and guests find out about each other, and Cynthia even helps a couple of people swap phone numbers. Margaritas are served – although they’re represented by a couple of Barbie Dolls – a member of the audience answers the phone, and it looks like some of the guests are not going to turn up. Donatella Versace is a no-show; Bernie Sanders also disappoints. And then things start getting very messy, apeshit surrealist and 100% bizarre. A good reason for choosing shows at the Fringe is that you’re unlikely to see anything like it anywhere else – and I can confirm you are absolutely not likely to see anything like Thank You So Much For Coming anywhere else. Alex Kern plays Cynthia with true clowning panache; there are elements of absurd theatre, Beckett, even Dada. If you hate this kind of performance, you’d give it one star; if you love this kind of performance it’s a five star. My reaction is in the middle.

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 23rd August 2024

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What’s on the slab for today?

Here’s the schedule for August 23rd.

10:00 – What the F*ck Happened to Love and Hope?, theSpace on the Mile. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“Teenager Nina and best friend Faye are tangled in the terrifying culture of spiking and assault in this powerful new work written by an 18-year-old. Nina is cheeky and bubbly, until a night out takes a horrific turn, leaving her to navigate the devastating aftermath. Confident, outspoken, Faye’s okay. Definitely. When Harry from school removes the condom midway through sex without her consent, she struggles for the first time to pretend she’s fine. Playing Nina is Olivia McGeachy (also writer) and playing Faye is Heidi Steel (star of Summerhall’s The Fish Bowl).”

A hard-hitting and contemporary play to start the day, with issues of consent and the ever-present risk of spiking examined in what I trust is a serious and mature piece of writing. Hopefully this will be very powerful.

11:30 – Phil Henderson: Space Cowboy, Just the Tonic at The Mash House.

“’Phil has extracted my loudest laugh of the Fringe’ (Scotsman). West End New Act of the Year (2022) and Telegraph Top Jokes of The Fringe nominee Phil Henderson returns with his debut solo stand-up comedy show. Space Cowboy: a journey through the cosmos exploring identity, cowboys, fatherhood, the appeal of Matthew McConaughey and more. A self-deprecating, left-field and occasionally dark analysis of life through the eyes of the pun-loving and slightly confused Phil Henderson. ‘Impressive across a slew of different comedy styles… Henderson pretty much nails them all.’ (Scotsman).”

Phil Henderson is a new name to me, but it sounds like he’s a name worth seeing. Hopefully his reviews speak for themselves!

13:05 – Ben Miller: Volcano, Just the Tonic at The Caves.

“What happens when a comedian walks into a volcano? In 2023, Ben Miller was the artist-in-residence at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, the first stand-up comedian ever selected. This was probably a terrible idea on their part. Come watch this show where scientist turned stand-up comedian Ben Miller explores volcanology, entomology, Hawaiian history, cats, cookies and more. And yes that photo is real. Ben has made people laugh in front of a burning lava lake, and he is not afraid of you.”

Reading that description, I think we’re all in for quite an experience. For me it was an irresistible combination of comedy and chaos, so fingers crossed Mr Miller is a funny guy!

15:00 – Annaliesa Rose Sings the Peter Allen Songbook, The Speakeasy at The Royal Scots Club.

“This show shines a new light on Peter Allen in his capacity as incredibly gifted composer/songwriter, while also showcasing Annaliesa Rose’s unique and diverse vocal expertise, with the fabulous musical director Daryl Wallis on keys. The repertoire includes a mix of well-known songs and hidden gems, in order to celebrate Peter Allen’s legacy as a composer.”

Mrs Chrisparkle was brought up on the music of Peter Allen and he really was a brilliant songwriter and performer. I can’t wait to hear the playlist that Annaliesa Rose has put together for this show!

18:15 – Werewolf, Summerhall.

“Surrender yourself to a comedy-thriller experience inspired by the classic game of deception. What feels like a game by daylight takes on new life when plunged into the night. Created by one of New Zealand’s most innovative theatre companies, Werewolf features chilling sound design and a unique immersive style; you can be a fly on the wall or take charge of the situation. However you decide to play it, you will become part of a community coming together to make it through the night. But what is hiding in the darkness that is making everyone so nervous?”

This sounds like a very intriguing proposal! Really not sure what to expect – but I guess that’s part of their scheming plan!

20:00 – Pali and Jay’s Ultimate Asian Wedding DJ Roadshow, Assembly George Square Studios.

“From Rifco Theatre, comes an immersive DJ bromance. Whoever said there’s too many actors in LA has never seen the number of DJs in Southall. Facing sabotage, Pali and Jay are on edge – using only their simple DJ set-up and the odd cup of chai, Pali and Jay’s Ultimate Asian Wedding DJ Roadshow will transport you through time, from Southall’s Biggest Deck-Off 1999 to now. Our uncle and nephew DJing duo must successfully navigate their latest gig to save the company, their future aspirations, and ultimately, their relationship.”

This sounds like a hoot, and with the added bonus of the cast including Tez Ilyas, I’m sure this will be a truly funny show.

21:55 – 4 girls the first letter e, Greenside @ George St

“In 2012, two girls stabbed their friend 19 times at Slenderman’s instruction. This play is loosely inspired by these real events. Evie and her friends are obsessed with the video-game world of The King. As reality and gameplay blurs, how far will they go to save themselves from each other? This show explores how we teach young girls to grow up and who we should really be afraid of. Its sold-out London reading was described by audiences as ‘truly gripping,’ ‘a beautiful balance of light and dark,’ and ‘as strong as (it was) understated.’”

I know very little of the video-game world, and The King means nothing to me; but it sounds like an intriguing and hard-hitting play so I hope it will be written and performed so that everyone can follow and appreciate it.

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