It’s another busy day so let’s take a look.

Here’s the schedule for August 20th.

9:55 – Ambiguous Proposition, theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“A controversial sexual harassment allegation pushes Margaret to the edge of reason. How far can she go to protect her son? How far can she go to protect herself? How far can they bend the truth? Ambiguous Proposition explores the nature of harassment in the workplace through the lens of a mother of a son accused, ultimately questioning whether a man can survive an allegation of sexual harassment in the years post #MeToo. Created by two employment lawyers, this piece of provocative new writing delves into the searing reality of equality at work. Performed by Hilary Cordery.”

Another meaty play to start the day, and the whole area of sexual harrassment in the workplace is a nightmare, to the victim, the accused, the onlookers, and those responsible for dealing with it. Here we see it through the family of the accused, and I think this has the potential to be a very powerful piece.

12:05 – An Act of Grace, theSpace @ Niddry St.

“Grace, a wealthy and mysterious woman, invites an ex-golf pro turned financial advisor and a lawyer with sordid secrets to her country home to discuss her estate and update her will. What could go wrong? Everything… quickly. Once there, the two men are thrust into a game of survival that, if lost, will destroy their lives. From the Canadian producers that brought you the 2022 Carol Tambor Award-winning production of Burn, this contemporary thriller by the same playwright has enough twists and turns to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.”

I’m choosing to see this play purely on the strength of that description. It sounds very exciting! Let’s hope it is.

13:40 – It’s a Mystery! theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall.

“Tim Benzie, the acclaimed creator and host of Solve Along A Murder She Wrote, returns to the Fringe with his hilarious and moving one-man show: a deep dive into the enduring appeal of whodunnits, from Poirot to Fletcher and beyond. The audience are summoned to the drawing room as Detective Tim examines the clues that first drew him to the genre. Take a journey from Cluedo to Christie to solve the mystery of why everyone is a little bit Columbo (or should be). ‘A killer of a show’ ***** (WestEndBestFriend.co.uk).”

Doesn’t everyone love a whodunnit? I certainly do, with my book favourites being Christie, P D James and – way back in my past – Ngaio Marsh who now seems very out of favour. I’m expecting this to be a very endearing and possibly nostalgic look at the genre.

16:00 – The Imitator, Assembly Rooms.

“Winner: Best International Show, United Solo Festival, New York. Music and songs are the key elements that trigger Julian’s memories, and set him off on a journey back to his childhood in South America where he discovers his passion for music and his gift for imitating voices. From there, he faces struggles in New York and Europe as he pursues his dream of becoming an artist. Singer/actor Julian Fontalvo portrays different characters that play a part in his story and imitates 70 artists such as Sting, Bob Marley, David Bowie, Amy Winehouse and Tina Turner.”

A cross between a play and a performance vehicle for a musical impersonator? I’ve no idea, but I’m looking forward to finding out.

18:30 – Richard Cobb: Running Joke, Laughing Horse @ The Raging Bull.

“Following a host of sell-out shows and hot on the heels of last year’s debut, Couple’s Massage, Scottish comedian and writer Richard Cobb returns to the track with a brand-new hour filled with more guilt-tripped and incredibly stressful anecdotes. The honeymoon is over and the running shoes are on. But can he really win the Edinburgh Marathon? ‘I’ve been going to the Fringe for 25 years or so and genuinely this is the most impressive full debut I’ve seen from a stand up’ (Audience review). ‘He has an easy affable charm’ (Lancaster Guardian).”

We saw Richard Cobb’s Couple’s Massage last year and I thought he showed great promise, so I’m looking forward to seeing what he has up his sleeves for us this year. If the show is about him entering the Edinburgh Marathon then it’s the perfect title!

20:30 – Garry Starr: Classic Penguins, Pleasance Courtyard.

“Literature! Literature! It might not rhyme with anything but it’s still very important. Garry Starr is back and he’s hell-bent on saving books from extinction by performing every Penguin Classic novel ever written. In an hour. Mostly naked (but with flippers). Comic wunderkind Starr takes us on a literary adventure through the world’s most iconic works of fiction. From The Little Prince to Moby Dick and everything in between, nothing is safe from being lampooned with the utmost nincompoopery. Directed by Cal McCrystal and Georgia Murphy. ‘From clownish chaos to feats of comic genius’ **** (Guardian).”

One of the things I will always be grateful to the Edinburgh Fringe for is discovering the manic hilarity of Garry Starr. He never fails to have us in hysterics, and I’m sure this year will be no different.

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