Monthly Archives: August 2024

Edinburgh Fringe 2024 Reviews – Bailey Swilley: Gimme a Sign!, Common is as Common Does: A Memoir, Rob Auton: The Eyes Open and Shut Show, Pillock, Robin Grainger: Refurb, and A Play by John

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Bailey Swilley: Gimme a Sign!, Laughing Horse at the Three Sisters.

3-stars

It’s not a coincidence that that you enter The Wee Room at The Three Sisters to the sound of Ghostbusters, because Bailey Swilley’s Gimme a Sign is all about ghosts – even those who are still alive! Bailey is a terrifically authoritative storyteller, and everyone present was caught up on her stories about her family life (part American, part Taiwanese), her parents, her grandparents, and the wonderful boyfriend whom everyone loved except her. She has a very entertaining raconteuse style, dotting her reminiscences with funny stories but also not shying away from the emotional pitfalls that come from loving someone who is no longer with us. There’s also a salutary tale about why you should never attend a funeral without underwear. Effortlessly enjoyable!

Common is as Common Does: A Memoir, Zoo Southside.

3-stars

21Common’s new show seems a little perplexing at first. We’re clearly in the Wild West, all blue jeans and Stetsons, with a bunch of guys and gals all ready for a spot of line dancing. The Man introduces us to the main players of the piece: himself – naturally; The Woman – second fiddle but she has her uses, The Rascal – an unpredictable cove who might or might not kill you, and The Boy – definitely at the bottom of the pecking order (for now). Through various songs and various scenes, some of which are in Cowboy Country but some are in any deprived estate you might find in the UK, we see poverty and violence, forming a stark contrast with our rather romantic view of an old John Wayne western. The most striking (literally) scene is where The Man physically abuses The Woman (on video) whilst she sings Dusty Springfield’s You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me to him; it’s an awful, horrible moment – and then you realise how powerful that image is. All this story is told through the narration of The Man, mixed with song and dance. Think TV’s Shameless but with a western twist set to contemporary dance. Very clever indeed; sometimes a little scruffy around the edges, but it produces impactful theatre.

Rob Auton: The Eyes Open and Shut Show, Assembly Roxy.

4-stars

One thing (there are others) that unites all of Rob Auton’s shows is that you never know quite what to expect. Even when you’re halfway through the show, you still don’t know what’s ahead in the second half. I think Mr Auton likes to keep us on our toes; but possibly not as much as he likes to keep himself challenged, always coming up with brand new ideas from which to launch a show. Early on in The Eyes Open and Shut Show Rob invites us to close our eyes and listen to his instructions – following thoughts around the body and enjoying how comfy our eyes feel. But there’s no point my giving you any more details about the act; it’s of such a philosophical slant that it would be impossible for me to provide a description anywhere near it. Rob Auton is always a man of whimsy more than stand-up jokes, and he always makes you see familiar things from an unusual angle. A class act!

Pillock, Assembly Rooms.

4-stars

Meet Pillock – his name for himself, not ours; a jobbing actor who’s happy to take the unimportant minor roles so long as there’s a bit of cash coming in. Projecting ADHD in his every move, he hurtles around from one end of the stage to another, dropping his little gossipy bits of information, purely confidentially of course, whether it’s via the medium of a downward dog or a Grindr swipe. Into his life comes Eugene; handsome, mature, rich – what’s not to like? Pillock tells us about their slowly evolving relationship, including the fact that there’s three of them in this set-up – the other being Eugene’s late husband Peter. Where will this journey take them? Only Pillock has the answer. This is a beautifully written monologue, both hilarious and sad in equal measure, delivered with a lively joie-de-vivre and masses of energy by Jordan Tweddle. Simply but effectively designed, the text is full of wonderful comic observations; one that stood out for me was the reason why you can’t consider ADHD to be a superpower. A great piece of writing and a very fine performance. Highly recommended!

Robin Grainger: Refurb, The Stand Comedy Club 2.

Wasn’t it Fred Astaire who said – and I think it was – pick yourself up, dust yourself off, start all over again? That’s basically the premise of the brilliant Robin Grainger’s new show Refurb – those moments in life when you think you need to have a bit of a smartening and shaping up to face the new challenges of life. Robin’s challenges started early – three months early in fact, as that is how much gestation period he and his mum missed out on. The perils of prematurity are the starting point for a lot of his issues – which have very much influenced his approach to life. Needing physiotherapy sessions as a boy, hiding away from school sports, and being too scared to go on the slide in the park – he’s needed a lot of Refurbs to get to his current happy status. Mr Grainger has that rare gift of being simply, innately funny; the comic observations start from the first second and don’t let up till the final minute. He populates his ideas with marvellous moments of local colour; they’re not vital to the thrust of his comic argument, but add brilliant side-insights – for example, his re-enactment of phoning his mum in the wilds of Aberdeenshire creates a hilarious image of windswept isolation. Refurb is beautifully structured – all the ideas littered throughout the show come together in the final moments to make a very satisfying whole. And he’s spot on about toilet seats. It’s a privilege to spend an hour in his company.

A Play by John, TheSpace at Surgeons’ Hall.

As you enter the auditorium, Matteo is busy with his woodwork. Noisily banging nails into chipboard, he seems to know what he’s doing – but it’s not as good as the finished piece of work on the far side of the stage. When Reggie joins him it becomes clear that they’re building their own coffins; they toy with each other over the idea of killing each other too – makes sense, I guess, in an unconventional way. And if you’re going to be building your own coffin, there’s only one likely outcome at the end of the play. Mule Productions’ A Play by John has the germ of an idea for a great play, but it’s not quite there yet. Inspired by the likes of Pinter’s Dumb Waiter and Beckett’s Godot, you can see the tensions between the two trapped characters with no obvious way out of their emotional and physical cul-de-sac; but as the play currently stands, it suffers from a lack of subtlety and a prolonged, awkward ending. It needs to make more of the realisation that they are characters in a play, and it would be far more effective simply with less shouting. It’s a clever idea, and not without its charm, with good performances from Marc Wadhwani and Jules Smekens.

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 7th August 2024

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

Here’s the schedule for August 7th

10:25 – Jess, TheSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“They say loneliness is the leprosy of the modern day. A poignant, meaningful and honest insight into the life of a woman experiencing loss and heartbreak. Meet Jess – she’s a cardiothoracic surgeon, her mum calls her a “career woman”, her boss is a bully, her girlfriends left her and all Jess wants to do is f*cking change her life. ‘From the very beginning, Jess is a production that is unafraid to engage with the uncomfortable’ ***** (Upper-Circle.com).”

Most early(ish) morning plays in Edinburgh are meaty and serious, and this one sounds no exception. Imagine being as successful as being a cardiothoracic surgeon, and yet you’re still subjected to having a bully for a boss? No wonder the NHS is in turmoil. Eyes down for some no-nonsense, hard-hitting drama.

12:10 – Fan/Girl, Summerhall.

“Sparked by a conversation with a childhood friend that unearthed a long-forgotten obsession with football, Bryony wondered why all the girls she knew stopped playing football in their teens. It’s 1998: Geri Halliwell is leaving the Spice Girls, David Beckham is wearing a sarong, and somewhere in England a 10-year-old Bryony is pretending to be Eric Cantona. An absurd and tongue-in-cheek ride through British adolescence set against a backdrop of 90s football and pop. Directed by Fringe First winner Ben Target and packed to the brim with playful audience interaction, 90s bangers, clown comedy and drag.”

Ben Target’s Lorenzo was one of the Fringe highlights from last year, and I can imagine him injecting quirky life into this entertaining-sounding play, where football meets pop and every youngster has their soccer hero. I’m expecting this to be a thoroughly enjoyable production!

14:20 – Come Dine With Me: The Musical, Underbelly, Bristo Square.

“Take a bunch of tuneful strangers. Mix in a dollop of behind-the-scenes skulduggery, a Sound Man playing detective, a sprinkling of star-crossed love, and plenty of juicy arpeggios. Marinade, cook for 60 minutes… and serve hot. The result is a mouth-watering fusion dish, combining the beloved TV show and a sumptuous original score to form Come Dine With Me: The Musical – a winning recipe that will delight even the pickiest palate! (Warning: May Contain Spice.)”

Something of a risk with this choice, as five years ago Come Dine with Mr Shakespeare was one of the worst shows of that year’s Fringe. Still, five years is a long time and hope springs eternal. Actually, turning TV’s Come Dine with Me into a musical sounds like a winning formula. Fingers crossed.

20:25 – Rhys Nicholson: Huge Big Party Congratulations!, Underbelly, Bristo Square.

“On this, the year of our Lord 2024, it’s a brand-new, hour-long, stand-up comedy concert from your ol’ pal Rhys Nicholson. Only a coward wouldn’t attend. Winner: Most Outstanding Show, Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2022. As seen on RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under, Roast Battle UK, The Stand Up Sketch Show, Taskmaster Australia and Netflix. ‘Skilful, elegant and perfectly crafted stand up’ ***** (Scotsman). ‘This is a genuinely great stand-up comedian at work… awe-inspiring to watch’ ***** (Time Out).”

Rhys Nicholson has a very good reputation, but to my great surprise, we’ve only seen him once, as a guest performer in a 2015 Spank! show – ah, how we miss Spank. That was nine years ago – and Mr Nicholson has come along way since then. I’m sure this will be a great show.

22:05 – Adam Flood: Back of the Spoon, Monkey Barrel Comedy (The Tron).

“The wonky and worried award-winning comedy of the Stoke-on-Trent urchin returns after last year’s successful debut. The Times – Top 3 Rising Stars of the Fringe. Holding a spoon up to society and himself, expect high-energy stand-up, laced with real voice notes. ‘Despicably multi talented’ (Ivo Graham). ‘Extremely funny, with a superb lightness of touch’ ***** (TheRealChrisparkle.com). ‘Highly highly recommended’ **** (Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of The Fringe). As Seen On ITV2’s Stand Up Sketch Show. Top Picks of the Fringe (British Comedy Guide). Winner: Bath New Comedian of the Year 2022.”

Oh look – another quote from me! We saw Adam Flood for the first time last year and were extremely impressed, as you can see. His crowd work is second to none and I know we’re in for a brilliant hour.

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

Edinburgh Fringe 2024 Reviews – A Fire Ignites, Malion, The Last Laugh, A Jaffa Cake Musical, To Watch a Man Eat, Sooz Kempner, Colin Hoult: Colin, and The Shadow Boxer

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A Fire Ignites, TheSpace at Surgeons’ Hall.

3-stars

It’s impossible for us, in the safety of our free societies in the West, to comprehend the sheer oppression of the Iranian people, specifically the women who dare to protest by burning their hijabs. They face imprisonment at best, execution more likely. Parisa was one such brave young woman who did not survive her protest. Tara Tedjarati writes and performs in her own show, A Fire Ignites, and it’s a vital story that needs to be told to as wide an audience as possible. The characters she portrays represent various aspects of Iranian society, from her best friend Maryam, hiding her sexuality because the truth would be fatal, to Yasaman, Parisa’s mother, who can’t forgive herself for not escaping the post-revolution regime. Fine writing allows us a vital insight into these tragic, yet defiant, lives. The presentation, by necessity, lacks a little fluidity as Ms Tedjarati changes from character to character, but the show leaves you with a greater understanding of the frustrations and determination of the protesters. And the plaintive message and melody of A Fire Ignites, This is Me will haunt you all day.

Malion, TheSpace at Surgeons’ Hall.

4-stars

I confess I’m not that au fait with the story of Pygmalion; he was a mythical sculptor who fell in love with a statue he had created – if you want to find out more, Ovid is your friend. In Tired Horses’ retelling of this myth, Piggy invites his scurrilous mates round to his studio to show off his new sculpture, his own vision of immaculate, pure beauty, of which he is enormously proud. The lads, however, are not so interested in depictions of classical beauty unless they can see her naked; when Piggy refuses, they tease him for not sharing their sexist and disrespectful view of women. They goad him into joining in with their appalling sexist behaviour. The statue, however, has other ideas… This is a powerful portrayal of misogyny and toxic masculinity and how, if unchecked, it grows and corrupts those around it. There are several genuinely horrible moments – but they work so well together that you’re completely hooked as to what happens next. Brilliantly written, full of inventiveness, very well acted, and a horrifying dissection of what makes some men behave the way they do.

The Last Laugh, Assembly George Square Studios.

4-stars

They used to say everyone knew where they were when JFK was shot. A generation later, everyone remembered where they were when Tommy Cooper died. I was at home, watching Live from Her Majesty’s on TV, looking forward to seeing the great man do his stuff and make me roar with laughter as he always had, ever since I was a little kid. A piece of all of us died that day. Paul Hendy’s The Last Laugh takes Cooper, together with those other long lost comic heroes, Eric Morecambe and Bob Monkhouse, and places them in an imaginary shared dressing room, getting ready to go on stage. They examine what motivates themselves as comedians, what it is that makes them laugh, what they get out of it, and who were their own comic heroes. Names like Robb Wilton, Arthur Askey and Max Miller are deeply rooted in the past now, but you never forget those who made you laugh in your formative years. Sheffield Panto’s very own Damian Williams is a perfect Tommy Cooper, dressed in vest, pants and fez, cutting a scruffy yet lovable figure. Northampton Panto’s very own Bob Golding is Eric Morecambe, enacting an excellent recreation of Morecambe’s physical humour and his rattle-gun laugh. Simon Cartwright brings back to the Fringe his extraordinarily accurate impression of Bob Monkhouse, the carefully mannered comic genius whose strength – and interest – in comedy rested more with the writing of jokes than in their performance. It’s a little over an hour of pure nostalgia, written from the heart and with some wry dramatic irony as we know how and when these heroes are going to leave us; but they don’t. Perhaps Monkhouse’s jealousy of Cooper’s and Morecambe’s natural ability to make us laugh is repeated a little too often; and the lighting/electricity crackling effect, which tells us that this is an imaginary event, is also overplayed. But it’s both a fascinating exploration of what makes comedy work, and a delightful stroll down comedy’s Memory Lane, tinged with just a bit of sadness. Great work by everyone!

A Jaffa Cake Musical, Pleasance Courtyard.

4-stars

Whilst everyone has their own opinion of this most pressing question – is a Jaffa Cake a cake or a biscuit? – you might not know that there was indeed a court case to determine the issue back in the 1990s when Customs and Excise wanted it proved that a Jaffa Cake is a biscuit so that it could attract Value Added Tax. And Gigglemug Theatre’s immensely entertaining A Jaffa Cake Musical takes us back to that legal wrangle and the barristers hired to argue the toss. Nicely delving into their legal training and family support for (or hilarious opposition to) their careers, we follow the tribunal’s daily progress until – finally – a decision is made! Written by Sam Cochrane, who plays defence barrister Kevin, and performed with great gusto and terrific musicality by a cast of five who belt out the witty songs to the accompaniment of Alex Prescot’s eloquent keyboard, you’ll lose yourself in the silly but fun story and catchy tunes. I did admire how the costumes inevitably included somewhere that delicious shade of orange that we all associate with the noble Jaffa Cake. You’ll be dying to eat one at the end!

Sooz Kempner: Class Of 2000, Underbelly Bristo Square.

3-stars

Sooz Kempner’s new show, the Class of 2000, takes us back to that very year when she took her GCSEs, when all it took to be chic was to drench yourself in Impulse. In this show, she’s trying to work out what Class actually is, and where she fits into its Big Picture. But she’s into dressage, so she must be posh, right? Sooz spends a little over an hour searching for Class in all the wrong places, and, as you would expect, there’s many a hilarious comic observation to laugh at and enjoy. She also takes the opportunity to deliver some of her outstanding singing impressions. Somehow, somewhere during the show, the comic narrative gets a little lost and some of her comic ideas don’t quite gel. A meetup with one of her TV heroines at the end also doesn’t quite flow organically. But it’s worth the ticket price to discover the value of horse jizz, let alone the rest of the show!

To Watch a Man Eat, Greenside at George Street.

3-stars

Behind every successful man there’s a good woman, they used to say in the rather patronising good old days. Meet Andrew: swiftly ascending the promotion ladder at his City financial services office – you know, the one founded by Daddy. And here’s his charming wife Melissa, always at hand to give him the boost and, erm, relief he needs. But which of them is the more ambitious? And what happens if somehow the greasy pole of success gets more slippery than either of them expected? Their fractious relationship is set alongside the life of happy-go-lucky firefighter Micky. Totally unstressed, despite the pitfalls of his work; luxuriating with a morning Tesco trifle for breakfast, making the best of his three-day weekends. He’s probably not going to get any higher up the promotion chain; but who’s got it right? Sadie Pearson’s witty and more than slightly terrifying new play explores some of the worst aspects of our personalities, and doesn’t shy away from some unappealing conclusions. The structure of the play occasionally feels a little over-complicated, and it takes a while for our understanding of the characters to fall into place, but it’s entertainingly acted by the cast of three – Lily Walker, George Usher and George Lorimer, whose slobbering over his spare rib dinner will be a memory hard to erase for a few days!

Colin Hoult: Colin, Pleasance Courtyard.

4-stars

The devilishly funny Colin Hoult has cast off the mantle of his wonderful creation Anna Mann and is now concentrating – arrogantly, he says – on himself with his show Colin. It’s very much a nostalgia-fest of his family life in Nottingham, with his weird uncles, aunts and brothers and his burping, farting father. Who plays with a Ouija board with a seven-year-old anyway? Encompassing his diagnosis of ADHD (other neurodiversities are available), it’s a very funny hour with a comedian who constantly riffs off the audience – so if you sit anywhere near the front, you will become involved! A very safe pair of comedic hands, and guaranteed laughter throughout.

The Shadow Boxer, TheSpace at Niddry Street.

4-stars

Jack is a bricklayer by day and a boxer by night. After an unexpected surprise win in his home town of Portsmouth, Jack sets his sights on representing Great Britain at the 1968 Olympics. With his beautiful fiancée Susan, they appear to live the perfect life – what could possibly go wrong? That’s one interpretation of this multi-levelled play; however, maybe none of this happened. Maybe it was all the fantasy of a troubled young man’s brain? It’s up to us the audience to decide for ourselves where the boundary between reality and delusion lies. Lucas English gives an excellent performance as Jack – or is it Isaac? – conveying the character’s desire to live an unrealistically model successful life mixed with his struggle to control rage. Or is his behaviour simply controlled by therapy? The clues are there: a late night brain teaser of a play!

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 6th August 2024

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What’s in store for us in Edinburgh today?

Here’s the schedule for August 6th

10:45 – Bailey Swilley: Gimme a Sign! Laughing Horse @ The Three Sisters. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“In this vulnerable yet irreverent debut, Bailey Swilley shares how she got through the darkest time in her life – the death of her father – with the help of family, pop culture and an obsession with looking for signs from ghosts. Come for the sweet stuff, stay for the weird facts about celebs!”

So here’s an up and coming comedian of whom I know very little – but if you can’t take a risky punt at Edinburgh, where can you? Family, grief and ghosts? That basically covers everything that life has to offer. I’m quite partial to believing in ghosts myself, so I hope to find someone who’s also prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt!

12:30 – Common Is As Common Does: A Memoir, ZOO Southside.

“Fringe favourites 21Common return for a dance spectacular, mashing karaoke carnage and feats of physical endurance with chucking-out time at the Grand Ole Oprey. Using tropes of Western movies, it explores how poverty and violence shape a man. This is a deep and dirty dive into a family circle that more often resembles a ring of fire. Part saloon (there’s crooner country classics), speakeasy (brush/scuffing danceathons) and bare-knuckle boxing ring (it’s going to kick off`), join us in our Wild West sitting room with the ones who spit. Part of MadeInScotlandShowcase.com”

That’s a very full description of a Fringe show! Essentially I’m expecting a rather immersive dance show that blurs the boundaries between other art forms – and with a bit of Yee-ha! thrown in! It’ll be fascinating to see exactly what it’s all about.

14:15 – Rob Auton: The Eyes Open and Shut Show, Assembly Roxy.

“This is a show about eyes when they are open and eyes when they are shut. With this show I wanted to explore what I could do to myself and others with language when eyes are open and shut. After writing ten shows on specific themes, I wanted to think about what makes me open my eyes and what makes me shut them. ‘A genuine original’ (Guardian). ‘The mother freaking greatest’ (James Acaster). ‘Very hilarious’ (David Shrigley). ‘A genius’ (Bridget Christie). ‘Makes laughter out of wonder. We need him’ (Scotsman).”

In all the world of stand-up comedy, Rob Auton has carefully carved out a unique space for himself; a cross between guffawingly hilarious observational comedy and gentle philosophical whimsy. I can’t wait to see what he’s got in store for us this time!

18:25 – Pillock, Assembly Rooms.

“Pillock has ADHD. His brain works faster than his bowel when he’s had a Babybel. And he’s lactose intolerant. He’s trying to keep his head above water, but he’s drowning in loneliness, hook-up culture and medical role plays. He feels stagnant and it’s going to take more than a yoga class to help. But, when he meets Eugene everything changes. His shot at the sort of love people write poems about. But will he be Mr Right, Mr Right Now or even Mr Wrong? Pillock wants to trust his gut, but his can’t even handle a Muller Corner.”

This sounds like one of those quirky Fringe shows that will either be a sensational new find or something that everyone should have left alone! I’m erring on the Sensational New Find side, and trust that it will be well-written and classily performed comedy.

20:10 – Robin Grainger: Refurb, The Stand Comedy Club 2.

“As seen on The One Show (BBC One), BBC News, BBC Scotland. As heard on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio Scotland, Heart, Forth One. Featured in The Telegraph, The Scotsman, Metro, British Comedy Guide, Chortle. ‘It’s dope… it says a lot about what your future will be… as a comedian, you have no choice but to shine’ (Kevin Hart). ‘You can’t fake this level of likability. A magic hour of comedy’ ***** (TheRealChrisparkle.com). ‘An excellent way to spend an hour’ ****½ (One4Review.co.uk). ‘He’s a brilliant stand-up… he effortlessly blends poignancy in with the laughs’ **** (List).”

Oh look – a quote from me! We saw Robin Grainger for the first time last year and I absolutely stand by my five stars for that show, and I can’t wait to see what he’s been brewing up for this year.

22:10 – A Play by John, theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall.

“How is it possible: we all watch this, we all agree, we all shake our heads, yet we all get up tomorrow morning and do it all over again? Matteo and Reggie, fuelled by John’s suggestion, build their own coffins. This new writing unfolds as they grapple with existence, hope and fate. We invite audiences to think about why we’re here and what it all really means, wrapped up in a simple act…”

This play is described as being like a cross between Beckett’s Waiting for Godot and Pinter’s Dumb Waiter, both of whom sound fine by me. Surreal and absurd; if the writing and performances are both top quality, this should be sensational!

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

Edinburgh Fringe 2024 Reviews – Sell Me: I Am From North Korea, Ascension, Love’s A Beach, Stuffed, Our Little Secret: The 23andMe Musical, The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return, and Daliso Chaponda: Feed This Black Man Again

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Sell Me: I Am from North Korea, Pleasance Courtyard.

4-stars

A dramatic and moving monologue from Sora Baek, herself a second generation North Korean refugee, who tells the fascinating story of a girl so poor that she offers herself up for sale to raise money for her mother’s medications. It’s a terrifying story of exploitation, and hiding from danger, combined with a substantial element of old-fashioned thrill and quest for survival, as the girl manages to find her way to freedom. Beautifully written and performed; personally, I occasionally found the narrative a little difficult to follow, and there’s also considerable use of the Korean language which (I presume) the vast majority of the audience will not understand. But if ever a production had its heart in the right place, it’s this; and Sora’s character’s story will live in one’s heart and imagination long after the show finishes.

 

Ascension, Bedlam Theatre.

4-stars

The story of Leendert Hasenbosch brought to life in Dan Hazelwood’s eloquently written and wonderfully rule breaking version of Hasenbosch’s own diary. Simply staged but with superb use of the stage, Dan Hazelwood completely convinces as the man punished for sodomy by being abandoned on Ascension Island, together with Conor Mainwaring as his one-time lover Andrew, who floats in and out of his reminiscences. Mr Hazelwood has superb clarity of diction which really helps the text stand out. A very moving portrayal, with a few clever nods to today’s culture, underlining how the prejudice that eventually would destroy his life continues three hundred years later. It’s also extraordinary how the original diary was found and rewritten to deter others from living their real lives; literally a case of rewriting the books to suit the contemporary rulebook. Riveting content, terrific theatre!

Love’s a Beach, Pleasance Courtyard.

3-stars

A fascinating insight into how the lives of ordinary people become distorted once they become victims of their own social media success. Ben and Cyrus are in the final round of a TV reality show and boost their social numbers by scheduling a bizarre range of public appearances, from selling adult nappies to guest appearances at an A Level results party. The prospect of an all-expenses month’s stay at a luxury resort in Dubai is temptation beyond endurance for Cyrus – despite the UAE’s lack of LGBT rights. An enforced split between the couple is announced – but is it for real, or just for convenience, a free holiday, and the clicks? After all, they’re both totally devoted to each other, right? James Akka and Iain Ferrier shine as the couple whose relationship strains under the glare of publicity. A clever story, well written and completely believable, performed with fun and panache.

Stuffed, Pleasance Courtyard.

Ugly Bucket Theatre have created a show about food banks – the increasing necessity for them, the ignorant complaints about their users, and the generosity of those who give their time to staff them or their resources to buy the food that goes into them – which is without question a vital topic for our times. They are essentially a clowning company, and their vibrant movement fills the stage to great effect; there is one scene, set as a TV game show where a contestant has to make choices about where their limited finances will go, which works powerfully well. Using verbatim recordings alongside a modern techno throb, sometimes the vital message of the speech gets lost in the noise; and many of the individual scenes went on far too long for me, accidentally weakening the importance of the content in the process. This is a show conceived and performed with the very best of intentions, but the end product is sadly not for me.

Our Little Secret, Gilded Balloon Patter House.

The hit of last year’s Toronto Fringe, Our Little Secret makes its way to Edinburgh in a blaze of glory. The true story of how 31 year old “only child” Noam Tomaschoff discovered that his parents had not been entirely truthful about the circumstances of his birth; his father was infertile and Noam was born through IVF with donor sperm. Not only that, but there’s a WhatsApp group for all the people he had “artificially-fathered”; 39 at last count. That’s some surprise! Obviously, as a natural song-and-dance man, Noam had no alternative but to create a musical about his story; and with the help of composer Ryan Peters and producer Russell Citron, they have made the extraordinarily beautiful and deeply emotional Our Little Secret. The songs are first rate – the one about how the world is made for brothers had me (not very successfully) holding back the sobs. Noam Tomaschoff is a star in the making, filling each number with the emotions that only the person with the true lived experience could completely convey. At our performance we had the additional delight of being in the presence of not only the composer and producer, but also Noam’s parents! I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house. It was also sold out – so you need to get your skates on to book a ticket!

The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return, Summerhall.

Chalk Line Theatre’s new play, Sam Edmunds’ The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return, explores the lives of young people in Luton; partying, the challenge of buying alcohol underage, staying over at their mums’ houses, daring to take that first kiss with the most fanciable girl in town. It celebrates the essential decency of working class upbringings, whilst also facing up to the horrors of knife crime and trying to find the links that join the one to the other. It’s a superbly written play, bringing out the best in people, and given three terrific performances by its sensational cast – Olatunji Ayofe, Amaia Naima Aguinaga and Elan Butler – who bring all the fun, friendship and danger of modern urban living to the Summerhall stage. A fully deserved instant standing ovation showed just what a positive and uplifting play this is. If you’re looking for top-quality work by young actors at this Fringe, look no further.

Daliso Chaponda: Feed This Black Man Again, Underbelly Bristo Square.

4-stars

The ever-reliable Daliso Chaponda returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with Feed This Black Man Again – a nod to the title of his first Fringe show 22 years ago – half his lifetime, amazingly enough! He goes back to his early family life before going to university in Canada; explores the world of AI Dating Apps, and tells us of his father’s unfortunate reputation for trying to ban farting in Malawi. Mr C constantly spins off the audience’s reaction and much of the show is based on interaction between us and him with a range of questions and suggestions that always end in a good laugh. It’s not the most challenging humour, nor does it make you see life from a different perspective, but it’s always extremely good natured and very funny.

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 5th August 2024

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What’s on the slab for today? Seven shows – a busy day!

Here’s the schedule for August 5th

9:20 – A Fire Ignites, TheSpace @ Surgeons Hall.  From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“A Fire Ignites tells the story of a brave teenage girl, Parisa, in modern-day Iran who sets her hijab on fire in public. Attacked by the morality police for her rebellion, she desires nothing more than to free her country from oppression. Her best friend, who shelters her, is exhausted from fighting and lives in fear. She and Parisa are opposites, as Parisa still believes that human beings are good despite all she has endured. Parisa’s mother fears for her daughter’s life, and conflict emerges. This story is inspired by the brave young women in Iran today.”

A serious play to start the day. One hears about the extraordinary protests in Iran from women who set fire to their hijab and the penalties they face, and one can only imagine how terrifying it must be and how brave they are. I’m hoping this will be a powerful and moving play and performance.

11:35 – Malion, TheSpace @ Surgeons Hall.

“A feminist retelling of the Pygmalion and Galatea myth. Malion, a sculptor, is presenting his work to his male friends, a statue of the most beautiful woman in creation. He rejoices in his achievement over drinks with some male friends. However, the conversation cannot move away from sexual fantasy and lust for the statue. Meanwhile, brought to life by Aphrodite’s kiss, Galatea awakens. Galatea seeks the love of her creator but he is changing, falling in line with his comrades and forgetting his pure vision of love. Will Malion see Galatea, or fall into the ranks of masculine identity?”

Perhaps a slightly unusual choice of play, but my curiosity was piqued by its premise! Athens meets Edinburgh – but who wins? Have very little idea of what to expect, but I hope it’s good!

13:20 – The Last Laugh, Assembly George Square Studios.

“The Last Laugh sees three legendary comedians – Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe and Bob Monkhouse – sitting in a dressing room, discussing the secret of life, death, comedy and what it means to be funny. Written and directed by the award-winning Paul Hendy and starring Edinburgh Fringe-legend Bob Golding as Morecambe, Damian Williams as Cooper and Simon Cartwright as Monkhouse, The Last Laugh is warm, funny, nostalgic and poignant. Not to be missed.”

I’m a great admirer of these three comic actors; we’ve seen Simon Cartwright’s impersonation of Bob Monkhouse before and it is truly uncanny, whereas Bob Golding is a mainstay of the pantos at the Royal and Derngate, Northampton, and there wouldn’t be a Sheffield panto without the master Dame, Damian Williams! I think this is going to turn out to be a big Fringe Highlight!

15:10 – A Jaffa Cake Musical, Pleasance Courtyard.

“Time to decide once and for all… cake or biscuit? Inspired by the 1991 tribunal which determined the true identity of a Jaffa Cake, multi-award winning Gigglemug Theatre (Scouts! The Musical, RuneSical, Timpson: The Musical) present a brand-new family-friendly musical comedy that takes the biscuit (or cake…?). Praise for previous productions: ‘Incredible!’ (Bear Grylls); ‘Laugh-a-minute silliness’ (Daily Express); ‘Winning songs’ (Guardian); ‘Blistering wit’ ***** (TheatreWeekly.com); ‘Simply brilliant’ ***** (NorthWestEnd.co.uk); ‘An utter masterpiece’ ***** (BoxOfficeRadio.co.uk); ‘A comedic triumph’ ***** (WestEndEvenings.co.uk); ‘Absolute bangers’ **** (Stage); ‘Genius’ **** (BroadwayBaby.com).”

Many years ago I used to work for Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise and I remember the constant arguments about whether a Jaffa Cake was a cake (food for VAT purposes) or a biscuit (confectionary) and they could never define it precisely enough so as to definitely apply the tax or have it zero-rated! For that reason alone I was fascinated by the idea of this show – and I do hope there will be some samples so that the audience can help decide whether it is… or isn’t!

18:20 – To Watch a Man Eat, Greenside @ George Street.

“Firefighter Micky and investment banker Andrew are choked by their respective blue and white collars. Micky puts the ‘man’ in manual, content with trifle for breakfast and all things analogue. He’s perplexed by people like Andrew, permanently in competition to keep his bum on his desk chair the longest, all in pursuit of the lifestyle his partner Melissa thirsts for. A wolf in a frilly apron, she lives to serve Andrew dinner and watch him tear it apart. In a world where ambition and personal values continuously butt heads, who will let themselves starve?”

This play is produced by the same team behind last year’s show Pressure Cooker which I really enjoyed, and that alone convinced me that it was worth giving this play a try! The class war examined at the dining table? Sounds excellent!

20:20 – Colin Hoult: Colin, Pleasance Courtyard.

“The acclaimed comedian and 2022 Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee returns with a stand-up show about family, fatherhood, and a formative childhood experience with a Ouija board and a gorilla. As seen in Afterlife (Netflix), Avoidance (BBC), Ghosts (BBC), This Time With Alan Partridge (BBC), and judging the 2023 BBC New Comedy Awards. ‘Terrific… you will laugh yourself silly throughout’ ***** (Telegraph). ‘Genius… one of the funniest comedy shows I’ve seen’ ***** (Times). ‘Superb’ ***** (TheArtsDesk.com). ‘Hilarious’ **** (Scotsman). **** (Independent). **** (Guardian). **** (Evening Standard).”

I was so sad last year when Colin Hoult finally killed off his hilarious comedy alter ego Anna Mann; but Mr H is such a funny guy that I know he’s going to have something equally hysterical up his sleeve for his new show all about himself. Early last year we saw a Work in Progress session with Mr H which I expect he has now developed up into this show – and I, for one, can’t wait to see it.

22:20 – The Shadow Boxer, TheSpace @ Niddy St.

“Portsmouth’s most promising featherweight boxer races towards his ultimate goal – competing in the 1968 Olympic Games and proving himself as a true champion. But can anyone control how their story will be told in an uncertain future?”

I don’t know why, but boxing frequently crops up in Fringe plays and it’s always a fascinating subject to include in theatre. Maybe it’s the balance between essentially physical violence but it has to be played within a framework of gentlemanly rules. I’ll be fascinated to see where this play fits in the scheme of boxing dramas.

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

Edinburgh Fringe 2024 Reviews – Catafalque, Janie Dee’s Beautiful World Cabaret, Karen, Will Sebag-Montefiore: Will of the People, Kavin Jay: Unsolicited Advice, Amos Gill: Going Down Swinging, House of Life, Heckling Masterclass with Diploma (Ben Clover), and Silence The Musical

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Catafalque, Summerhall.

Every so often a play comes around that stops you dead in your tracks and makes you see life from an angle you’ve never encountered before. Amy Conway writes and performs Catafalque, a stunning play that investigates so many dark problems; starting with the problems a civil celebrant faces when the family of the person whose funeral she’s conducting hold back from telling her anything about their lost loved one. Fern suspects something is being concealed from her, over and above usual bereaved reticence. But when the truth about Martin slowly becomes obvious, Fern’s own issues are triggered – and sometimes you simply have to tell the truth. Amy Conway delivers a superb performance as Fern, but more than that, it’s an extraordinarily beautifully written drama with endless twists and surprises that challenge the audience in so many ways. One of those rare plays where you come out of the auditorium a different person from the one who went in. I couldn’t recommend this more strongly.

Janie Dee’s Beautiful World Cabaret, Pleasance Dome.

It’s not often you can get truly up close and personal to a West End Star, but Janie Dee’s Beautiful World Cabaret gives you that opportunity. A sequence of familiar, and less familiar songs that all take an individual look at the natural world is the thread that unites this show to create a stunning hour of music for the ears and compassion for the planet. Accompanied by two singer/dancers, Sophia Priolo and Josephina Ortiz-Lewis, and the amazing violinist Sarah Harrison and accordionist Igor Outkine, the music just flows over you as you sit there frankly entranced the whole time. My own personal hairs-on-the-back-of my-neck moment came when Janie sang Sondheim’s Another Hundred People whilst Sarah alongside her played a stressed, frantic string arrangement. Every show has a different guest artiste and we couldn’t have been more delighted to welcome Frances Ruffelle singing Piaf’s Je ne regrette rien in both English and French. But the whole show was sensational; cabaret with a message – not preachy, just heartfelt, with amazing music.

Will Sebag-Montefiore: Will of the People, Underbelly Bristo Square.

4-stars

Will only had two jobs this year – to write an Edinburgh show and get married. The show was all done and dusted earlier in the year until Sunak announced the election; Starmer won, and all poor old Will’s songs and skits went out of date. He hasn’t even written his vows properly yet either, so he spends the whole show planning his wedding, with a member of the audience playing the part of his intended; in the performance we saw, that was, er, me. And I must say he paid court very nicely! Will’s online satire translates deftly to the stage, and – despite his opinions to the contrary – his voices for Starmer and Trump are very impressive! Not every joke lands but it’s still a very good hit rate and Mr S-M is so likeable on stage that he could probably get away with literal murder and it would still be funny. All in all, a very positive Fringe debut!

 

KAREN, Underbelly Cowgate.

Ah, the office romance! When you’ve been with Joe for four years and you go to Alton Towers for your 30th birthday treat and it’s an odd setting but maybe, just maybe, this is where he’s going to propose…. Or is it KAREN whom he’s fallen for? Dumped halfway through her Calippo, she has no alternative but to try to get her life together; she can pick over the bones of her past love with best friend Stacey, and she can hope that boss Tony might give her that great promotion to New York – but will she just get over it, or will KAREN always be the worst thing that ever happened to her?! A joyously written and energetically performed tale, there’s something for everyone in this blisteringly funny yet also surprisingly sad play. Writer/performer Sarah Cameron-West leads us through her character’s hilarious and memorable journey through heartbreak and beyond. A total delight!

Kavin Jay: Unsolicited Advice, Hoots @ The Apex.
4-stars

Kavin Jay’s new show Unsolicited Advice takes you back to all those times when your family and friends know much better than you how to deal with your problems. This is a universal issue – Kavin Jay may be from Malaysia but it’s just as prevalent in the UK! Mr Jay cuts a very warm and welcoming figure on stage – and even though we all agreed he has the kind of face where we would lock the car door if he approached you – we didn’t mean to offend him. It’s a fun, fluid hour of very relatable comedy with a Malaysian twist; I loved his idea of how you might spice up your sex life, and his mechanic uncle’s foolproof way of conceiving a child. Lots of laughs, and the kind of stand-up show where you come out feeling good about the world. Thoroughly enjoyable; if Mr Jay is a new name to you, trust me it’s well worth spending an hour of your precious Fringe time in his company.

Amos Gill: Going Down Swinging, Underbelly Bristo Square.

3-stars

Amos Gill comes on stage, all guns blazing, exploring comic ideas where angels fear to tread. His initial opening gambit – that straight white men have it tough at the moment – is a risky tactic and one which many in an Edinburgh Fringe audience might not warm to – but, fair play to him, although he dangerously teeters on the edge of giving offence, he always manages to steer clear of it, and that’s down to his excellent word-craftsmanship. He has a terrific routine about bringing his racist father to one of his New York comedy gigs, which uses the concept of racism as a creative comedic tool! Not a lot of subtlety but with some very valid comic observations, and a strong, confident, attacking delivery.

 

House of Life, Underbelly Cowgate.

4-stars

Do you want to be saved? Not only saved, but reborned, self-esteemed, and purged? All this and much more awaits you at the House of Life, a riotous show featuring the Rave-rend, who leads us through this bizarre ceremony and creates an extraordinary quasi-religious fervour with a few instruments, a TV screen and assistance from his faithful sidekick Trev. A show that doesn’t take itself remotely seriously and gets a huge, active response from the audience who play an essential part in sharing this cult-like, faith-defying hour of sheer joy. All very funny and anarchic, most of the audience ended up on stage at the end singing Spanish lyrics to revive our beloved Rave-rend out of his trance. Unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, and largely defying description; you just have to see it for yourself!

 

Heckling Masterclass with Diploma – Ben Clover, Laughing Horse at Bar 50.

4-stars

What is it about Ben Clover that makes him always omit his name from his shows’ titles? This year he hits Edinburgh with his Heckling Masterclass (With Diploma), a thoroughly hilarious idea where he takes his willing (and not so willing) students through the art of delivering top quality heckles – at the right time, to the right person, in the right way and with the right motivation. Anything less is a no-no; transgress, and you might not come away with your diploma (secret: none of us did.) Ben has an unerring knack of relaxing and moulding his audience so that they are absolutely ready for his style of humour; and I can tell you, our audience totally lapped the whole show up. It was a particularly funny moment for me when he realised, with huge relief, that the media tickets issued for this performance hadn’t been snapped up by The Guardian but by Yours Truly. Clearly, I lulled him into a false sense of security so I’m therefore awarding him only four stars because a) it was brilliant but b) I don’t want him to get cocky.

SILENCE!: The Musical, Underbelly Bristo Square.

4-stars

The Silence of the Lambs is one of those films that got underneath the nation’s skin… and there’s no doubt that SILENCE! The Musical could do the same. What impressed me the most about this show was how well the story and the film lends itself to a musical adaptation, albeit in parody form. SILENCE! takes those lambs very seriously, as they make up the all-singing, all-dancing chorus that binds the show together, a truly ovine ensemble if ever there was one. There are some lovely nods to other Big Musicals – I noted Newsies and A Chorus Line at least – and some hilarious characterisations, and superb musical performances. Some of the lyrics are, perhaps, not for Granny; but then she’s unlikely to be up at 11:15 pm in the Underbelly Cowbarn. Very funny, very musical and totally outrageous!

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 4th August 2024

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What’s in store for us in Edinburgh today?

Here’s the schedule for August 4th.

11:00 – Ascension, Bedlam Theatre. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“Dan Hazelwood adapts the haunting diary entries of 18th century sailor Leendert Hasenbosch for the stage. Marooned on Ascension Island for the crime of sodomy, Lee must tame the island’s unforgiving terrain, along with the demons that followed him ashore. As the odds of his survival steadily decline, he struggles to find a balance between his faith and his romantic desires, all the while spiralling into recklessness and desperation. Using Lee’s diary as a guide, Ascension tells a heart-rending story of queer identity from centuries ago that can be felt just as keenly today.”

It sounds like we’re starting the day with another powerful play, based on the real life events of Hasenbosch’s life. A story of survival, it should be a gripping tale and an exciting first production.

12:45 – Love’s a Beach, Pleasance Courtyard.

“What happens six months after your five minutes of fame? Cyrus and Ben are the first gay winners of TV’s biggest reality show. They’re 22, have thousands of followers, but now spend most of their days making sponsored content about dog food, and fronting campaigns about adult incontinence. When they’re offered an influencing deal in Dubai, the couple must decide how far they’ll go to cling to celebrity… and at what cost. A smash-hit satire by multi award-winning comedy writers for Netflix and BBC Television. ‘Fantastic play… had me howling with laughter’ (BroadwayWorld.com), from BAFTA-winning Unusual Productions.”

This satire sounds like it’s slightly beyound belief – but only slightly; you can imagine how when ordinary people are tempted to act their lives in an extraordinary way, it  just becomes a question of when to say no. I’m sure this play will be a lot of fun as well as asking some searching and difficult questions.

14:25 – Stuffed, Pleasance Courtyard.

“This is a show about food banks. This is not a show about food. This is about the bad stuff. This is an emergency. This is a clowning show. Multi award winners Ugly Bucket (Untapped Award 2022) present a blazing inferno of physicality, clown, original music, and transformative personal testimony. Stuffed is a roaring call to action amidst the wreckage of a desecrated system. ‘As enraging as it is brilliant. A tour-de-force performance that deserves the nation’s attention’ ***** (OpeningNights.co.uk). ‘You could hear a pin drop in the furthest corner of the room’ ***** (NorthWestEnd.co.uk).”

The growth of food banks over the last ten years or so is both a success story (from one aspect) and the tale of outright failure (from another). I don’t know how Ugly Bucket are going to tackle this subject, but I’m sure it will be exciting, memorable and probably rather uncomfortable too.

17:30 – Our Little Secret: The 23andMe Musical, Gilded Balloon Patter House.

“Winner: Best of Fringe Toronto 2023! What does a 31-year-old theatre kid do when a DNA test reveals that his biological parents aren’t quite who he thought they were? Write a musical, of course! In this hilarious, moving and true story, Noam Tomaschoff grapples with questions of family, identity and just how many brothers and sisters he really has. Blending comedy, drama and addictive music, Noam takes the audience on an unforgettable journey, ending with a message of optimism that will make you hold your family just a little bit tighter.”

I’ve always thought this current trend for taking DNA tests would have a sting in its tale – it’s all very well having one’s suspicions or hopes confirmed, but if you get a result you were not expecting – and certainly not hoping for – then you’ve opened the drawbridge to a lot of heartache. If this is done well it has the potential to be one of the highlights of this year’s Fringe.

19:40 – The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return, Summerhall.

“Two best mates. One HUGE party. Luton pinned by austerity. An evening of noughties bangers and shots of shitty gin mixed with the chaos of violence. A night to remember! Winners of the 2022 Untapped Award, Chalk Line presents The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return. Packed with swagger, it hurls at a rapid pace with linguistic vigour and unfolds in real time. It’s a tapestry of violence and joy parading through Luton. ‘This is theatre birthed out of exasperation’ **** (Time Out, for Blanket Ban).”

I’m expecting this play to provide a tough insight into inner city life, exposing the highs and lows of peoples’ real lived experiences. A challenging watch no doubt, but hopefully a rewarding one too.

21:20 – Daliso Chaponda: Feed This Black Man Again, Underbelly Bristo Square.

“Daliso performed his first show Feed This Black Man in the 2000s. The jokes were mediocre and the big finale involved eating a sandwich on stage. Twenty years on, he’s done the Royal Variety Performance, written and performed four series of Citizen of Nowhere on BBC Radio 4, been a Britain’s Got Talent finalist, and toured nationwide and abroad. So, Feed This Black Man Again is a do-over, as the now widely-loved comic revisits the themes of that ancient debut show with the considerably enhanced comic talents that two decades’ experience brings you.”

Daliso Chaponda is a very safe pair of hands and I’m sure his latest show will be a total hoot throughout!

Check back later to see how we enjoyed these shows!

Edinburgh Fringe 2024 Reviews – Shellshocked, Casting the Runes, Glitch, Gwyneth Goes Skiing, Liam Farrelly: Flipbook, Arturo Brachetti: Solo, Tarot: Shuffle, and 1 Hour of Insane Magic: After Dark

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Shellshocked – An Explosive New Play, Pleasance Courtyard.

4-stars

Another superb production from the team that brought us Jesus Jane Mother and Me last year. Philip Stokes’ gripping and intense new two-hander brings an artistic but vulnerable young man who has seen the horrors of war into the clutches of a creepily authoritarian older man. The young man seeks employment as the older’s apprentice, and has been sent by his mother to impress the “master craftsman” into giving him a job. But jealousy – both professional and personal, and the drive to create a powerful work of art that will immortalise the artist, coupled with the young man’s PTSD following action in the Second World War, all combine to create a mentally unstable battle of wits which has to be resolved one way or another. Strong performances from Lee Bainbridge as the intimidating and prissy artist Mr Lupine, and Jack Stokes as his wannabe apprentice Wesley, desperate for an income to provide for his poverty-stricken family. Full of plot twists and surprises; the production doesn’t really need the occasional incidental music which slightly distracts from the intensity of the text. Nevertheless, a chilling and truly creepy start to one’s Fringe day!

Casting the Runes, Pleasance Courtyard.

You could hear the proverbial pin drop all the way through this superbly atmospheric and chilling supernatural thriller; an adaptation by Box Tale Soup of M. R. James’ original 1911 short story. Noel Byrne plays Professor Dunning, the smugly confident lecturer who can explain anything supernatural as trickery and deception; and Antonia Christophers plays Rebecca, the sister of  John Harrington, who recently died from a freak accident. Desperate to warn Dunning that his life is in danger, she tries to convince him that Karswell, a mysterious man who has been trying to get Dunning to publish his work, was involved in the death of her brother – who had published a review critical of his work. But will he listen? Stunningly acted, and slickly presented, with a beautifully versatile set; and some truly expressive puppets playing the many other roles that weave in and out of the story. A gripping play that never lets the tension subside and has you on the edge of your seat throughout. I was hooked on their every word! Simply magnificent.

Glitch, Assembly George Square.

4-stars

Edith Alibec acts out her own smartly written monologue about a young woman who attends a school reunion, the starting point for her getting back in touch with old contacts. Over the course of the next hour we learn about her loves, her attempts to earn a living, her friends present and past; and primarily her mother, who has always fascinated our heroine because she wears a false breast due to her mastectomy. It’s a rather sad tale and Ms Alibec tells it with conviction and intensity. She sits on a chair in the centre of the stage for the entire performance apart from a couple of times when she stands – and then sits back down again. I can’t help but think her story could have more impact if the presentation wasn’t so static; and perhaps it’s also a little overlong. Nevertheless, it’s a powerful performance of an eloquent text, and we get to know the heart of the character with great insight and emotion.

Gwyneth Goes Skiing, Pleasance Courtyard.

3-stars

I don’t keep up to date with the gossip columns so I wasn’t aware of the hoo-ha surrounding Gwyneth Paltrow and her skiing court case, but here’s a way of finding out about it in a slightly less serious manner than reading the newspaper reports. Awkward Productions return to the Fringe after their hugely successful Diana The Untold and Untrue Story last year with Gwyneth Goes Skiing, and, as you might expect, it features snowstorms, snowballs, Alpine squirrels and rabbits and the legendary (well it is now) Deer of Deer Valley. Linus Karp also returns, giving his portrayal of Diana last year a quick adjustment to present Gwyneth Paltrow as the epitome of commercial exploitation and Hollywood shallowness, together with Joseph Martin as Terry Sanderson – not an optician – who bumped into her on the slopes. Literally. As with Diana, the show ropes in a number of audience members to play additional roles, and as always at the Fringe, these moments provide some of the stand out memories of the show. Whilst Gwyneth never reaches the heights of Diana, there are still some very funny scenes and characterisations – even if some of it feels a little repetitive and too long.

Liam Farrelly: Flipbook, The Stand Comedy Club 2.

4-stars

Liam Farrelly’s new show is primarily about his becoming a father at the age of 21 and how it immediately made him grow from a boy to a man. Let’s face it, he never foresaw having to attend baby ballet lessons in his mid-twenties (let alone taking his daughter there). Fortunately, it’s all a success story, as his flipbook (hence the title of the show) reveals with a finale of happy family images. Liam is a terrifically gifted comedian, cramming loads of material into the show with barely a moment to take a breath; and most of his comic observations land well – you certainly don’t come away feeling short-changed. There are a couple of pauses where he refers to the video screen to play a couple of short animations – these come across as completely unnecessary, as he’s a good enough comedian not to rely on supporting gimmicks. He has the best joke of the Fringe for me so far, as part of his opening sequence about why he doubts that Hogwarts is meant to be based in Scotland – I’m not going to tell you what it is! His sincerity shines through and really helps the act go with a swing. A very enjoyable hour!

Arturo Brachetti: Solo, Pleasance at EICC.

4-stars

It’s been many years since I last saw Arturo Brachetti, and my memory is that his act was based on his being a quick-change artist beyond compare. But Solo, his new show at the Pleasance in the Edinburgh Conference Centre, is much more than that. Loosely based on a nostalgic trip around his old home, each room reveals a series of TV characters, movie stars and chart toppers that Mr Brachetti brings to life in an extraordinary sequence of costume changes. But it’s also a laser light show, mime, magic and even sand painting, all brought together with his inimitable panache. There’s even a role for his occasionally wandering shadow! A show that’s particularly suitable for children – the majority of whom in our audience sat agog at what was going to happen next. Beautiful, charming, and amazingly skilful.

Tarot: Shuffle, Pleasance Courtyard.

Those three funsters, the Tarot pack are at it again with a new show, Shuffle; in a nutshell, there are various tarot cards on display on stage and each of them represents a sketch, and it’s up to us, the audience, to make the choice of which cards to choose and which to, well, discard. But is it a free choice? And, moreover, does it matter? Adam, Ed and Kath are on terrific form with a variety of sketches, all of which work (and that’s not something you can say about virtually any other sketch show). If you’re not careful, you’ll be singing that dreadfully catchy song at the end of the show all the way home. Always worth seeing during the Fringe – and Shuffle shows them at the top of their game. In the words of Carly Simon, even though they’re taken out of context, nobody does it better.

 

1 Hour of Insane Magic: After Dark, Gilded Balloon Patter House.

4-stars

Luke Osey, Elliot Bibby and Cameron Gibson team up to present a late night version of their Insane Magic show, with guest artistes each night. The magic tends to fall into one of two categories, card tricks or mind reading; but both are performed with cheeky good humour and an amazing amount of how did they do that-ness. Don’t think that just because you’re not sitting on an aisle seat that you won’t be called up to help them – there’s a lot of audience participation in this show. And, to be honest, there’s not a lot of additional adult material deployed that might scare Granny – just some good, old-fashioned, perplexing magic – what’s not to like?

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 3rd August 2024

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Another day of Edinburgh bliss – what’s in store for us today?

Here’s the schedule for August 3rd.

12:25 – Catafalque, Summerhall. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“Fern doesn’t get invited to dinner parties anymore. They used to love her tales of the macabre. But now? The mask is slipping. Written by Amy Conway and directed by Beth Morton, Catafalque is a one woman eulogy to death through the lens of a civil celebrant. How do we grieve the ungrievable? How do you speak of death when no-one wants to look? A show about love, loss and a lifetime of secrets. Join Fern as she navigates the complexities of a grieving family and learns to tell the truth when it repels the bravest of us.”

A busy civil celebrant during the times of Covid must have seen more of death than they could possibly have expected or wished; and this fascinating-sounding play has been written from personal experience. I expect it to raise a lot of difficult but intriguing questions; I don’t suppose it will be an easy watch but it’s a very important subject.

14:20 – Janie Dee’s Beautiful World Cabaret, Pleasance Dome.

“All the world’s a stage, let’s protect it. Multi Olivier Award-winning West End star Janie Dee (National Theatre’s The Motive and the Cue and Follies; Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends) confronts the climate crisis, and celebrates our beautiful world, through song and spoken word. Unusual and inspiring guests join this green twist on classic cabaret, asking how we can each make a difference in the fight for our planet. Playful, radical, informative, and ultimately hopeful. ‘Is there a more enchanting actress on the British stage than Janie Dee?’ (Times). ‘Passionately green… hilarious… pure class’ (MusicalTheatreReview.com).”

Janie Dee is one of our favourite performers and we have seen her in many productions over the years, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how she tackles the important topic of the future of the planet – really, there shouldn’t be a bigger subject anywhere! It will be fascinating to discover the choice of music and how she performs the songs to best highlight this terrifying plight in which we find ourselves.

15:55 – Karen, Underbelly, Cowgate.

“We open on Protagonist’s 30th birthday at the Alton Towers, where her life takes an unexpected turn. Mid-Calippo, she’s unceremoniously dumped by her long-term boyfriend, Joe. Things go from bad to worse when Joe then starts dating her office arch-nemesis: Karen. Protagonist must now navigate a powder keg of heartbreak and identity crisis which explodes in the ultimate office showdown. Seamlessly breaking the fourth wall, Protagonist will whisk you through a chaos-filled narrative that has been described as Fleabag meets The Office with Cameron-West as ‘the female Peep Show’ (TheNerdParty.com).”

I love how the description simply calls the main character “Protagonist”! Karen has become a rather dismissive term for a certain type of woman, much to the disservice of all the decent Karens in the world! I’m looking forward to finding out how Protagonist deals with this particular example of Karenhood!

18:20 – Kavin Jay: Unsolicited Advice, Hoots @ The Apex.

“The virtuoso ventriloquist, BAFTA nominee and British Comedy Award winner presents an unparalleled, unscripted new show that delves deep into who we are, hijacking faces to spark a bold, hysterical reality warp. ‘Richly entertaining, joyfully funny chaos’ **** (Guardian). ‘It’s genius… gut-bustingly funny’ ***** (Telegraph). ‘Laughs will definitely ensue’ (New York Times). ‘Outstanding! High-level comedy craftsmanship’ **** (Times).”

Kavin Jay is a new name to me but he describes himself as grumpy yet charming, and I can identify with that! I’ve seen some online videos and he looks pretty good so I’m optimistic of a great show.

21:45 – Heckling Masterclass, With Diploma, Laughing Horse at Bar 50.

“Heckling Masterclass, With Diploma. Become the best heckler you can be with this 50-minute course! Legendary stand-up comedian Ben Clover leads the world’s only official heckling seminar, covering all aspects of the noble art – How to heckle, when to heckle, if to heckle, how to heckle better, dealing with comedians’ stock retorts – it’s all covered. This interactive, multimedia course will show you the secrets of the world’s top hecklers, and you get a certificate at the end. (NB not a show where you can heckle, a course about heckling, with practical and theory test.)”

Ben Clover is one of my favourite Fringe comedians, and every year he comes back with a show in which he refuses to include his own name! I’m sure his heckling masterclass will be a delight – and I hope there aren’t too many audience heckles to get in the way!

23:15 – SILENCE! The Musical – The Unauthorised Parody of The Silence of the Lambs, Underbelly, Bristo Square.

“SILENCE! The Musical is the unauthorised musical parody of the Academy Award-winning film The Silence of the Lambs. As rookie FBI agent Clarice matches wits with the brilliant but insane Dr Hannibal Lecter to catch the serial killer known only as Buffalo Bill, a chorus of singing lambs breaks out into show tunes about the most horrific of subjects. Complete with singing serial killers, songs with unprintable titles and a chorus of lambs, SILENCE! the Musical comes charging at you with gleefully unstoppable bad taste.”

This sounds like a terrific idea and if it’s carried off well sounds as though this could be one of this year’s picks of the Fringe. It’s been over twenty years since I last saw The Silence of the Lambs but it’s one of those films that lingers on in the mind and I can’t wait to see what they do with it!

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