Category Archives: Edinburgh Fringe

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – The Fainting Couch, 24th August 2016

Posted on by

So far in our Edinburgh experiences, we haven’t been that lucky on the Burlesque front. Last year we didn’t get to see the show I’d planned, and the year before we saw a show that was complete pants. So we have high hopes for the first of this year’s two attempts – The Fainting Couch, on at Fingers Piano Bar, 61a Frederick Street, at 19:50 on Wednesday 24th. Here’s the blurb: “Welcome to the wonderful world of The Fainting Couch, where high art meets old-school raucous cabaret. Hosted by Scunthorpian songbird Elsie Diamond and featuring burlesque bombshells, opulent opera stars, pornographic poets, cataclysmic comedians and manic magicians. Dare you enter The Fainting Couch?”

Yes, I dare. Here’s hoping for a pot pourri of saucy fun and unexpurgated glamour! Check shortly after 9pm to see if we were wowed and by then the preview blog for our next show should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

Unquestionably vastly superior to the Best of Burlesque show we saw two years ago. The charming, bubbly and sexy Elsie Diamond fronted a superb collection of artistes. Johnny Macaulay dressed as a vampire bogeyman ate some razors; Kim Chaos did a raunchy burlesque strip; posh entertainers The Establishment unnerved us with their audience participation, opera singer Carmen Monoxide planted a smacker full on my lips, and The Creative Martyrs gave us a very austere comedy act – the Flanders and Swann of Burlesque – which included one of them simulating oral sex on me. Ah well, always one to push the boundaries – and Mrs Chrisparkle was last seen removing a stocking from the leg of Miss Elsie Diamond, so all’s fair in love and war. Classy, sophisticated, funny and sexy!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – Alistair McGowan: 12th Impressions, 24th August 2016

Posted on by

OK, so sometimes we book for things at the Edinburgh Fringe that we probably could see at home, but it’s hard to resist the lure of an hour in the company of Alistair McGowan, with his 12th Impressions show, on at the Debating Hall, Gilded Balloon Teviot, Teviot Row House, at 18:00 on Wednesday 24th. This is what it says on the website: “One of Britain’s most celebrated impressionists (The Big Impression, Live at the Apollo, Tonight at the Palladium) returns to Edinburgh for a twelfth year, with an hour of unfeasibly accurate impersonations. Alistair McGowan will cover some of the biggest names and most recognisable voices in sport, entertainment and politics including Wimbledon champion and new dad Andy Murray, comedian John Bishop and football’s man of the moment Harry Kane, as well as delivering brand-new comedy in his own voice. Warning: May contain puns.”

Do we actually know what Harry Kane sounds like? I’m sure I’ll find out. I think an hour of great comedy is pretty much guaranteed. Check back about 7.15 to see if I was right and by then the preview blog for our next show should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

Well that gave a new meaning to the phrase “packed house”. Wedged into the most minuscule seats fighting for air – no wonder a poor lady in our row had to leave due to a panic attack. Anyway – Alistair McGowan does what he does best – fantastic impressions woven into a very funny sequence. I thought he unnecessarily antagonised some parts of the audience by describing our average age as 72 – there were some gasps of offence! Very entertaining and enjoyable comedy fare.

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – Crazed, 24th August 2016

Posted on by

We will be tearing ourselves away from lingering at the pub for lunch in order to catch our next play, which is Crazed, produced by Ecce Theatre at Studio 3 @ C Nova, at the India Buildings, Victoria Street, at 15:05 on Wednesday 24th. Here’s the blurb: “Callie, Liv, Joe, Milo, Nick and Rosie are half way through the best years of their life, at Manchester University surrounded by drinks, drugs and drama. As the year unfolds they are forced to ask: how well do you really know your best friends? But when everyone is off their heads, what about consent? Ecce Theatre’s brand new production, Crazed, presents an open and honest account of student life.”

Last year we saw a fantastic play – Wasted – about when casual sex takes place without specific consent and becomes rape – and I’m wondering whether this play is going to have a similar theme. It certainly sounds intriguing. Check back about 4.20 to see what the play was all about and by then the preview blog for our next show should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

I was right – it did remind me of Wasted and unfortunately it wasn’t quite as good a play; it had a really sudden ending and so many of the plot threads seemed unresolved – not only the key relationship between Milo and Callie but all the tensions and relationships between all the characters. Nevertheless, you got a really good sense of what it’s like to be a student nowadays, and the cast all turned in very good performances – no cast lists unfortunately, but I particularly enjoyed the performances of the actors who played Liv, Callie and Milo.

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – Early Doors, 24th August 2016

Posted on by

Another late night last night, so not too early a start for our first show on Wednesday, that’s Early Doors, produced by Not Too Tame at The Pleasance Pop Up Pub at the Jinglin’ Geordie, 22 Fleshmarket Close, at noon on Wednesday 24th. Let’s look at the blurb: “Not Too Tame return to Edinburgh with an award-winning immersive theatrical experience in a real pub. After a sell-out UK tour, they’re back amongst the regulars at the Jinglin’ Geordie for tales of love, loss, laughter, drunken dancing, and a pub quiz. A celebration of community and pub culture, Early Doors is site specific and has all the great qualities of a gig: uplifting, unpretentious, and with a bevvy in hand! Drown your sorrows or charge your glasses, but grab a pint, take a seat and get a load of this!”

I think this is probably the most “immersive” that our shows will get this year, so we’re looking forward to a blend of pub-going and theatre-going – sounds perfect! Check back about 1.15 to see if we had too many too early and by then the preview blog for our next show should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

A hugely enjoyable entertainment performed by a likeable and talented cast: Andrew Butler, Jimmy Fairhurst, Alex Griffin-Griffiths, Louise Haggerty, Jessica Hayles, Hanna Jarman, Emily Stott and Anthony Wright-Wilson. The welcoming pub vibe gets you from the moment you’re teased by the bouncer, through the friendly and helpful bar staff and the other regulars – all of whom are part of the show. Comedy and tragedy unfurl side by side during this captivating hour. No better message to come out from a show based in a pub than you’re a long time dead, so make the most of now. But what I really enjoyed most about the whole show is the brilliant stagecraft – how everything comes to life organically from the people around you. A must-see.

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – Sameer Khan: At the Zoo, 23rd August 2016

Posted on by

If we’re awake enough, the plan is to have one final comedy hour in the company of Sameer Khan: At the Zoo, at The Staff Room at The Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters, 139 Cowgate at quarter past midnight on the night of Tuesday 23rd. It’s a free show, so if we don’t make it, it hasn’t cost us anything! Here’s the blurb: “Tired of watching middle-class white males try to be funny? Come watch a middle-class brown male (who grew up in a white society) try to be funny! Sameer Khan, an American living in Cambridge, provides his hilarious take on the British, race, society and little things you never noticed. The show is guaranteed to make you laugh or your money back!¹ Here are some great things people have said about him: ‘What a soothing voice he has!’ (Angel Comedy). ¹The show is free.”

I’ve had a good look around the internet and there isn’t a lot to be discovered about Mr Khan, so this is a complete leap of faith. Check back about half past one to see if we made it and if it was worth it, and by then the preview blog for our first show on Wednesday should be available to read too.

Alas, it was not to be. When we came out of the previous show, we realised how starving we were, so had to go past the venue on the hunt for chips. By the time we’d finished, it was too late for the show, so we repaired back to the hotel for beddybyes. Sorry, Sameer, hope we get to see you perform another time!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – The Naked Magicians, 23rd August 2016

Posted on by

One of our criteria for deciding which of the thousands of shows at the Edinburgh Fringe should be the ones that we choose to see, is that we should see shows that we’re not normally going to see back in good old Northampton. So our next show certainly falls under that heading. Proving that they have nothing up their sleeves, it’s The Naked Magicians, at Pleasance One at the Pleasance Courtyard, 60 Pleasance, at 22:30 on Tuesday 23rd. This is what the blurb has to say: “’It’s R-rated magic at its stunning best’ (TheGlobalGoddess.com). Following sold out shows and rave reviews in Australia, Asia, USA, Canada and New Zealand, the world’s funniest and naughtiest magic show The Naked Magicians is coming to Edinburgh! ‘They are hot, mind-blowing and seriously hilarious. Five stars!’ (Radio B105 FM, Brisbane). This boisterous R-rated magic show strips away the top hats and capes, promising full frontal illusions. Good magicians don’t need sleeves and great magicians don’t need pants. This show proves just that. ‘The most entertaining show of the year’ (AussieTheatre.com.au).”

I admit I’m just a little concerned at how the show will pan out – I hope it’s all done in the best possible taste, as Kenny Everett used to say! The magicians themselves are Christopher Wayne and Mike Tyler – I’m sure it will be a lot of fun, I just hope they don’t ask Mrs Chrisparkle to give them a hand with any of the tricks! Check back about 11:45 tonight to see if it would have made Sooty blush, and by then the preview blog for our final show this evening should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

I confess that the nearer this show got, the less I was looking forward to it; having been seriously embarrassed and irritated by the hen party mentality of the audience when we went to see The Full Monty. However, that was a proper play in a proper theatre, but this is a magic entertainment show with a twist. Not only were the audience simply out for having good natured fun, but the guys also performed the show with great style and humour. The magic is also pretty amazing, I’ve no idea how they did any of their tricks; and they also end up with a terrifically funny finale. This is a thoroughly good entertainment for…if not all the family, then by far the majority of them!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – James Loveridge: Castles in the Sand, 23rd August 2016

Posted on by

Our next show stars someone we saw last night! For the first time we’re getting to see James Loveridge doing his own stand-up material rather than co-hosting Spank! The show’s called Castles in the Sand, and it’s on at The Liquor Room at the Laughing Horse @ The Hanover Tap (long name!), Hanover Street, at 20:45 on Tuesday 23rd. Here’s the blurb according to the website: “James once has sex in a cage, whilst a stranger’s rabbit watched him from an ironing board. This story will not be featuring in the show… ‘Undoubtedly the best free show that I have seen at the Fringe.’ ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). ***** ‘Loveridge brought out some of the shock and awe – all with a smile on his face, too’ (ThePublicReviews.com). **** ‘He had the rest of us in stitches throughout a polished yet ever-evolving act, with asides and quips just as strong his actual jokes’ (Skinny).”

I’m really looking forward to seeing James do his proper material as he’s a naturally funny and friendly guy on stage and I’m sure he’ll just blow us away. Check back about 9:45 to see if he’s as good a stand-up as a compere, and by then the preview blog for our next show should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

He sure did! That was fun! James takes us through an hour of embarrassing recollections, some of which involve sand (ahem), as well as some surprising comic stories from his current and previous relationships (sounds like he was well out of one of them). We can add our cringey reminiscences to the mix too, which is a nice way of involving the audience. He’s got a gently laddish way about him which makes it easy for someone like me to relate to his escapades! Full of laughs – everything you want from an hour’s stand up!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – Brain Matter(s), 23rd August 2016

Posted on by

This is another production that comes under the heading of “Dance, Physical Theatre and Circus”. It’s Brain Matter(s), at Venue 13, Lochend Close, at 18:40 on Tuesday 23rd. Here’s the blurb: “For all of those who have ever questioned: what on earth are they thinking? Watch as the two halves of the brain find their way through the confusion of life and look to answer some big questions along the way. Can we ever really avoid becoming our parents? How do we feel faced with our mortality? And why can we remember the words to a song we heard twice when we were 18, but not where we put our house keys five minutes ago?”

If only we knew the answers to all that! It’s a tall order to get all that sorted in an hour show, so I’ll be interested to see what Fen’harel Theatre make of it all. Check back about 8pm to see if it made sense or all went over our heads and by then the preview blog for our next show should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

A highly inventive dance drama with two dancers, each representing one half of the brain, as their “person” goes through all the stages of life. Quirky soundtrack, great moves and loads of humour create a really satisfying and revealing account of a life. I loved the fact that the male half was emotional and the female was factual – how very much like true life. Great stuff!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – Kevin Dewsbury in Kev’s Komedy Kitchen, 23rd August 2016

Posted on by

For our next show, it looks like it’s going to be stand-up with a twist – Kev’s Komedy Kitchen, at Just the Cask Room @ Just the Tonic at the Mash House, at 15:40 on Tuesday 23rd. Here’s what the website has to say about it: “Seasoned comedian Kevin Dewsbury returns to the Edinburgh Festival to host a new TV cookery show, featuring special guests from the Fringe, exciting recipes and a few surprises. No two shows will be the same! The perfect afternoon Fringe show. Kevin has brought critically acclaimed solo comedy shows to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in the past. Now, with the popularisation of food, he’s here to combine the ingredients of comedy and cookery. There’ll be something to tickle everyone’s taste buds. ‘A real treat of understated deadpan humour’ (ThreeWeeks).”

We’ve seen Kevin Dewsbury perform a few times before and he’s brilliant, both at the stand-up and the compering. This is going to be something a little different, I think; Mrs Chrisparkle and I don’t do cookery programmes any more – not since we gave in to the God of Eating Out – but I don’t think that’s going to matter. Check back about 4.00 to see if it was a fine feast of humour and by then the preview blog for our next show should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

Absolutely brilliant! Beautifully structured disastrous cookery show where everything that can go wrong does. Kookery Kev does his best to make a go of it but who could survive the over enthusiastic floor manager, special guest, celebrity chef and that art house actress! We laughed solidly the whole hour through. One of the funniest shows this year.

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – Kursk, 23rd August 2016

Posted on by

Our first show for Tuesday is Kursk, a hard hitting play about a dreadful event in maritime history, performed by Airlock Theatre (pun intended, I expect), at Bedlam Theatre, Bristo Place, at 13:25 on Tuesday 23rd. Here’s the blurb from the website: “’Captain, contact’s engine noise ceased… she’s on her way down.’ The year 2000. A Russian submarine, the Kursk, explodes in the Barents Sea. Nearby, a British vessel on a secret military mission witnesses its final minutes. The crew must decide whether to blow their cover and go to the survivors’ aid or obey orders and leave them behind. Inspired by true events, Kursk explores the secrecy, camaraderie and hardship of life in the sea’s depths.”

I’ve heard about this play before, when it ran at the Young Vic a few years ago. I’m hoping this will be highly dramatic and be one of those plays you talk a lot about afterwards. Check back about 2.50 to see if it soared or sank without trace and by then the preview blog for our next show should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

A really engrossing play by Bryony Lavery that gives a fascinating insight into what it must be like to spend months in a submarine on top secret work. The balance of seriousness and levity works really well and the cast of five all turn in top quality performances. I loved the strong sense of claustrophobia and also the moral dilemmas that faced Captain and crew. Highly recommended!