The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – The Fabulous Punch and Judy Show, 22nd August 2016

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Here’s a show I really wanted to see last year but just couldn’t fit it into our schedule. It’s the Cafe Debris Company’s production of The Fabulous Punch and Judy Show, on at Attic Two @ The Gilded Balloon at the Counting House, West Nicholson Street, at 21:45 on Monday 22nd. Here’s the blurb: “Forget puppets! The Fabulous Punch and Judy Show is a hysterical, murderous live action romp, so leave your sensitivities at the door and enjoy this wicked adults-only spectacle. Based on the 1832 puppet show by Collier and Cruikshank, The Fabulous Punch and Judy Show is a viciously dark comedy inspired by burlesque, vaudeville and grotesque theatre. This is a no holds barred assault on masculinity and what it means to be a white male.”

Here’s an extract of one review I read: “With elements of Brecht savagely intertwined with Restoration bawdiness this is a surprisingly sophisticated deeply tongue in cheek utterly filthy piece of perfectly timed understated crude, rude and provocative brilliance.” Not quite sure what to expect, but I’m not expecting subtlety. Christine Firkin, Les Asmussen, Jimmi Mercieca and Brent Thorpe will no doubt be performing their socks off for us. Check back about 11.00 to see if we’re still laughing and by then the preview blog for our final show of the day should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

Ok well the first thing to say is this is NOT for the easily offended. It’s possibly not even suitable for the moderately offendable! However, park your inhibitions at the front door, remember that Punch and Judy is, essentially, a murderous psychopathic romp, and add a touch of sexual ambiguity to the whole thing and Bob’s Your Uncle! We thought it was very funny and performed with an inordinate amount of spunk. (You know what I mean). A good many people left before the end, but I’m sure you, gentle reader, will want to see how Mr Punch is an excessively lascivious and disgusting person right to the bitter end. Take a risky chance!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – Partial Nudity, 22nd August 2016

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After a much needed afternoon nap (I hope!) we’ll be out again this evening for our next show, which is Fandango Productions’ Partial Nudity, at Monkey House @ Zoo, 140 The Pleasance, at 19:55 on Monday 22nd. Here’s the website blurb: “A Bolton pub. One stag do. One hen do. Two strippers forced to share a dressing room. For Darren, a local lad, this will be his first full strip. For Nina, an international student at Manchester, it’s just another stag to pay off her student loans. Over the course of this claustrophobic 50-minute drama, these two strangers descend into a territory that leaves the audience feeling as exposed as they are. A Fringe debut for Anglo-American Fandango Productions, this play explores gender and sexual politics and the inequality that affects us all today.”

Fandango Productions are Kate Franz and Joe Layton, and the play is written by Emily Layton. As soon as I read the basis of this play I thought it sounded really fascinating, and I look forward to hearing what it does have to say about sexual politics, exploitation, equality and that sense of exposure. Done well this should be dynamite. Check back about 9.00 this evening to see how it went and by then the preview blog for our next show should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

That’s a perfect little play! Wisdom versus naïveté in a most unlikely setting. Really thought provoking and very funny yet also unsettling. Two excellent performances and an insight into a world most of us will never see. Highly recommended!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – Andy Zaltzman: Plan Z, 22nd August 2016

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First stand up of the day is Andy Zaltzman: Plan Z, at Stand 3 @ The Stand Comedy Club, York Place, at 15:40 on Monday 22nd. This is what the blurb has to say: “The marginally less successful half of global hit satirical podcast The Bugle, performed with John Oliver since 2007, returns to the Fringe to plot his planet’s path to and/or from preservation and/or perdition. In a show encompassing national identity, hope, fear and live action democracy, Zaltzman will address diverse issues such as the past, the present, and the future, body-surfing the unending volcano of confused fury that is modern global politics. ‘A master satirist’ (Time Out). ‘Political comedy at its best’ (Sunday Times).”

This is another complete leap of faith, based on a friend’s recommendation that if you see one Edinburgh Fringe show, this has to be the one. Well, we are nothing if not compliant! Check back about 4.00 to see if we agree and by then the preview blog for our next show should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

Our lovely comedy club in Northampton rarely goes near politics, so to see Andy Zaltzman tackling the dreaded Brexit head on is a dream come true! No political target is out of bounds with his slightly aggressive, slightly geeky approach. Brilliant comedy, served up with confidence and imagination. A perfect recommendation!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – Jumping the Barriers, 22nd August 2016

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Next up is another play, Jumping the Barriers, produced by the Courtyard Players at Space 2 @ The Space on the Mile, High Street, at 13:50 on Monday 22nd. Here’s the blurb: “Jumping the Barriers tells the story of a chance meeting on a train between a young graduate and a homeless man. James seemingly has it all – a good job, a nice flat in London and a girlfriend who loves him. Everything is sorted. And that’s the problem. Nothing exciting ever happens to him. Enter Nathan, a streetwise scouser who is homeless and has just bunked on the train. Their short journey shows us how first impressions can be deceiving, how often we take a lot for granted and that we always have a choice.”

I don’t know much about the Courtyard Players – in fact I don’t know anything. So this show is a complete leap of faith. There was something about it though that said I just had to book! Let’s hope my judgment is good. Check back about 3.00 to see what we thought of it and by then the preview blog for our next show should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

My judgment was sound! This is an engrossing and elegantly written play that takes a couple of what you expect to be stereotypes and switches them around to challenge your prejudices and preconceptions. One train journey can change your life for good! Two superb central performances from Adam J S Smith and Chris Daley. Lovely feel good ending too. Very enjoyable and we’d thoroughly recommend it.

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – Lest We Forget, 22nd August 2016

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Next up I’m hoping for some meaty drama in the form of Aulos’ Productions’ Lest We Forget, at the Studio @ Paradise in Augustines, George IV Bridge, at midday on Monday 22nd. This is how the website describes it: “From award-winning Edinburgh writer James Beagon, one family struggles to reconcile memories of their son with the truth in the aftermath of WWI. When Harry Ashwood died in battle, he was hailed as a hero. Yet his surviving siblings strive to cast off his shadow as they take care of their ageing mother. Meanwhile, Edith relentlessly campaigns against the army for the right to bring her beloved boy home to rest. But is the boy she remembers the same man she lost at the Somme? ‘Breathtakingly ambitious’ **** (FringeGuru.com). ‘Very satisfying’ **** (BroadwayBaby.com). ‘Fascinating’ **** (AllEdinburghTheatre.com).”

This will be the third time we’ve seen an Aulos Production, having really enjoyed First Class in 2014 and Women of the Mourning Fields last year. Once again the play is written and directed by James Beagon and arrives at Edinburgh by way of the Buxton Festival. The cast comprises Sophie Harris, Grace Gilbert, Andrew Weir, Heather Daniel and Rob Younger; and I’m expecting this to give emotional and rewarding insights into the scars left by wartime loss. Check back about 1.15 to see how moving it was and by then the preview blog for our next show should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

Very intense and emotional play that specifically deals with a family coming to terms, not only with their son and brother dying in the First World War but also with the fallout with the Imperial War Graves Commission and the debate over where their final resting place should be. An extremely elegant production, with all five roles immaculately and sensitively performed; thought-provoking and very rewarding. Congratulations to all!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – Shakespeare for Breakfast, 22nd August 2016

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It was actually Mrs Chrisparkle who spotted this little nugget in the schedules, and she didn’t even seem put off by having to get up early to see it. It’s Shakespeare for Breakfast, on at +1 at C Venues – C, Chambers Street, at 10:00 am, on Monday 22nd. Let’s look at the blurb: “The bardic breakfasters are back! C’s sensational Shakespearience returns, for its 25th sell-out year, with free coffee and croissants! A pleasing plethora of pentameter, puns and pastry. Perfect for hardened Bard fans, blank verse virgins or those just after some quality fun over freshly-brewed coffee and freshly-baked coissants. ‘A bouncy and boisterous take on Willie’s work’ (List). ‘Well worth getting out of bed for’ (Independent). ‘No holds Bard’ (FringeGuru.com). ‘Irreverent humour… clever’ (Stage). ‘Side-splitting… glorious’ (BroadwayBaby.com). ‘Full of fun’ (RemoteGoat.com). ‘Sizzling’ (Scottish Daily Express). Free coffee and croissants! Book early.”

If it really has been going for 25 years, and who am I to doubt, it must be doing something right! I believe this year we’re in for a dream of a Dream, so I am expecting a lot of Bottom humour and some very rude mechanicals. Check back around 11.15am to see if the cast of Emily Jane Kerr, Roseanna Connolly, Jonathan Davenport, Laura B Mortermore, and Noah Young were as funny as they sound, and by then the next preview blog should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

That was just the funniest thing! How come we’ve never heard of this before? Five brilliant actors take A Midsummer Night’s Dream and make a totally different play out of it, with so many hilarious cultural references and not a little audience participation. One of the best dishes of Shakespeare ever served. No wonder it’s been going 25 years. If anything is worth getting up for early on a Monday morning – this is it!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – Me, Myself and ISIS, 21st August 2016

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Looking at the shows we could have chosen to end our Sunday, there were a few options but in the end I plumped for Me, Myself and ISIS, performed by the Banana Collective, at T-Bar, Cowgate, at 23:00 on Sunday 21st. Here’s the website blurb: “American cop Frank Law lost his partner two days before retirement. British sketch group Banana Collective lost the plot two days before Edinburgh. But what connects the homoerotic adventures of a 1980s detective with the mental breakdown of bunch of pretentious wannabes? ISIS. Banana Collective may have written an insightful play about the battle between western neoconservatism and religious fundamentalism… or they could be just another sketch group courting controversy with an inflammatory show title. Either way it’s free, so it’s worth a punt, right? Expect themes of solipsism, alcoholism and magnetism.”

Banana Collective are Stoph Demetriou, Daniel Mimms, Dave Tozer and Timmie Blunt – we saw their Who Shot Hitler? a couple of years ago and laughed a lot, so we’re giving them another crack of the whip, so to speak. They promise to take a look at modern culture through their decidedly distorted lens, providing a fresh insight into reality via the medium of total nonsense. If nothing else, they promise free biscuits. Check back shortly after midnight to see if our lenses were aligned and by then the preview blog for our first show on Monday should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

It’s a totally hare-brained hour of surrealist nonsense but it absolutely works! Alongside another ropey episode of Law of the Land (I remember those late night 70s TV series, no cop was ever as good as Frank Law) the Banana lads come together to meet Stoph’s Artistic Vision including Mid-Point Low and Catharsis. I really love how they don’t care how stupid they look on stage (nice thong, Stoph) and running gags like the polite builder and the racist bassist just keep the adrenaline on high. If you saw Who Shot Hitler…. this is funnier! Normally when you see a sketch show at least one of the sketches doesn’t work at all – not in this show. We really loved it all the way through. Free biscuits is a con, mind.

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – The Meeting, 21st August 2016

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Time for another play, and this one sounds like a situation we can all recognise; The Meeting, produced by At Large Theatre Company, at Grassmarket 2@ Sweet Grassmarket, at 21:30 on Sunday 21st. This is how the blurb describes it: “That meeting that we’ve all been to. The one featuring an array of interesting colleagues that make up an office workplace; the crazy one, the grumpy one, the smart-ass one, the eager beaver and the long suffering glue that holds the place together. This piece brings these characters together in a meeting scenario where they can lay all their craziness out on the table. Until it takes a nasty turn and the flip chart gets it!”

Written and directed by Gráinne Curistan, and with a cast comprising: Ann Hogan, Elaine Reynolds, Gillian Fitzgerald, Daniel O’Brien, Kate Feeney, Michael O’Kelly, Brendan Rooney and John O’Rourke. When I told Mrs Chrisparkle what this play was about she shuddered with anticipatory fear. Hopefully there’ll be some shuddering due to laughter too. Check back around 10.30 to see if we’re still shuddering and by then the preview blog for our final show for Sunday should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

It’s been a very long time since I’ve been to a work meeting, but boy did that bring it all back! From the vacuous ditsy one to the up-herself officious one and everything else in between – this is full of excellent observational comedy and the toe curling embarrassment of recognition. I was kinda hoping for a bigger bang at the ending perhaps but it was still great fun and beautifully performed.

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – Luke Kempner: Judi Dench Broke My Heart, 21st August 2016

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Having seen Luke Kempner perform The Only Way is Downton a couple of years ago I am sure we are in for a treat with his latest show, Luke Kempner: Judi Dench Broke My Heart at the 10 Dome @ Pleasance Dome, at 19:00 on Sunday 21st. This apparently is what we can expect: “Impressionist and star of The Only Way Is Downton, Luke Kempner, can’t wait to marry Judi Dench. But has Britain’s most celebrated thespian only been acting like she’s in love? Will they be getting a honeymoon room with a view or is Luke’s sky about to fall? Our hero is joined by a stellar cast of celebrities on a quest in the name of love. As seen on Murder in Successville (BBC Three), Luke Kempner’s Impression of 2015 (ITV2) and Drunk History (Comedy Central). ‘A remarkable tour-de-force’ **** (Telegraph). ‘Gloriously funny’ **** (Independent).”

Mr Kempner is a brilliantly funny performer and has an alarmingly accurate ear when it comes to his impressions. I can’t help but think that Dame Judi will turn him down – but who knows? Check back around 8.15 to see if we need to buy a hat and by then the preview blog for our next show should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

Never sit in the front row…. Yes I ended up being the new Chaser on Luke Kempner’s game show – he said my chaser name had to be alliterative – so meet Chris The Crustacean! And I had to give the world my Judi Dench impersonation… A new career beckons (NOT!) As for the show – it’s brilliant. Luke’s voices and mannerisms are very accurate and effective, and it was a very funny show. I really liked how he kept fighting his inner Les Mis performer (and failing). Absolutely top quality fun!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2016 – The Club, 21st August 2016

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And now for a bit of theatre – although, by the sound of it, not terribly serious theatre. Our next show is The Club, at the Billiard Room @ Gilded Balloon Teviot, at 17:00 on Sunday 21st. Here’s the blurb: “Phoenix Nights meets The Sopranos. One night in London’s legendary 90s club, The Tardis. If you were there you wouldn’t remember anyway… George is facing closure unless he pays the mother of all rent demands. Fortunately, The Tardis is having the party of the year tonight. Only problem is, George is also due money to feared gangster Dave Sharky, who’ll stop at nothing to crash the party and take the club for himself. A new dark comedy from acclaimed Edinburgh writer Ruaraidh Murray. ‘Terrific’ **** (Scotsman). ‘Irresistible’ **** (Herald). ‘Bravura’ **** (Metro). ‘Comedy gold’ **** (Stage).”

I’m looking forward to this a lot because it sounds absolutely hilarious. Quentin Tarantino meets Irvine Welsh apparently. Just hope I can understand the accents! Check back around 6.15 to see if it was as funny as it sounds and by then the preview blog for our next show should be available to read too.

Post-show update:

It had to happen – the first show we’ve seen that we didn’t like. It didn’t help that we had to sit at the back because there’s no rake in the front rows; and also it was very stuffy in there; but we also thought it was quite poorly written, didn’t really hang together (we heard the staff say as we left that it had finished 9 minutes early so maybe they missed a chunk out) and it just seemed very dated and irrelevant. Don’t particularly mind bad language, but it wasn’t very wittily done. Ruaraidh Murray acts in his own play with Mark Farrelly, and their performances are good, but as for the rest of it, ah well, never mind!