Tag Archives: chris sparkle

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2018 – Westminster Hour, 25th August 2018

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Into the home stretch now as we embark upon our last four shows on our last evening in Edinburgh. First up, it’s Westminster Hour at Novotel 1 @ Sweet Novotel at 17:55 on Saturday 25th. Let’s read the blurb: “Fatal consequences in this fast-paced and darkly comedic drama with unexpected twists. On the evening Home Secretary Archie Cornwall celebrates the passing of new, tougher sentencing for convicted paedophiles, a seemingly random shooting in South London leads a former lover to implicate Cornwall in a historic abuse case. But is he too powerful to fall – and who will be silenced to save him? From the writer of the cult play 3000 Trees: The Death of Mr William MacRae.”

Westminster Hour stars Rachel Ogilvy & Andy Paterson. We’ve seen a number of plays based on political intrigue over the last few Edinburgh Fringe seasons and they’ve all been highly entertaining. Check back around 7.15 pm to see if this one was too. By then the next preview blog should be available to read too.

Smart little production, featuring two thoroughly corrupt characters, but you can’t work out how they’re going to resolve the problem till the last minute. Two excellent performances too. Nicely horrible!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2018 – Ben Clover: Crème Brûlée, 25th August 2018

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Our next show stars a comedian whom I saw for the first time last year in one of these various variety-type shows and he really impressed me with his likeable and thoroughly recognisable brand of humour. It’s Ben Clover: Crème Brûlée at The Loft @ Laughing Horse @ The Counting House at 14:45 on Saturday 25th. Here’s the blurb: “A single creme brûlée can change the course of your whole life. Find out how in the latest show from award-winning stand-up Ben Clover. ‘A delight’ (Chortle.co.uk). ‘Comedy gold’ (Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard). ‘Impressive’ (LondonisFunny.com).”

I have no idea how a dessert can change your life but I’m willing to find out! Check back around 4pm to see what it was all about. By then the next preview blog should be available to read too.

Ben’s tale of dessert-based revenge is crammed with jokey observations and has loads of opportunities for very entertaining banter with the audience. He really creates a warm and comfy environment for us all to relax; a small venue which Ben uses to its best advantage. Lots of laughs in this very funny gig!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2018 – Born on a Monday, 25th August 2018

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After what I think will be quite a serious start to the day, I’m hoping for something just a little lighter with our next show. It’s Outside Chance’s production of Born on a Monday at Olive Studio @ Greenside @ Infirmary Street at 12:50 on Saturday 25th. Here’s the blurb: “Button your shirt. Go get a haircut. Saturday’s a great day to die. How do we prepare for life knowing full well that nothing will go according to plan? Based on the classic Solomon Grundy nursery rhyme, born on a Monday is a grimly humorous look at life, death, and all the days in-between. This company-devised piece features new writing, original music and a team of multidisciplinary young artists exploring the moments that make us feel like we’re dead and the moments that make us feel like we’re really alive.”

I wonder how differently we would lead our lives if we knew for definite on which date we’d die. There’d be no hiding place! It’s a scary prospect. Mind you, I’ve no idea if that concept is part of this play! Check back around 2 pm to see what we thought. By then the next preview blog should be available to read too.

Everyone’s dying in this town, so Chris the podcaster tries to investigate, but gets caught up in the weird goings on himself. A delightfully quirky, unpredictable, funny little play, with an engaging and likeable cast.  It really benefited from its uncomplicated staging. I’d be lying if I said I fully understood the plot, but somehow that doesn’t matter!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2018 – Definition of Man, 25th August 2018

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Our first show on Saturday is, I think, going to be an intriguing mix of dance and physical theatre. It’s Definition of Man at 11:25 on Saturday 25th at Mint Studio @ Greenside @ Infirmary Street. Let’s read the blurb: “A sexier, more violent Waiting for Godot, Definition of Man is a physicalised post-apocalyptic decreation myth that won Best in Dance and Physical Theatre and Ripest Show at the 2017 Hollywood Fringe. Drawing from Kenneth Burke’s essay of the same name, the show investigates the human drive to communicate and the inevitable breakdown that results from the inherent incompleteness of language. The one-act show was created by Nikki Muller and Jason Rosario by synthesising personal narratives, academic texts and Russian counterbalancing to explore issues of identity, race, gender performance and communicative breakdown.”

This ought to be first rate – it comes highly recommended – but I’m not entirely sure what to expect. Check back around 12.45pm to see what we thought of it. By then the next preview blog should be available to read too.

The last man and woman left alive in a post apocalyptic world, as interdependent as two chromosomes, in a beautiful, moving, thought-provoking piece. How sad the company chose to destroy it by having an official photographer snap and click all the way through. No matter how delighted you are that you’ve made it to Edinburgh, and how much you want photos to attract future audiences, that disrespects the current audience and is an abominable practice.

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2018 – Margaret Thatcher Queen of Club Nights, 24th August 2018

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On our first trip to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015, the funniest thing we saw was Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho. A year later, and she re-emerged as Queen of Game Shows – not quite so brilliant a show, but still excellent. Now the blessed Margaret is back, in yet another brand new format: Margaret Thatcher Queen of Club Nights. It’s on at the Nightclub @ Gilded Balloon Teviot, at midnight on the night of Friday 24th. Here’ the blurb: “Former PM and cabaret superstar Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho is back… and this time she’s hosting a club night! There’ll be non-stop 80s hits from a non-stop 80s witch as the Iron Lady drops more beats than Theresa May has dropped manifesto pledges. As Corbyn takes his party back to the 70s, Maggie takes hers to the 80s! Featuring dance-offs, lip-sync battles and more, come and join the one female Tory leader who still has public support. You’ll be as Lucky, Lucky, Lucky as Kylie was avoiding marriage to Jason.”

I know this is going to be great, and I’m looking forward to it so much! Maggie will once again be interpreted by Matt Tedford in his delightfully distinguished and patronising style. Check back around 2am – or better still on Saturday morning – to see how much we enjoyed it, and by then the preview blog for our next show should be available to read too.

In the end, this was a very simple format – a fabulous 80s disco, fronted by Maggie together with her two backing dancers, Boris and Jacob. She danced and performed a few of the songs, and there was a “best dancer” competition. We decided to bail out at 2am, but there was another hour of fun and frolics still ahead. If you were expecting a “show” as such, you’d probably be disappointed. But it was a great disco!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2018 – Mr Saxon’s Excellently English Evening of Entertainment, 24th August 2018

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The dreaded Brexit had to raise its ugly head at some point during our Edinburgh week – and I could put it off no longer. Our next show has the rather tongue in cheek title Mr Saxon’s Excellently English Evening of Entertainment at 22:05 on Friday 24th at Space 2 @ TheSpace on the Mile. Let’s check that blurb: “Roll-up. Roll-up. England. A place for Saxons and bubble-people. Where NHS protests start in nightclubs, Michael Gove’s a goblin and we sing The Ballad of the Brexit Lady. Cabaret-style documentary theatre with satirical original music. Acts include The Hermit Freak who avoids the news and The Prophet who predicts Britain’s future. Featuring live original songs: England Is… our alternative national anthem and popular hit The Ballad of the Brexit Lady, with guest appearance from Theresa May in drag. With the clashing personalities of the cabaret performers, what could possibly go wrong?!”

Hopefully this will be telling satire, pinpointing everything that’s ridiculous about our current state of affairs. Check back around 10.15 pm to see how good it was. By then the next preview blog should be available to read too.

This little show has a big heart, in the right place, trying to show the joint disasters of Brexit and a rubbish government trying to make a go of it. With songs that contain verbatim statements from the general public about the overall state of the nation, you can’t fault its veracity. A small audience didn’t help the show to soar, and it feels thoroughly low-key throughout; but, as Browning said, I want the heart to scold.

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2018 – Garry Starr Performs Everything, 24th August 2018

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From one element of clowning to another, our next show also sounds like it’s going to be anarchic fun. It’s Garry Starr Performs Everything at Iron Belly @ Underbelly Cowgate at 20:10 on Friday 24th. Take a look at the blurb: “Disgraced actor Garry Starr is going it alone. Following his dismissal from the Royal Shakespeare Company due to “artistic differences”, he is determined to defy his critics by performing every single genre of theatre in under 60 minutes, thus saving the performing arts from their inevitable extinction. A hilarious new physical comedy about overambition and underachievement from Damien Warren-Smith and director Cal McCrystal. ‘An anarchic play-date with a six-foot-two toddler with a mop of fuzzy hair, no inhibitions and far too much raspberry cordial on board. It’s an exhilarating feeling’ ***** (GlamAdelaide.com.au). **** (Herald Sun).”

I don’t know Damien Warren-Smith or his creation Garry Starr but I’m a huge fan of Cal McCrystal, who directed the fantastic Mr Whatnot in Northampton a few years ago – a show so good we had to go back to watch the next day’s matinee as well. From the hilarious Youtube trailer, it looks like there’s an awful lot of audience participation…! Check back around 9.30 pm to see if we enjoyed it. By then the next preview blog should be available to read too.

A compete blast! Garry Starr is a wonderfully vain and ridiculous comedy character and we have a great time because it’s clear that Damien is enjoying it so much. Yes there is a lot of audience participation but it’s never cruel and it’s always absolutely hilarious. His clowning skills shine through, as does his superb ability to look ridiculous. Extra shows in a larger venue at the end of the week is a great sign of its popularity and thoroughly deserved. Catch this performance, you won’t regret it!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2018 – The Flop, 24th August 2018

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One word – Spymonkey – quickly led me to the conclusion that I had to book for this show – and they’ve confirmed to me that they think it’s fun too! It’s the Hijinx production of The Flop at Main Hall @ Summerhall at 161:55 on Friday 24th. Here’s the blurb: “Paris. 1650-ish. Impotence is illegal. When a member of the aristocracy is accused of being less than upstanding, his wounded pride leads him towards a monumental and very public flop. But can a cast of total idiots save a show about a flop… from being one? The creators of Fringe 2016 hit Meet Fred team up with clown supremos Spymonkey to present an anarchic, slightly rude, hilarious slice of stupidity with live music and unfeasibly large wigs. ‘Sharp, funny and vastly entertaining’ (Lyn Gardner, Meet Fred). ‘The humour here is brilliantly black’ ***** (Herald, Meet Fred).”

This sounds absolutely hilarious, and I expect, very rude. I’m sure the Spymonkey magic will weave its way into this production to great effect. Check back around 6.15 pm to see how funny it was. By then the next preview blog should be available to read too.

That was very good fun, with all the hallmarks of Spymonkey idiocy that you would expect. A very engaging cast throw themselves into it and there’s a nice degree of audience participation. My only slight quibble would be that the script itself could be a little tighter and funnier; the comic business was excellent but sometimes the lines weren’t quite up to it. Still, very enjoyable and silly!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2018 – Heaven Burns, 24th August 2018

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Next up is a quite serious sounding play that I hope will be exciting and stirring. It’s Heaven Burns at Downstairs @ Assembly Roxy at 14:35 on Friday 24th. This is how the blurb describes it: “Morayshire, 1662. Runaway Isobel works for charismatic witch-pricker John Dixon. She worships him, but when he’s accused of falsifying his identity, will she accept that he’s not the man he claims to be… or indeed a man at all? A pitch-black exploration of gender politics and religious fundamentalism. Winner of the Assembly Roxy Theatre (ART) Award.”

This sounds extremely interesting, with a historical slant but taking themes that are relevant today, I’m hoping for a challenging, riveting play. Check back around 4pm to see if we enjoyed it. By then the next preview blog should be available to read too.

Very strong cast perform a tightly-knit dark play, that recreates those gloomy, terrifying witch-hunter days, but with an interesting, gender-switching aspect. Not the most exhilarating show at the Fringe but far from the worst!

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2018 – Spoiler Alert, 24th August 2018

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Next up is an intriguing sounding comedy play that I hope will entertain and challenge a little too. It’s Amidships Theatre Company’s Spoiler Alert, at Ivy Studio @ Greenside @ Infirmary Street, at 11:25, Friday 24th. Let’s read the blurb: “Maddy and Jim’s relationship is having problems. Amazingly, it’s not because Jim has forgotten her name, but because Maddy’s suddenly become prophetic. As she ventures through Prophetics Anonymous and Prophetic Pride, the disheartening futures of her primary school students and a startling discovery about her boss, Jim tries to support her while also trying to remember her name. Winner of Cambridge Footlights’ Harry Porter Prize 2018, Spoiler Alert is an uproarious comedy about juggling your love life with seeing the future. ‘Spoiler alert, you’ll have a really good time’ **** (Varsity.co.uk). ‘Hilarious and thoughtful… subversive, astute’ ****1/2 (TheTab.com).”

This sounds inventive and thoroughly enjoyable, in a surreal, ludicrous way. Check back around 12.45pm to see what we thought. By then the next preview blog should be available to read too.

There’s a germ of a good play in there…. but I’m afraid Spoiler Alert isn’t it. There are more holes in the plot than in a string vest. I also didn’t understand why the proposal changes the course of history… The cast performed over-the-top as if they were in the Albert Hall rather than an Edinburgh studio. Didn’t work for me, I’m afraid.