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The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 12th August 2023

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Have I got a list of shows for today? I sure do!

Here’s the schedule for 12th August:

11.30 – Those Who Can’t Do, Laughing Horse @ The Brass Monkey. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“Ty juggles a double life between being a respectable teacher during the week, and a fun-loving party animal on the weekend. Hiding this from the students is hard. Anecdotes and jokes from Ty’s first few years as a teacher, and the lengths he must go to so that he can hide his personal life antics and budding comedy career from his students.”

Teacher turned stand up is not an uncommon career change! Look forward to seeing it.

13.30 – Santi and Naz, Pleasance Courtyard.

“Best friends Santi and Naz live in pre-partition India. One Sikh, one Muslim, they have little understanding of how religion will divide them. As the political situation in their country worsens and the threat of separation looms large on the horizon, they decide to take drastic action. Award-winning company The Thelmas explore queer love, identity and loyalty, set against the backdrop of a country soon to be changed forever. Winner of the Pleasance’s Charlie Hartill Fund. Praise for Ladykiller (2018): ‘A smash hit’ ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). ‘Superb’ **** (Scotsman).”

As a lover of India, and fascinated by its recent history, I’m sure this will provide a fascinating perspective.

15.10 – Stark Bollock Naked, Assembly Roxy.

“Is the motherhood question bugging you too? An international smash hit about our reproductive shelflife and what (not) to do with those (ageing) eggs. Featuring stunning video mapping, comedy-infused storytelling and a live score of gynaecological instruments, stark bollock naked is a multimedia show with a real naked body and an honest conversation about reproduction, abortion and the biological clock. Game Ovar-ies. ‘Winningly hilarious and visually enthralling’ (FringeBiscuit.co.uk). ‘A satirical homage to eggs. Perfect comic timing’ (Luxembourg Times). VAULT Festival Pick of the Week (Lyn Gardner).”

A title like that doesn’t offer much of a hiding place, but it sounds like it’s going to make lots of serious points. We shall see!

17:35 – The Quality of Mercy: Concerning the Life and Crimes of Dr Harold Frederick Shipman, The Space @ Surgeon’s Hall.

“From his cell in the early hours of the morning, Dr Harold Shipman records a confessional tape as he prepares to end his life. Patiently fashioning a crude noose, he reflects on the choices, compulsions and fascinations that cemented his place as the most prolific serial killer in British history. Exhaustively researched, this multiple award-nominated drama interrogates society’s attitudes towards death, justice and compassion, and is written and performed by Edwin Flay, the grandson of Shipman victim Renee Lacey.”

This is one of those shows that only the Edinburgh Fringe can throw up every so often. The fact that it is performed by a relative of one of Shipman’s victims only adds to the closeness and intimacy of the experience. I expect this to be very hard-hitting indeed.

19.30 – Andrew Frank: Ecstatic Blasphemy, Hill Street Theatre.

“Named one of the Best Undiscovered Comedians in America by Thrillist Magazine, Seattle comedian Andrew Frank delivers a hilarious set about growing up as a pastor’s kid, finding queer joy beyond fundamentalist Christianity, and performing subversive stand-up for more than a decade in America’s Bible Belt. In an hour of rapid-fire jokes, Frank takes aim at the constructs and symbols of evangelical Christianity, re-contextualizing them through the lens of empathy, creativity, and scepticism. Provocative and fiercely vulnerable, Frank creates moments of collective healing and euphoria through the liberating power of laughter.”

I’ve not heard of Andrew Frank before – but he sounds a complete hoot!

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

Edinburgh Fringe 2023 Reviews – The Trials of Galileo, Burned Out, The Great Ruckus, Pitch, Stuntman, and Little Ward of Horrors

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The Trials of Galileo, Greenside @ Infirmary Street.

Galileo sits alone, surrounded by papers and his beloved home-made telescope – x32 magnification would you believe! He puts on a brave face but he is a broken man, as he tells us about his trial by the Inquisition, the falsification of documents to be used against him, and the duplicity of the Pope. Tim Hardy won Best Actor for this performance at last year’s Buxton Fringe and I’m not at all surprised. It’s a fantastic performance, providing us a flowing, natural story-telling that involves us intimately in his plight; aided by a superb text written by Nic Young. It’s fascinating to reflect from today’s perspective that questioning the science of the universe equalled heresy, for which the punishment was severe beyond our comprehension. A gripping story, deftly told. A superb way to start the day!

Burned Out, The Space @ Surgeon’s Hall.

Becky is a hard-working, diligent nurse, who’ll put herself out for anyone. Respected by her colleagues and the local community, she nevertheless doesn’t earn enough for her 60-80 working hours a week to feed her family without having to resort to the local foodbank. When a local business is sold to Lee Woodcock, an entrepreneur, because it can’t make money, he stops its regular contributions to the foodbank; and when Becky discovers there is hardly any food available to her and people like her, she, along with Michael, one of Lee’s disgruntled ex-employees, decide to take the matter into their own hands. There’s no doubt that the play comes from a good place, and has an important story to tell. However, it felt over-ambitious with the number of themes it was trying to handle, and didn’t quite succeed to do any of them justice; and some of the plot developments stretched credulity. The actor who plays Becky is extremely convincing; some of the other acting is a little patchy. I wanted this to be better.

The Great Ruckus, Pleasance Courtyard.

Jo and Ida’s mother has died – and we witness the first few days of their coping with grief. We also meet their wider family and associates, and they’re all a dysfunctional bunch. As they all pull each other apart, the production is accompanied by projections of grotesque caricatures of the people and locations involved. This was a hard watch; not because of the subject matter, but because it is a relentless bombardment of words; there is too much to take in and make sense of it before the story moves on, and, personally, I found it alienating and tiring to follow. It probably doesn’t help that the characters are, on the whole, so unlikeable. I’m sure other people will get more out of this show, but it wasn’t for me.

Pitch, Pleasance Courtyard.

Five players, five goals: to play football, meet new people, get fit, support each other, and go to the pub. Pitch is a celebration of the relationship between football and the queer community – something that’s perhaps even more relevant than ever, following the Qatar World Cup. Kate, Aimee, Clo and Squid encourage new player Bill to join their team – the Muddy Studs – because they’re looking for flesh blood in the midfield. He lacks a bit of confidence but that will come with time. The team is a safe space for queer players, but, even then, they still come up against moments of homophobia that throw them off their tracks. Five very likeable performers play five very engaging and likeable characters; November Theatre are looking to expand and develop the play and take it on tour in 2024. As it stands, it does need that development, because the play is fine as far as it goes – but at the moment it doesn’t go quite far enough. Nevertheless, it’s still an enjoyable and heartwarming show – and there are some fairly nifty football skills on display too!

3-stars

Stuntman, Summerhall.

Well, there’s no denying the commitment and physical strength of these two guys – they must have cores of steel! David and Sadiq pace predatorially around each other in front of blazing lights as they fight, shoot, attack, knife and undertake all other forms of combat with each other with the regular cry of Welcome to Hell Motherf*cker! or something similar. In an exploration of men’s relationship with violence, the show reveals how men can cause each other immense pain and injury (as well as numerous methods of killing) but are also capable of showing tenderness and support to each other. If there is a message to be taken from the show it’s that there is always an alternative to violence, no matter what the problem may be. It’s an arresting hour of entertainment, and David Banks and Sadiq Ali hardly ever stay still for more than a second or two, and whatever they do, they do compellingly and with precision skill. I do hope they have access to good shower facilities after the show!

4-stars

Little Ward of Horrors, The Space @ Surgeon’s Hall.

Performed by medical students from St. George’s Tooting, Little Ward of Horrors is a medical sketch show, and, like most sketch shows, is a bit of a hit and miss affair. Unfortunately, the misses do rather drastically outweigh the hits, and, when the directors of the show came on stage at the end and said the cast only had a week to write and rehearse the whole thing, because of the pressure of their studies, I’m afraid it shows. No wish to be cruel, but there are thousands of great shows out there on the Fringe vying for your ticket money, and I don’t think you get your bang for your buck here. With about five of the twenty-five or so sketches making me laugh, that equals a 20% success rate, which explains my star rating.

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 11th August 2023

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Have I got a list of shows for today? I sure do!

Here’s the schedule for 11th August:

12.00 – Raising Kane, Assembly George Square Studios. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“In 1941 a precocious young upstart of New York’s glittering theatre scene tried his hand at making a movie and accidentally created the greatest motion picture of all time. His name was Orson Welles. Fake Escape Artistic Director, David Shopland, returns to the stage after more than a decade to portray one of the most unique personalities in Hollywood history. Triumphs, tragedies and the truth are twisted upside down until fact and fantasy inevitably collide. Presented in glorious black and white! A Masterpiece. ***** (WestEndWilma.com, for Fake Escape’s Saving Britney).”

The story of the creation of Citizen Kane, then, I presume. Should be fascinating!

13.30 – Dough, Pleasance Dome.

“A fast-paced darkly comic drama from internationally acclaimed Moliere award-winner, David Lescot. Exploring a lifetime through one person’s daily interactions with money, three actors portray forty characters, examining the transactions we engage in to build a life. ‘You can’t keep accumulating all the time, you see… You can’t always be gaining, earning, winning; you need to lose as well. We need loss.’ Written and directed by Lescot – associate artist of renowned Théâtre de la Ville in Paris – who makes his Edinburgh Fringe debut. ‘Mesmerising, nearly perfect’ (StageBuddy.com). ‘A swift, humorous and sometimes bittersweet tale’ (ManhattanDigest.com).”

I don’t know the works of David Lescot, but if the reviews are to be believed, this will be a first-rate play, so I’m looking forward to it.

15.40 – Nobody’s Talking About Jamie, Underbelly Cowgate.

“After Jamie’s dumped, spin instructor Lily takes him in and he spends five years learning how to move forward, on a bike that doesn’t move. But what do you do when a friend breaks up with you? Celebrating the dizzying romance and heartbreaking tragedy of friendship, Jamie Finn blends storytelling, comedy and original music as he explores the chaotic wilderness of platonic love and searches for someone who will finally talk about Jamie! ‘Jamie Finn will make you feel better… fresh and funny’ (Michael Palin). BBC Comedy Awards Regional finalist, 2021. Musical Comedy Award finalist, 2019/2020.”

To be honest, I laughed out loud at seeing the title. This sounds like a wholesomely good hour of musical comedy.

17.20 – The Way Way Deep, Underbelly Cowgate.

“Following the award-winning, sell-out festival hits, The Man and Colossal, Patrick McPherson’s new play The Way Way Deep debuts in Edinburgh. Blending bold storytelling, spoken word and original music, McPherson brings his inimitable style to a new piece that follows the ecstasy and chaos of a twenty-year friendship. Moving from beautifully nostalgic to bitingly poignant, The Way Way Deep delivers an hour of unforgettable theatre. Previous acclaim: ***** (Scotsman). ***** (List). ***** (TheatreWeekly.com). Winner – Best Show, Edinburgh Fringe 2002, Theatre Weekly. Winner – Best Theatre Show, Perth Fringe 2023.”

Patrick McPherson is back again, this time with a solo show that I have every expectation will be simply sensational.

19.25 – Richard Cobb: Couple’s Massage, Laughing Horse @ City Cafe.

“In October 2022, Richard Cobb was on honeymoon in Cuba. The weather was fabulous, the all-inclusive drinks were flowing and the food was… fine. He was having a lovely time with his lovely wife. Then he went for a massage and got distracted for an hour and all hell broke loose in his mind. In this show he’ll explain why. The debut show from Scottish stand-up/author/guy that will literally try anything to be famous, Richard Cobb. It’s basically about love, doubt, guilt, family holidays, football, near-death experiences and pugs. Oh, and it’s got a happy ending.”

We once had a cringe-inducing couples’ massage in India – I have to listen to Richard Cobb tell the story of his escapade in order not to feel too bad about our own!

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

 

Edinburgh Fringe 2023 Reviews – Yoga with Jillian – A New Comedy, Nuclear Children, Unforgettable Girl, Almost Adult and Joe White: Ethiopian and Still Not Hungry

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Yoga with Jillian – A New Comedy, Pleasance Courtyard.

A play with a difference, as Jillian invites members of the audience to join her on stage for a yoga class, whilst the rest of us sit cowardly in our seats to watch the fun. Jillian has had a tough time over the past few years – Covid hasn’t been kind to her, nor have her attempts to become a yoga teacher after years as a lawyer. But she’s a survivor, and River has given her a few slots at the studio to see if she can make her mark with a mat and a few asanas. If you’ve ever been to a yoga class you’ll recognise all that chakra stuff, and you’ll also know – unlike Jillian – that when the body goes OUCH you don’t blast through the pain barrier… Michole Biancosino invests Jillian with a wonderful blend of hearty encouragement and bitter resentment, and Lia Romeo’s play is beautifully structured and written, surprisingly realistic – and also very, very funny! And you don’t need to be a yoga freak to enjoy it!

Nuclear Children, Pleasance Courtyard.

The story of Isla, an English literature student, who has hallucinations and intrusive thoughts – no doubt made worse by her father’s death in a submarine accident. It hasn’t helped her mother either, nor her grandmother; no wonder her brother is travelling the world to escape it all. Ezra England gives an amazing performance as Isla in this terrific play, which they have also written and imbued with dark humour and unsentimental precision. An exploration of Isla’s life trying to contend with the worsening world around her, and her mental condition, it’s also a very effective examination of the struggles within a family when no one knows quite how to handle grief. The play is packed with devlilishly wicked observations which helps us to understand what Isla, her flatmate, her boyfriend and her family are really like. Punchy, profound and very very funny.

Unforgettable Girl, Pleasance Courtyard.

Every so often a show comes along that is almost completely uncategorizable. The Fringe website describes this as a dark comedy but that only tells part of the tale. Unforgettable Girl is the brainchild of writer and performer Elisabeth Gunawan, and came about as a response to her never being on the right side of “white”; she was always subject to “Asian Othering”. But the show also exposes the grim realities of the Thai Mail Order Bride industry. I’ve known of at least two men who have married Thai Mail Order Brides, and I wasn’t aware that it was simply a front for human trafficking, more fool me. Split into three parts, the first is a funny, albeit challenging, introduction to an apparently willing young woman eager to do anything to please you. The second – an interlude – is a side reflection by an Asian woman who identifies as white and pities/ridicules anyone not like her. She challenges white members of the audience to explain what it is about being white that they like – #awkward. The final part is a harrowing examination of the reality of people trafficking. If the show aims to bring the horrors of the trade to our attention, it works. However, no matter how laudable the aims of the show might be, it is at times excruciatingly painful to watch, and implies a complicity from the largely white, middle-class Edinburgh audience in this appalling practice. It feels overlong, a little repetitive, and I felt that its ideas are stretched. I was definitely challenged – which is a Very Good Thing – and I also felt very uncomfortable, which is, maybe, questionable. In any event, it certainly leaves you with masses to think about.

3-stars

Almost Adult, Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose.

Hope has grown too big for her dull home town of Macclesfield and seeks the bright lights of a flat share in London. After a few days of doing the tourist thing – including buying the all-important London Underground T-shirt and socks, she applies for a job working at Dino-World; starting off by cleaning the toilets (obvs) but then progressing to dancing in the windows and bar work. It’s long, hard, zero hours work, but she doesn’t mind. Her boss Daz is a bit of a knob, but she thinks she can cope with him; and anyway, he’s arranging for a team-building night out, free bar all night, what could possibly go wrong? Written and performed by Charlotte Anne-Tilley, her very realistic and entertainingly written play is based strongly on Hope’s open kind-hearted nature, and it’s a relatively gentle amble through “office” politics and sexual misconduct. She portrays Hope as a hugely likeable character, and it pains you to watch her being easily manipulated by colleagues and flatmate alike. Fortunately – there’s a happy ending! An all too predictable story about an ordinary young woman who doesn’t suspect the ulterior motives of bad people – and thus it’s very relatable and recognisable. Engaging and enjoyable, and extremely well presented.

3-stars

Joe White: Ethiopian and Still Not Hungry, Gilded Balloon Teviot.

It’s always fascinating to see a comedian who’s a complete unknown here in the UK but has a big reputation at home – and Joe White fills that bill. Originally of Ethiopian heritage, he lived in a refugee camp in Sudan until his mother somehow managed to bring him and his five siblings to safety in Australia. As a result, a lot of his material is based on contrasting comparisons of Ethiopian and Australian culture, and encouraging and coaxing his mother to say the right words in the right way so as to fit in with her new environment. He has a very laid back, gentle style, likes to spend a lot of the show getting to know the audience in a warm, unconfrontational manner, and the show is a feelgood, supportive hour or so. Nothing too challenging, nothing too risque, nothing too in-your-face. Just kind, good-humoured comedy.

3-stars

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 10th August 2023

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Have I got a list of shows for today? I sure do!

Here’s the schedule for 10th August:

10.15 – The Trials of Galileo, Greenside @ Infirmary Street. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“In 1634, Galileo is ordered to stand trial for heresy. Galileo never understood his differences with the Church were not about reason, logic, and scientific fact. They were about politics. When he finally came to realise this, it was too late. Written by Nic Young, Hardy has toured the Trials of Galileo throughout the UK, America, Malta, and Spain and had a sold-out run at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe. Winner of the Best Actor Award, Buxton Fringe 2022. ‘The superb Tim Hardy triumphs as Galileo. His acting is outstanding in a spellbinding story…’ ***** (EdFringeReview.com).”

Having seen the promotional video for this play, it looks as though Tim Hardy delivers a brilliant performance, so I am very much looking forward to starting the day with this production!

11.50 – Burned Out, The Space @ Surgeon’s Hall.

“Burned Out follows a nurse who is barely making ends meet. When the food bank she has been relying on to feed her family loses its main benefactor, Becky makes it her mission to find who is responsible. Selflessness prevails in the end, proving our NHS is more than worth fighting for.”

Very much a story for our times, I shall be very interested to see this examination of the problems facing our nurses – and I’m expecting a tough watch!

14.00 – The Great Ruckus, Pleasance Courtyard.

“Two sisters have to navigate their way through their mother’s funeral and quickly find the warm embrace of their family turns into a seething snake-pit of selfish and self-absorbed relatives. Grandparents argue over whether the funeral reception will be a celebration of Marks and Spencer catering packs or a piece of Victorian Gothic tragedy. Jo and Ida dutifully march to death’s drumbeat, only to tumble as their delicate relationship cracks under the pressure. Izzy Tennyson, writer of award-winning ‘Brute’ and critically acclaimed ‘Grotty’, returns with Etch Theatre with this wickedly dark play about people behaving badly.”

That sounds like a jolly family drama! Plenty there for most people to recognise at least a little of what goes on in family circles. Should be entertaining!

15.45 – Pitch, Pleasance Courtyard.

“A bold, joyful, goal-scoring exploration of the relationship between football and the queer community. In the wake of the Qatar World Cup and in the midst of the 2023 Women’s Tournament, Pitch blends documentary storytelling and theatre, investigating what it means to watch, play and love the beautiful game. November Theatre (one of The Stage’s Top Picks of the Fringe, 2022) imagines a future in which queer representation in football is more than just a debate over a rainbow armband. Expect a hat-trick of true stories, dirty tactics and dancing! Winner of the Pleasance’s Charlie Hartill Fund.”

Looking forward to a hard-hitting examination of homophobia in football and how to boot it out.

17.50 – Stuntman, Summerhall.

“An intensely physical, funny, and tender duet by two men wrestling with their relationship to violence – both onscreen and off. Fusing the Pow! Biff! and Wallop! of over-the-top stunt fights with personal stories of real encounters with violence from the performers’ lives, Stuntman explores the relationship between violence and masculinity and the impact this has on our perceptions of men. A show for anyone who has ever enjoyed a violent action movie (but felt a bit weird about it). ‘A thoroughly exhilarating 60 minutes that certainly pulls no punches’ ***** (TheRecs.co.uk). MadeInScotlandShowcase.com”

Important subject matter, and I’m intrigued by how it will be portrayed via dance and physical theatre – should be good!

19.45 – Little Ward of Horrors, The Space @ Surgeon’s Hall.

“The Malignant Humours have returned to the Fringe yet again! With 10 sell-out shows under our belts and multiple five-star reviews, you’re going to want to Seymour of us. The Little Ward of Horrors is a medical comedy sketch show that will have you in stitches! And if you’re feeling a bit under the weather yourself, don’t worry – our cast, made up of healthcare students, are certified to perform emergency laughter-inducing procedures. So come down to the Surgeon’s Hall, plant yourself in a seat and enjoy 45 minutes of award-winning sketch comedy.”

Hopefully this will provide a comic antidote to the hard-hitting Burned Out that we saw this morning. Carry On Doctor for the 21st Century? Although I suspect there’ll be a more than a dash of Little Shop of Horrors in the mix too!

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

Edinburgh Fringe 2023 Reviews – Things to do in Mull, The Academy Trust, Bitter Lemons, Vanya is Alive, Adam Kay: Undoctored – This is Going to Hurt… More, and Sophie’s Surprise 29th

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Things To Do in Mull, The Space on the Mile.

Donna Soto-Morettini’s play is loosely inspired by Gogol’s Diary of a Madman – and I must say I didn’t get the reference until I realised that our hero Janusz learns the background information on a girl he fancies by talking to the dog, Jasper. Janusz’ problem is not unique to him and nearly everyone has it to an extent – being addicted to social media and online scrolling. So he resolves to get rid of all his devices and spend some time alone on the island of Mull, researching Polish history for his thesis. It’s a nice idea, and Robert Litwin is excellent in the role of Janusz. It is, however, a rather slight play – one feels it could have been a little bolder and gone a little further, and at barely forty minutes there’s not that much opportunity to delve into Janusz’ character too deeply. An enjoyable start to the day though.

3-stars

The Academy Trust, The Space at Surgeon’s Hall.

Welcome to the Academy Trust, formed from the merger of a primary school and a secondary school – and two headteachers vying for the same job. As a result they devise ways of scuppering the other one’s chances and making themselves look good by getting individual teachers on their side. Very cleverly written and performed by two actual genuine teachers, it gives a comical insight into the horrors of being a modern teacher, including managing the dreaded Ofsted visit. Loved the fact that the Academy is sponsored by Ladbrokes, and there are numerous references to the staff being encouraged to gamble. Very funny, very tongue in cheek – although you also recognise that there is more than a grain of truth in it all!

4-stars

Bitter Lemons, Pleasance Courtyard.

The two contrasting stories of a footballer and a banker – both facing an important crunch time in their career development, and, perhaps surprisingly, both women. As they interweave their separate stories you notice a few similarities between the two very different people. Then comes the event that unites them; they both discover that they are unexpectedly, and unintentionally, pregnant. How do they balance this discovery with the important stages in their careers? Well written, crisply staged, and with two excellent performances from Shannon Hayes and Chanel Waddock. The acting and the writing grip your attention throughout. A strong production, and highly recommended.

4-stars

Vanya is Alive, The Space at Symposium Hall.

Given the awful events in Ukraine and the destroyed families on both sides of the war, this play tells a bold and important story, as a mother hears news about her soldier son. Never having had the unfortunate experience of living under an authoritarian regime, I confess it took me a long time to understand the “trick” of this play; and even after I had started to understand its very particular form of doublespeak, it still didn’t fully make sense until after it was finished and I had time to reflect. Acted sparsely and relatively unemotionally by one actor, Nikolay Mulakov, I felt it was a shame that it didn’t have a more dramatic or dynamic performance – the recital nature of the delivery of the text felt laboured and reserved. Maybe that was the point? But the result was that something that should have felt powerful and significant came across as slightly underwhelming and understated.

3-stars

Adam Kay: Undoctored – This is Going to Hurt… More, Pleasance Courtyard.

Not having seen Adam Kay before, I wasn’t entirely certain what to expect from his show. I didn’t think it would be “stand-up”; and indeed it wasn’t. Instead he reads passages (presumably from his new book) that illustrate various funny and agonising events from his medical career and beyond. Some of them are excruciatingly funny, others are painfully sad. There are also a few comedy songs, but you wouldn’t exactly call Adam Kay the medical Tom Lehrer. In a real-life dramatic turn of events there was a medical emergency at the back of the audience and Mr Kay was the first to bound up the steps to see what he could do to help. An entertaining and provocative hour, but it’s probably equally entertaining to read his book at home.

3-stars

Sophie’s Surprise 29th, Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows.

Three Legged Race Productions’ debut act at the Fringe is an enormously fun circus cabaret show with some fantastic balancing and aerial acts, a comedy unicyclist, and, as a running thread through the show, it’s Sophie’s birthday too – Sophie being a random young lady picked from the audience who ends up playing quite a significant part in the show! It’s all done in very good humour, and there’s a sensational roller skate act that looks absolutely terrifying and is definitely the highlight of the hour. A truly excellent example of this kind of show.

 

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 9th August 2023

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What’s on the list of shows for today? I’ll tell you!

Here’s the schedule for 9th August:

12.00 – Yoga with Jillian – A New Comedy, Pleasance Courtyard. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“’Such a discovery is playwright Lia Romeo’ ***** (TheaterMania.com). A new screwball comedy about how Gwyneth Paltrow, guru culture, green juice and your best downward-facing dog can save us all! Brought to your yoga mat direct from its sell-out Off-Broadway season by the team behind laugh-out-loud Edinburgh smash-hit Trump Lear and one of the most exciting new US writers. ‘This play is VERY funny’ ***** (NPR). ‘The laughs come hard and fast and the audience adore it’ (ITV News on Trump Lear). ‘A gem, a brilliant gem!’ (TheatreThoughtsAus.online on Trump Lear).

Trump Lear was great, so let’s hope this is too! We did our first ever yoga lessons in Edinburgh, so it’s only appropriate that we should pay homage to that fact by seeing this show.

14.05 – Nuclear Children, Pleasance Courtyard.

“Winner of the 2021 Platform Presents Playwright’s Prize. Nuclear Children, written by Ezra England, directed by Seán Linnen, is a dark comedy about mental health, a submarine accident and a melon. Following the death of her father Isla is struggling to cope; plagued with intrusive thoughts and her deteriorating mental health, she runs away to university in the hope of staying sane. As Isla finally begins to find her feet, her world, quite literally, stops making sense. Jenna Coleman says of the play, ‘A stunningly gifted writer who chimed straight into my heart with such a startling debut’.”

Plays that enlighten us all on the nature of mental health are always welcome, so I’m hoping this will be a helpful addition to the genre.

15.40 – Unforgettable Girl, Pleasance Courtyard.

“Money can’t buy love, but £19.99/month can get you a mail-order bride directly from the wasteland of Asian stereotypes. Follow her journey as she strives to become unforgettable, but what lies beneath her shiny surface? And how is she forced to transform, destroy and rebuild herself in order to survive? An irreverent, no-holds-barred, bouffonesque myth about the violence our culture inflicts on bodies of colour. Winner of the Pleasance’s Charlie Hartill Fund, Best Show (Offies, 2021) and Best Performer in a Play (The Stage Debut Awards, 2022). ‘A stand-out show’ ***** (Stage). ‘Beautiful’ **** (BroadwayBaby.com).”

Another play that sounds like it will tell a vital story, hope it’s a success!

19.00 – Almost Adult, Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose.

“Hope’s leaving her hometown up north for the bright lights of London. It’s going to be mind-blowing. Attractive Hinge dates. Mature new friends. A job at a dinosaur-themed bar. Hell. Yes. Okay, her manager’s a creep. And her housemate seems to hate her… But we don’t need to talk about that. With a hilariously naïve protagonist, ‘blisteringly funny’ (Indiependent.co.uk) Almost Adult combines quick-witted character comedy with touching vulnerability. That’s right, Charlotte Anne-Tilley (Winner of Everything Theatre’s Award for Ingenuity and 4theatre’s Best Debut Performance) is returning to Gilded Balloon for 2023. ***** (@TheatreAndOtherThingsLDN, Instagram).”

This sounds like a relatively straightforward modern comedy designed to make you laugh, and that’s always a good idea!

21.00 – Joe White: Ethiopian and Still Not Hungry, Gilded Balloon Teviot.

“Winner of Best Comedy Weekly Award four years in a row at Fringe World, and Perth Critics Choice award, Joe was also selected as one of the top six comedy shows to watch with American superstar Chris Rock as number one. With a slew of awards and achievements under his belt such as Australia’s Got Talent, ABC TV, radio, articles, billboards, Just For laughs ComedyPro Conference, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sydney Comedy Festival, Adelaide Fringe. He has also appeared in the world-famous New York Times. ***** (WAF).”

Joe White is a brand new name to me but what an accolade-strewn pedigree he brings with him! Hopefully he will be a great laugh.

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

Edinburgh Fringe 2023 Reviews – Alan Turing – A Musical Biography, Alison Skilbeck’s Uncommon Ground, Gertrude Lawrence: A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening, Rahul Somia: Find Me a Wife, Pear: but Braver, and Ay Up, Hitler!

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Alan Turing – A Musical Biography, Paradise in Augustines.

Alan Turing is central to two of the most extraordinary events of the twentieth century. He was the hero who cracked the Enigma code and laid the ground for so much technological advancement. And despite this extraordinary achievement, he was also the victim of one of the most idiotic and cruel laws of our past, the criminalisation of homosexuality, for which he was chemically castrated and subsequently took his own life. Joel Goodman and Jan Osborne’s Alan Turing – A Musical Biography tells his story from childhood to death, by way of his successes at Cambridge and Bletchley Park, alongside the story of Andrea, who has written his biography and is up for a literary award as a result. The show captures your imagination and attention right from the start, and the music and the book dovetail nicely so that each song or musical segment progresses the story well. The character of Andrea is fictional, and if I have a criticism it is that her story is given almost equal weight to his, although his is a much more vital and essential story to understand. But the show brings the savagery of the state’s punishment of this hero into sharp focus and makes you wonder how it could ever have happened. Recommended!

4-stars

Alison Skilbeck’s Uncommon Ground, Assembly Rooms.

It’s always a priority to see Alison Skilbeck whenever she has a show at the Edinburgh Fringe, and this year is no exception. The Uncommon Ground in question is an open space where dogs are walked and children play, and people with seemingly nothing in common cross each other’s paths just slightly, but there is always a link. Set around the time of the Covid pandemic, Ms Skilbeck plays seven characters, all of whom have an association with the Ground, in a highly enjoyable, beautifully written series of monologues. Funny, moving, and a fascinating insight into how others see us.

4-stars

Gertrude Lawrence: A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening, Assembly Rooms.

I was brought up with the songs of Gertrude Lawrence as my mother dandled me on her knee (well, not quite, but you get the picture). I had read the stories about Gertrude and Noel Coward being friends from a very early age, and her very working-class upbringing; then we had a family outing to see the Julie Andrews film Star!, all about Gertie – and her songs have been part of my life ever since. So I was looking forward enormously to seeing this show… and I wasn’t disappointed at all! Lucy Stevens gives a tremendous performance as the grande dame, socking out a fantastic selection of songs, accompanied by Elizabeth Marcus at the piano, and telling Gertie’s story from the back streets of Clapham, through huge success with Andre Charlot, disastrous bankruptcy and several gentlemen friends and husbands. And Noel Coward! Beautifully structured and charmingly portrayed; plus also very informative – I had forgotten how her final years were synonymous with The King and I – although I was surprised that there was no mention of Coward’s Nymph Errant, my favourite Gertrude Lawrence score. But that was more than made up for by the inclusion of terrific rarely heard songs like Parisian Pierrot and The Saga of Jenny. The audience loved it – and so did we. Top class entertainment!

Rahul Somia: Find Me a Wife, Hootenannies @ The Apex.

Rahul Somia is a likeable young man with an excellent idea for a comedy gig – that, as a member of an Indian family, he’s in want of a wife because his parents haven’t got around to arranging a marriage for him yet, and they should get a move on. Sadly, he doesn’t actually follow through with this concept and just tells us about his life as a schoolteacher and a few unsuccessful dating experiences – and I’m afraid there isn’t much to laugh at with that material. His punchlines are fairly weak and not very well delivered; it isn’t advertised as a Work in Progress show, but you’d think it was very much at an early stage of development, with him constantly reading off notes written on the floor. A lot of work needed, I fear.

Pear: But Braver, Underbelly Cowgate.

Yes it’s the return of the McPherson twins, Patrick and Hugo – and if you saw Pear last year, you’ll be delighted to hear again the pleasing refrain of Are There Twins in the Audience, uh oh, uh oh, Are there any Twins in… Pretty similarly structured to last year, it’s another series of madcap sketches that plays a lot on their brotherly relationship, their identities and privilege, helped out by some excellent fun contributions from members of the audience. To be honest, I don’t think this year’s show is quite up to the same standard as last year – but that still means it’s very funny indeed.

4-stars

Ay Up, Hitler! The Space @ Surgeon’s Hall.

So you thought Hitler died at the end of World War Two? Supposing he had secretly relocated to Yorkshire and was biding his time for a big return? Gamma Ray Theatre’s Ay Up Hitler is not for the squeamish, and there are many moments during the show when you think to yourself – is it really ok to watch a play like this, and maybe (even) find it funny? And if you do see it, and you do hate every minute of it, you have my sympathy. However, that said, I believe that David McCulloch has written a superbly clever piece that holds a mirror up to today’s electorate and shows how the fun four of Hitler, Goering, Goebbels and Himmler have led the way to a situation where the Brits are duped into voting for Johnson and the Americans into voting for Trump. This Hitler is a lovable rogue in comparison! There are some harrowingly awful jokes, but, boy, do they make their point. I can’t say I enjoyed this play – but I think it’s an important and highly relevant one. Be careful who you vote for next time.

4-stars

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 8th August 2023

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Have we a plan of shows to see today? You bet we do!

Here’s the schedule for 8th August:

11.20 – Things To Do in Mull, The Space on the Mile. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“Janusz is embarking on a trip to Mull, where he hopes to leave behind all his distractions. A would-be historian of 17th century Poland, Janusz needs to get away from WhatsApp, TikTok and his mother. So the trip is planned! The train is booked! And then… he meets a girl. Seeking advice from Jasper the dog and Dima the cat, Janusz sets forth to change his life forever. But can he get Dima’s support? Will Jasper approve his doctoral subject? And will he ever grab a coffee with the girl?”

This is co-produced by New Celts, a company whose work I always enjoy, so that alone makes this worth the ticket. Let’s hope it’s good!

12.45 – The Academy Trust, The Space at Surgeon’s Hall.

“Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the school gates? Why do people become teachers and then leave so soon? With schools being asked to become multi-academy trusts, the school working world is becoming very different. Come and see the hilarious, unbelievable and simply sublime situations this group of teachers get themselves into in The Academy Trust – a satirical comedy written and performed by teachers. Featuring hilarious, unbelievable and simply sublime initiatives that are so outrageous they’ll probably be in the next Conservative manifesto!”

Edinburgh Fringe plays that are based on teaching are often really funny – and sometimes a bit lame. Let’s hope this is in the former category!

14.20 – Bitter Lemons, Pleasance Courtyard.

“In the pressurised worlds of football and finance, two women carve their own path. After the loss of her dad, a goalkeeper prepares for the league final, while an ambitious banker battles her fears of being tokenised to secure a promotion. But as their pitches get closer, worlds collide as life shifts unexpectedly and in parallel. How do you face your biggest challenge yet? Winner of a Pleasance Edinburgh National Partnership Award and supported by Bristol Old Vic, Bitter Lemons is an explosive debut play tackling the pressures on women’s bodies and the power society holds over them.”

This sounds like good, meaty drama that will be right up my street – modern and relevant and very thought-provoking.

16.10 – Vanya is Alive, Space at Symposium Hall.

“A powerful new play from today’s Russia brought to the Fringe by artists in exile due to their anti-war position. A mother of a mobilised Russian soldier plunges into the abyss as she struggles to comb through state propaganda and lies. Where lie the limits of personal responsibility? Can an individual stand up against the system? Echoing the actual political situation in Russia, this dark tale reflects on the price of truth and freedom with a touch of absurdity and disarming sincerity. A look at the country grappling with the reality of war and repressions.”

This was a last minute change of mind – the play looks so important and it clearly has a vital tale to tell that it was a no-brainer that we had to see it. I think it will be a very difficult watch – but it’s the kind of thing to which we have to bear witness.

19.30 – Adam Kay: Undoctored – This is Going to Hurt… More, Pleasance Courtyard.

“The nation’s twelfth-favourite doctor returns for his first month at the Fringe since 2016. This is Going to Hurt was a literary sensation, selling three million copies and becoming a multi award-winning series. Undoctored continues from This is Going to Hurt, leaving audiences laughing and crying with Adam’s tales of life on and off the wards. It also contains some favourites from This is Going to Hurt, because people ask for refunds if they don’t get the degloving story. ‘Adam Kay has done it again, the talented c*nt’ (Charlie Brooker).”

Is there anyone in the country who isn’t a fan of Adam Kay? We still haven’t seen him live, so this is the perfect opportunity to put that right!

21.45 – Sophie’s Surprise 29th, Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows.

“Sophie is turning 29 and we’re celebrating. Imagine if The Spice Girls never broke up, Cirque du Soleil had sunstroke and No. 10 had actually known how to throw a party. This interactive circus and cabaret show is stumbling into Circus Hub with its Fringe debut, featuring world-leading performers from Cirque du Soleil, Britain’s Got Talent, Gogglebox and more. Expect Twilight fan fiction, unicycling drug dealers, and death defying feats. Put on your acid wash jeans and halter tops. Party starts at 9.45pm sharp, but remember – don’t tell Sophie.”

This sounds like a mash-up of circus elements, so hopefully there will be something entertaining in there!

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

Edinburgh Fringe 2023 Reviews – Chasing Butterflies, The Ice Hole: A Cardboard Comedy, Släpstick: Schërzo, News Revue, Lovefool, and Weathervanes

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Chasing Butterflies, Pleasance Dome.

I thought I’d be starting the day with a true crime story but this is in fact a work of pure fiction. Will Detective Richards unmask the serial killer known as the Butterfly Butcher, who terrorised Whitechapel in 1985? There’s no doubt that he’s certain he’ll crack the crime – but what is his unique insight? It’s about ten minutes into the play when you realise that All Is Not How It Seems – and this intriguing play asks more questions than it answers. So much so that, at the end, the audience is completely baffled as to the exact nature of the crime and the identity of the perpetrator. Well written and performed, but you might find yourself frustrated by the inconclusive nature of the ending.

3-stars

The Ice Hole: A Cardboard Comedy, Pleasance Courtyard.

For originality, you have to take your hat off to this production for its sheer inventiveness and ability to recreate vast all-encompassing scenes both on land and at sea, simply by using bits of cardboard with writing on them. It’s a very clever idea, and the execution of the performance is fantastic. However, there were aspects to this production that I didn’t like at all. One of the characters spends the entire show talking in a made-up gobbledygook language and it irritated the hell out of me! I wished he’d either have talked in English or stayed silent – either would have worked better. And at something around an hour and fifteen minutes it felt way too long and became dull and repetitive. There’s also a reference to drowning migrants that really kills the vibe and mutes the laughter for the final five minutes. However, I have to say, I’m in the minority as the majority of the audience adored it and was swept up into a very enthusiastic standing ovation at the end. Skilful, and there are a few laugh out loud moments but, on the whole, for me, not particularly enjoyable.

3-stars

Släpstick: Schërzo, Pleasance Courtyard.

I love classical music; and I love it when people make fun of classical music. Remember Victor Borge? He was sensational. So I had high hopes that I would adore this show; but it left me completely cold. It starts promisingly, with a good opening number and then a very accomplished task of playing over twenty tunes in the space of a minute – great stuff. There’s also a delightful rendition of Rhapsody in Blue. But then it gets incredibly self-indulgent, and I just got the feeling all the way through that the cast were trying too hard. There’s a scene where they all start whacking each other over the head with violins or whatever instrument comes to hand – I believe it was an homage to the Laurel and Hardy/Buster Keaton era but for that to work you have to establish empathy with the characters involved first, and I fear they didn’t do it – so it just looked to me like laughing at violence. Not for me, I’m afraid.

NewsRevue, Pleasance Courtyard.

I’m hugely fond of political satire so I was looking forward to seeing what this group of likeable performers would do with the current crop of news headlines. It’s an entertaining mix of little sketches and musical parodies, and, like most of these kinds of shows, it’s a hit-and-miss affair. Amongst the hits, I enjoyed the Spice Girls introduction, the Thames Water lament, and the PR company trying to rescue Philip Schofield’s career. It’s very bright, cheery and upbeat, and if you didn’t like the last sketch, there’ll be another along in a minute. This is the first time I’ve seen the NewsRevue team and I was expecting a little more attention to detail with political and celebrity impersonations. Good fun though!

3-stars

Lovefool, Summerhall.

Lovefool is a superb little production that joins a moving and telling play by Gintare Parulyte with a terrific performance by Kristin Winters. Seamlessly involving recorded music and video with live action, it tells the story of Grace who puts herself through hell in an attempt to find love; and we accompany her on her journey to a delightful self-assertion in the final scene. A brave, raw, and flawless performance by Ms Winters challenges the audience to recognise their own links to the issues her character faces. Great acting, very life-affirming – one of the subtler hits of this year’s Fringe!

Weathervanes, Summerhall.

To describe this as a show with a difference is something of an understatement. When you walk in to the Lower Cafe Gallery at Summerhall, you’re relocated to a soft, hazy, contemplative landscape of plants, unfamiliar musical sounds, disconcerting lighting effects, and three gently swaying, unfolding naked dancers who blend into the landscape (and soundscape) – the weathervanes in question, I presume. it’s quite unlike anything else I’ve ever seen before, and for the first few minutes you are genuinely transported to another universe. After a while, once you’ve become accustomed to your surroundings, it doesn’t take long to conclude that you’ve probably seen enough – and although the show is scheduled to last for thirty minutes, we left after twenty – so it may well be it has a tempestuous ending that we don’t know about! Certainly curious, stylish, inventive and different.

3-stars