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The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 7th August 2023

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What’s lined up to entertain us in Edinburgh today?

Here’s the schedule for 7th August:

10.50 – Alan Turing – A Musical Biography, Paradise in Augustines. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

This musical, composed by Joel Goodman and Jan Osborne, with a new script by Joan Greening is a journey through the extraordinary life of Alan Turing. Alan was a genius whose brilliant code breaking brain saved approximately fourteen million lives in WW2. It takes us on a journey through the loss of his closest friend, his romance with a fellow worker, the moment he realises how to beat the Germans and the growing awareness of his homosexuality. His treatment after the war was truly appalling and this brilliant, funny man was left in despair.”

Sometimes a musical is exactly what you need to tell an important story in a direct and effective way – I’m hoping that will be the case with this show!

12.40 – Alison Skilbeck’s Uncommon Ground, Assembly Rooms.

“A play about six wildly different people, coping and connecting during one year on the Common, telling their unexpected tales of love, life, death and downright dottiness, while a seventh character lurks mysteriously. Directed by Gareth Armstrong, with music by composer Simon Slater (Constellations) and lighting design by Mark Dymock (Once). With the world premiere of her latest play, this is Alison’s fifth time performing at Assembly. She is the writer and performer of three critically acclaimed plays: Are There More of You?, The Power Behind The Crone and Mrs Roosevelt Flies to London.”

We always catch whatever Alison Skilbeck is doing at every Fringe and she never fails to fascinate and entertain. I’m sure this will be another winner.

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

“The 1930s star of musical comedy tells her story. Funny, revealing and bursting with songs from Noel Coward to Kurt Weill. Directed by award-winning cabaret artist Sarah-Louise Young. The superbly gifted actor/singer Lucy Stevens with pianist Elizabeth Marcus, the creators of Kathleen Ferrier Whattalife! ‘Funny, touching and uplifting – a must see!’ ***** (LightMusicSociety.com).”

I was brought up on the music of Gertrude Lawrence and am really looking forward to this show. Here’s hoping that Lucy Stevens can bring the spirit of Miss Lawrence to life! Anything involving Sarah-Louise Young is Entertainment Gold, so this should be great.

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

“Rahul is single. He lives at home in Leicester. His parents are relaxed about it. Rahul believes they need to get more serious. They need to get their act together and find him someone. Join Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year 2023 nominee Rahul Somia as he takes a deep dive into his love life, cross-examining every aspect from his Indian heritage to his career as a teacher.”

This one is a bit of a lucky punt because I don’t know much about Mr Somia but I love the idea that you’re annoyed with your parents because they haven’t married you off yet!

20.10 – Pear: But Braver, Underbelly Cowgate.

“Winner – Critic’s Choice Award, Perth Fringe 2023. Last year, 6 foot 7 identical twins, Patrick and Hugo McPherson, brought their debut sketch comedy show, Pear, to Edinburgh. An award-winning, sell-out tour across the UK and Australia then followed with the boys heralded as ‘like Reeves and Mortimer at their best’ (TheRecs.co.uk) and ‘hilarious from start to finish’ ***** (MervsPOTFringe.com). This year? The same. But braver. So leave cowardice at the door and then enter for a riotous and original hour that’s ‘relentlessly packed with jokes’ ***** (ThreeWeeks).”

It’s now an unwritten law of the Edinburgh Fringe that you must see anything with Patrick McPherson in, which includes this double act with his twin Hugo. Last year’s Pear was one of the funniest shows of the Fringe, and I have every expectation this will be too. I do hope they reprise their Twins theme from last year – Are there any twins in?

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

“The untold “true” story of what happened at the end of WWII. After losing to the Allied Forces, Hitler and his cronies manage to escape Germany and go into hiding in the last place anyone would think to look… Yorkshire! Swapping the Hugo Boss for flat caps and wellies, and adopting strong Northern accents, Adolf and the lads meet down the pub to plan their epic comeback: Operation Fourth Reich!”

I booked this show because it sounded humorously ridiculous – since then I’ve seen a preview video and I think I may need to have a few drinks before seeing this. It’s either going to work magnificently or fall flat on its face!

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

Edinburgh Fringe 2023 Reviews – Elvis Died of Burgers, An Interrogation, Showgirls and Spies, Public – The Musical, and Bill’s 44th

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ELVIS DIED OF BURGERS, Summerhall.

The excellent opening scene of Elvis Died of Burgers introduces us to a range of food disorders, such as being addicted to chocolate, or tomato ketchup, or the shape of one’s sandwiches. By the end of the show, it’s a celebration of everything foodie – whether it does you good or not! The show describes itself as having a non-linear narrative; for me it was more like a series of sketches that moved from being hung up about food to accepting it in all its glory. There’s also a side narrative about Elvis himself, discovered dead on the toilet after excessive burger consumption, – including an entertaining sketch about what might have happened if Elvis had access to a toilet app on his phone. A very inclusive cast who perform with great commitment and it’s a very safe environment where all are welcome. However, overall, sadly it doesn’t really hang together as a one hour ten minute show – it could do with some trimming and refinement – and, much as I wanted to like it more, it didn’t really do anything for me.

An Interrogation, Summerhall.

Co-director of the smash hit Six, Jamie Armitage, has written and directed this brand new play based on a real-life case in Ontario, where a highly respectable member of the community is questioned in connection with a murder and a missing person. The claustrophobic atmosphere of the police interrogation room is enhanced by the use of cameras showing the interview from a variety of angles – normally I find camera work on stage like this intrusive and unhelpful but in this show it adds a significant and important dimension. It’s a tight, tense play, full of intricate and suggestive dialogue, performed extremely well by its cast of three. “I’m not that kind of guy” says the suspect to the police officer interviewing him – “I think you are” is her terse response. The same words are later spoken by the senior detective when the interrogating officer suggests she was being used as bait. The fact that she doesn’t repeat “I think you are” speaks volumes. An Interrogation holds the audience completely in suspense – you could hear the proverbial pin drop in their silent, fixed attention. First rate!

Showgirls and Spies, Pleasance Dome.

The riveting story of Florence Waren, a real-life Jewish resistance fighter during the Second World War, who in the evenings worked as a showgirl and can-can dancer at the Bal Tabarin club in Paris. Performed with great style by the Young Pleasance Company, the show conveys how the war becomes progressively more dangerous for those whom the Nazis wanted to eliminate. The musical numbers are performed with panache – including some excellent can-can! The company work extremely well as an ensemble, but there are a few stand-out performances, including Scarleett Field-Green as Florence and Esme Pitman as the supportive Gisy. I felt it lost a little energy whenever it came back to the present day and the squabbling grandchildren fighting over Florence’s few remaining possessions, but that’s just a minor quibble. Terrific storytelling and characterisations!

4-stars

Public – The Musical, Pleasance Courtyard.

In a few year’s time people will be saying to each other did you know, “Public the Musical” started life as an Edinburgh Fringe show? Yes, it’s that good. Four strangers get accidentally locked in a gender-neutral public toilet and it’s going to take an hour before they can get free. There’s the super-blokey old-fashioned geezer Andrew (Andrew Patrick-Walker), the slightly neurotic gay Finlay (Hugo Rolland), the rather timid gender-fluid Laura (Alicia Corrales) and feminist/activist Zo, a do-gooder who makes everything worse by trying to be good (Annabel Marlow). What follows is an hour of brilliant songs, incredible (and I really mean outstandingly incredible) singing, an extraordinarily funny script and superb acting. It tackles prejudice, mental health, queer understanding and those all-important pronouns – never forgetting to reveal the truth through laughter. If I see a better show this Fringe I’ll eat my toilet roll. This year’s Six? I wouldn’t be surprised.

Bill’s 44th, Underbelly Cowgate.

Stage puppetry has undergone major transformations over the last few years and Bill’s 44th is an example of the genre at its most inventive. Bill is expecting guests to help him celebrate his birthday, and he’s prepared a wickedly alcoholic punch and some tasty dips for everyone to enjoy. But when the guests fail to arrive, Bill pretends to animate his carrot batons as mini-friends, and when the alcohol (and weed) start to kick in, he’s overwhelmed by the most vivid trip ever! It’s amazing how the team of Andy Manjuck, Dorothy James and Jon Riddleberger coalesce with their puppet creations and become as one with them. Charming and funny, it truly appeals to the audience’s inner child as we gasp, whoop and cheer along with Bill’s madcap experiences. First-rate puppeteering, a heartwarming story, and lots of inventive fun. (And we got to take home a balloon!)

4-stars

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 6th August 2023

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What’s in store for us in Edinburgh today?

Here’s the schedule for 6th August:

10.55 – Chasing Butterflies, Pleasance Dome. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“Murder in London: The Butterfly Butcher strikes again. Beneath the bustling capital, a relentless evil continues to lurk. Pressure mounts on Detective Richards and the Police to catch the serial killer that has haunted Whitechapel throughout 1985. Will Richards be able to save the people of London, or will he fall to the path of wickedness that corrupted the very soul he’s chasing, unravelling darkness? Anyone can be a victim of the Butterfly Butcher and everyone should be scared. May God be with you all.”

A bit of true crime drama to start the day – what’s not to like?

13.00 – The Ice Hole: A Cardboard Comedy, Pleasance Courtyard.

“An epic adventure told with a thousand pieces of cardboard. A great actor recounts his journey from the fjords of Iceland to the dust of the Spanish desert. Cursed by the mermaid he once accidentally caught, a fellow performer helps tell his tale in a language no-one quite understands. Monty Python meets Mighty Boosh with a twist of Laurel and Hardy. The theatrical acrobatics from these virtuoso performers will make you howl with laughter. Pure theatrical joy. From the creators of Edinburgh’s smash hit Fishbowl. Moliere Theatre Award winner. ‘Serious theatre magic’ (NewYorkTimes).”

You can do a lot with cardboard, as I expect this show will reveal! Not that keen on Mighty Boosh, but Monty Python and Laurel and Hardy are fine by me. Fingers crossed!

15.10- Släpstick: Schërzo, Pleasance Courtyard.

“Spirit of the Fringe Award winner Släpstick is back. Bringing their unique brand of mischief to Schërzo, a clown-esque concerto for the ages where a seemingly highbrow classical concert glissandos into a bacchanal of comical mishaps and absurdity. Neither floppy-wigged composers nor their magnum opus are safe from this Släpstick buffoonery. It’s Chaplin meets Tchaikovsky, Buster versus Bernstein, and Groucho Marx does Mozart, all rolled up into one raucous show! Internationally renowned Släpstick presents Schërzo, a performance of classical music as you’ve never experienced it before. Language no problem.”

Another show where I really don’t know what to expect – a dangerous mix of all sorts of different styles of entertainment, I guess. Definitely in for something anarchic here!

17.30 – NewsRevue, Pleasance Courtyard.

“We dedicate this year’s show to the late, great, founder of NewsRevue, Professor Michael Hodd, who launched this multi award-winning, Guinness World Record-breaking institution 43 years ago. Emma Taylor, its producer since 2001, says ‘it is fitting that Mike’s enduring legacy will make its debut in the iconic Pleasance Grand.’ Expect 100% brand-new material, much of it written by the preposterously talented cast and creative team. From King Charles to Keir Starmer, Prince Harry to Putin, Sunak to Strikes and Sleaze, no stone will be left unturned. NewsRevue provides ‘license to dissent en masse’ ***** (BroadwayBaby.com).”

Love current affairs and news comedy, so hopefully this will be bang up to date and on the button. Should be great!

19.15 – Lovefool, Summerhall.

“A brutally honest, hilarious and heartbreaking one-woman show navigating the impossibly confusing gender dynamics of modern love. Grace, a young woman hungry for affection and looking for love in all the wrong places, is forced to discover what healthy (self) love might look like. A sensational solo performance championing a life’s endless pursuit of healing, told with vulnerability and humour. Presented by the Théâtre National du Luxembourg, where it played to sold out audiences and received critical acclaim. This extraordinary piece of new writing received its UK Premiere at The Coronet Theatre.”

The reviews from its runs in Luxembourg are very intriguing, so I’m looking forward to this very much!

21:00 – Weathervanes, Summerhall.

“Weathervanes is an immersive-multimedia exhibit and ritual dance-theatre experience – a re-thinking of the beautiful and what is holy… This mesmerising performance-installation by Jian Yi tunes into the collective psyche with audiences to create a dreaming state of mind; an architecture of queer futurity. Produced by Journey to the East Productions in association with Summerhall/Eclipse and Tramway – it features an ensemble of dancers with a live musician, and multimedia/FX created by Cryptic artist Heather Lander. ‘A manifestation of purity, of potential, of value and intrinsic grace… ’ (Critic Gareth Vile, on Weathervanes at Tramway DiG21).”

To be honest, that description sounds a little pretentious to me, but this sounds like the kind of experience one just has to attend so that one can form one’s own opinion!

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

Edinburgh Fringe 2023 Reviews – When It Rains, Ben Target: LORENZO, 17 Minutes, Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story, and Horizon Showcase: Birthmarked

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When It Rains, Greenside @ Nicolson Square.

You have to admire the ambition behind this production; an attempt to combine a Lord of the Flies type scenario illustrating toxic masculinity with a terrifying fantasy of what life could be like if rain has become so acid and poisonous that it can kill you if its drops land on your skin. It’s a compelling story and situation and I was very keen to see how the story would be resolved. That said, many aspects of the play simply didn’t hold together or make sense, and I’m afraid many of the performances were not up to scratch – too many lines spoken so softly that they were hard to follow. The actor playing Zander, the leader of the group, has a very good menacing stance – he’d be too young to remember him, but I was very much reminded of Gripper Stebson in Grange Hill about 45 years ago! The choreographed movements of the cast worked well, but, on the whole, this sadly didn’t really work.

Ben Target: LORENZO, Summerhall.

I can’t think of a greater honour to bestow on a much-missed family member than to commemmorate them in a stage production – which is what Ben Target has done for his late Uncle Lorenzo. Frequently very moving and emotional, Lorenzo’s mischievous personality lives on after his death with this innovative and creative way of telling his story. Ben Target has an elegant ability to pick just the right turn of phrase in his narrative, which is full of witty asides and knowing observations – but there’s a gentle humility in his approach too which is extremely endearing. He uses a Carpenter’s Table for his all-encompassing set; it conceals a myriad of secrets to help tell the story. It’s both tender and hilarious, and you don’t want it to stop. You may be asked to tell everyone about your “fantasy death” – mine was too dull to mention, but it does get you thinking about the nature of death, although never in a gloomy way. I’ve also never experienced comedy callbacks that weren’t merely verbal before; now that’s extremely clever! A must-see.

17 Minutes, Gilded Balloon Teviot.

New York’s Barrow Group bring their Off-Broadway production to the Edinburgh Fringe; a riveting, intense and intelligent play about an unexpected knock-on effect of a terrible school shooting. The 17 Minutes in question is the unaccounted-for period between Deputy Andy Rubens informing his superiors that at least one shooter was on the loose, and the arrival of the SWAT team. What did he do in the interim? Of course, the prime responsibility for the tragedy was young Jeremiah Watson, a 15-year-old student at the school. But is Andy equally to blame? He spends all his days cleaning his gun but it’s never been used – perhaps this was the occasion on which it should have been. Scott Organ’s play is deliberately written with sparse and minimalist conversations, telling its tough tale with clarity and a sense of inevitability. Larry Mitchell heads a six-strong cast with a telling and sorrowful portrayal of the law officer who let everyone down. There’s strong support from the rest of the cast, including Brian Rojas as the splendidly suspicious Detective Morris and Deanna Lenhart as Andy’s ultra-practical and forward-looking wife Samantha. A straightforward tale of cowardice? You decide.

4-stars

Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story, Pleasance Dome.

Sometimes you see a show that doesn’t necessarily promise much on paper, but then over-delivers in spades – and Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story is the epitome of that show. Very inventive, incredibly funny – I think I had more belly laughs in this show than in anything else so far this Fringe – and with superbly orchestrated (and therefore very successful) audience participation, Linus Karp does a brilliant job of recreating the late Queen of Hearts. There’s plentiful use of multimedia and puppetry which might put off some people but don’t be alarmed, it works extremely well. This probably isn’t a show for everyone – if you’re a traditional Royalist purist whose only loyalty is to Charles and Camilla, you might want to look the other way. But if you think Princess Diana had a rough ride of it all, this show is for you! Plus – a few delightful Eurovision references, much appreciated! A very, very funny show.

Horizon Showcase: Birthmarked, Assembly Rooms.

Just when you think you’ve seen everything that live performance can surprise you with, up comes a tap-dancing zebra and you have to think twice. Brook Tate’s moving account of breaking free from a Jehovah’s Witness upbringing to find his own true identity through the medium of a live music gig is a show quite unlike anything else I’ve ever seen. Mr Tate doesn’t want us to think badly of individual Jehovah’s Witnesses, but honestly, you have to think he had a lucky escape. He is a superbly charismatic entertainer, with the purest of voices and an enviable songwriting ability, and his five-piece band support him playing some truly beautiful and melodious songs which are a joy to hear. A star is born!

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 5th August 2023

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

Here’s the schedule for 5th August:

11.45 – ELVIS DIED OF BURGERS, Summerhall. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“Take a seat at BLINK’s table as the cast spill the tea on their food stories. Watch as they deep-dive into the events at the end of the life of Elvis, the King of Rock’n’Roll, with their signature sensory and often bizarre tangents… Good Food Gospel anyone? ELVIS DIED OF BURGERS has a non-linear narrative. It uses semi-improvised dance, theatre and spoken word to create an exciting, edge-of-your-seat experience for audience and cast alike.”

The BLINK in question are BLINK Dance Theatre, and this sounds like a very intriguing mix of theatre and dance, so it was a no-brainer for us to come and see it!

13.10 – An Interrogation, Summerhall.

“A young detective works against the clock as she questions a suspect who looks like the least likely person to be linked to a murder. He’s a devoted son, a successful businessman and a respectable member of society. But as the minutes tick away, the detective starts to suspect that all is not what it seems… Inspired by real events, the debut play from the Tony Award-nominated co-director of SIX: The Musical is a gripping interrogation drama about power, deception, and our perspectives on the truth.

I’ve got a strong suspicion that this is going to be one of the hits of the Fringe – clearly it’s a powerful play and if they do it well it could be superb!

15.00 – Showgirls and Spies, Pleasance Dome.

“The thrilling true story of Florence Waren, an intrepid Jewish resistance fighter and dazzling showgirl leading a perilous double life in WW2. Working fearlessly for the French resistance by day, Florence takes to the stage alongside icons Edith Piaf and Josephine Baker, every night at the infamous Bal Tabarin. Written by Florence’s relative, the ‘breathtakingly skilful ensemble’ (BBC Scotland) jump cut between worlds bursting with bravery, family and feather boas. With their trademark high production values, the ‘superbly multi-talented’ (**** (Scotsman)) Young Pleasance present their modern take on the glitz, glamour and glare of wartime Paris.”

Another intriguing play, the true story of a wartime heroine written by her relative – that has all the hallmarks of being a gripping drama – here’s hoping!

18.30 – Public – The Musical, Pleasance Courtyard.

“Usually avoid public bathrooms? Here’s one you won’t want to miss! This award-winning new musical follows four unlikely strangers who find themselves trapped together in a gender-neutral public toilet. With an hour to kill until maintenance arrives, the group navigates unexpected challenges, pungent opinions and some seriously sticky conversations. Created by queer-led theatre collective Stroud & Notes, Public – The Musical explores stories of identity, connection and compassion, alongside an electrifying pop/rock score. This will be a trip to the bathroom you’ll never forget! Winner of the Pleasance’s Charlie Hartill Fund and VAULT Origins Award.

Who can resist the thought of a musical set in a public loo? Let’s hope it’s flushed with success.

20.35 – Bill’s 44th, Underbelly Cowgate.

“New York Times Critics Pick (‘Buoyant, mesmerizing, joy-inducing’)! This poignant, puppet tragicomedy for grown-ups is a wordless spectacle featuring puppetry, raucous balloons, and a cheeky piece of crudité that collide to examine the pitfalls of impatience, the wonder of loneliness, and the universal passage of time. ‘This isn’t the birthday that Bill had hoped to have. But for the audience, his 44th is a gift’ (NY Times). A ‘surreal tragicomedy expertly executed, enormously funny and at times delightfully unsettling’ **** (Everything-Theatre.co.uk). ‘Sweetly hilarious with flashes of bizarre originality’ **** (TheReviewsHub.com). A ‘tender and boozy puppet party’ **** (Guardian).

Here’s another of those shows that is either going to be supremely entertaining or fall flat. But there’s something about this that make me think it’s going to have something of the Avenue Q about it, in which case it should be great!

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

Edinburgh Fringe 2023 Reviews – The Big Bite-Size Breakfast Show, Spin Cycles, One Way Out, Jon Culshaw: Imposter Syndrome, Glenn Moore: Will You Still Need Me, Will You Still Feed Me, Glenn I’m Sixty Moore, Laser Kiwi: Rise of the Olive, and Manbo

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The Big Bite-Size Breakfast Show, Pleasance Courtyard.

An entertaining start to the day with the five short plays that constitute Menu Two. The first two, Honk and Of Their Own, could have been a little shorter and punchier, but the other three are excellent. The New Normal tells a surreal tale of an office that starts to eat and kill its employees, The Improv Class starts by being just that but then you realise that it’s a very different experience indeed, and Charity shows just how vicious opposing charities can be when they all vie for the same pound. The cast throw themselves into the show with great gusto and some very amusing characterisations and voices. I really loved the charity collecting whale! Menu One and Menu Three contain a completely different set of plays so you can collect all three!

3-stars

Spin Cycles, Pleasance Courtyard.

A beautifully written examination of coping with illness by means of workouts and exercise on the spin bike. There’s an excellent balance between humour and tragedy, and the play is particularly perceptive when it comes to questioning one’s own lifestyle choices to see if you’ve unwittingly brought cancer on yourself. Written and performed by Jamie-Lee Money, a very likeable performer with whom you can easily identify. As someone who has done his time on a spin bike at the gym, I loved the way it took apart all that motivational cliche guff that trainers can sometimes spout! A very strong story and a strong, physical performance too.

4-stars

One Way Out, Underbelly Cowgate.

A dynamic group of four young actors – Shem Hamilton, Marcus Omoro, Adam Seridji and Sam Pote – play a bunch of 17/18 year olds just finishing school, making university or work choices, and their plans for the future, which of course includes always looking after one another’s backs. But when Devonte applies to go to university, this causes the authorities to look closer into his UK residential status. His mother always looks after the passports, but is he actually entitled to one? As part of the whole Windrush scandal, this tells a vital and highly relevant story that shows the personal cost of those people deported for no reason of their own. Extremely well acted, there’s a very active and physical performance from all – including a fantastic stage punch! Well written, it also reveals different layers of racism within British society, including in those areas where you might not expect to find it. Oh, and there’s a deft magic trick too! A sad but important play – I found it very moving.

4-stars

Jon Culshaw: Imposter Syndrome, Gilded Balloon Teviot.

You know what you’re going to get with a Jon Culshaw show and there are no particular surprises here, just a series of superbly performed impersonations, including some clever musical material. Slick and entertaining, perhaps the structure of the show is a little unadventurous, with Mr Culshaw taking us on a nostalgic tour of all the radio and TV programmes he’s done over the years. Nevertheless, it’s a lot of fun and there’s no doubting he’s a fantastic impersonator!

4-stars

Glenn Moore: Will You Still Need Me, Will You Still Feed Me, Glenn I’m Sixty Moore, Pleasance Courtyard.

Finally got to see Glenn Moore’s show after many attempts to see it – and now I understand the hype. Mr Moore is a brilliant comedian, and this show is jam-packed with fast-flowing material, beautifully and anarchically structured, with loads of very satisfying callbacks, all about how he went into lockdown with his girlfriend arguing about whether or not they wanted to have a baby. A truly sure-footed performer, he rarely takes time to draw breath and is not afraid to use the entire auditorium to make his points. Intense! And don’t ever tell him his show is a laugh a minute!

Laser Kiwi: Rise of the Olive, Assembly Roxy.

The great thing about Laser Kiwi is that they are such a delightful threesome that they win you over with the strength of their personalities even before they’ve done any of their comic or circus-type business. Rise of the Olive is a rather weird and anarchic concoction of sketches and tricks; to be fair, not all of them hit the spot, but those that do are brilliant. I loved the singing ant and the recurring human olive, and the extended balancing the martini on the forehead trick was hilarious. A very enjoyable show.

3-stars

Manbo, Underbelly Cowgate.

There’s only one man who’s man enough for the job of single-handedly saving the western world from the damn Ruskies and that’s Manbo, Sam Dugmore’s ridiculously funny comic creation – he’s strong and tough enough to win the war but also knows he couldn’t do it without the help of his faithful hound Fluffy. I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this show but it’s one of the funniest hours of childish escapism I’ve enjoyed in a long time. He gets plenty of help from the audience, who provide him with a supporting cast of Contact Woman, Boris the enforcer, and his old buddy Adrian – who on this first night of his Edinburgh show was played by little old me. Extremely silly, but it taps into a juvenile play mentality that hopefully we all still have – and I loved it!

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 4th August 2023

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What’s in store for us in Edinburgh today?

Here’s the schedule for 4th August:

10.15 – When It Rains, Greenside @ Nicolson Square. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“From the writer of 2019’s acclaimed Butterflies (‘playwright to watch’ (FringeReview.co.uk)) and 2022’s I Can’t Hear You (Standing Ovation Award Nominee) comes a thrilling and humorous exploration of 21st-century masculinity. Written following extensive workshops with its young cast, When It Rains is a physical and fast-paced vision of a world where the youth are losing hope. With razor-sharp dialogue, memorable characters, and bold physicality, When It Rains speaks in an urgent new voice, one which demands to be heard.”

Bit of a punt in the dark on this one, but it sounds like an interesting set-up, and who can’t resist an early morning play? It’s a preview, so I will bear that in mind!

11.55 – Ben Target: LORENZO, Summerhall.

“Ben Target is a critically-acclaimed performance artist and multi-award-winning comedian (yawn), but in 2020 he gave this up to become the live-in carer for an irascible octogenarian prankster. A life-affirming story about death, conveyed through the popular mediums of storytelling, servitude to the audience and live carpentry, a combination not seen on the world stage since Nazareth (circa 30AD). Directed by Adam Brace. ‘Imagine there was no Ben Target. The world would unquestionably be a darker, less interesting place’ (Chortle.co.uk). ‘A beautiful, gentle, touching thing… spellbinding’ (Scotsman). ‘A true original and a legend in the making’ (Guardian).”

Still not entirely sure what to expect here, nor have I yet twigged why LORENZO is shouted at us in capitals – but no doubt all will be revealed. I do know that Ben Target has a reputation of taking a surreal approach – so I hope the show makes sense at least to some degree!

14.15 – 17 Minutes, Gilded Balloon Teviot.

“The play 17 Minutes explores the communal and residual effects of a shooting through Andy, a man who struggles with his own complicity in the tragedy, and who seeks meaning in the wake of the shooting.”

A short and sweet description, but not a sweet subject matter. The reviews are all from 2020 but they really intrigued me. A few years ago there was another Fringe play about a school shooting, Us/Them, and it was mesmerising – so I’m hoping for something equally powerful here.

16.30 – Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story, Pleasance Dome.

“Do you know the story of Diana? Probably. But do you know our story of Diana? We very much doubt it. Join Diana in heaven as she shares the untold and untrue tale of her extraordinary life. Combining drag, multimedia, audience interaction, puppetry and a lot of queer joy – this unique celebration of the People’s Princess is as hilarious as it is tasteless. ‘Hilarious, joyful and ridiculous to the point of sublime’ (Deborah Frances-White, The Guilty Feminist – podcast). ‘The most unhinged piece of theatre in existence’ ***** (BroadwayBaby.com).”

The promotional video is hilarious, so I’m sure the rest of the show will be too. It’s Diana, Jim, but not as we know her. My guess is that neither Prince William nor Harry would enjoy this, but I’m not one of those esteemed gentlemen, so I’m ready to be overwhelmed!

19.15 – Horizon Showcase: Birthmarked, Assembly Rooms.

“A young Jehovah’s Witness comes to terms with his sexuality and finds his feet (and high heels…) in a world he once believed would be destroyed at Armageddon. Birthmarked is a new concept gig written and performed by Brook Tate and his grand ol’ band of pals. With original music likened to Stevie Wonder and Joni Mitchell, alongside a whale, a paintbrush and a pair of tap shoes, he hopes to shine a light on what it means to be marked… at birth. Written and composed by Brook Tate. Directed by Sally Cookson.”

There’s quite a lot to unpack there – but it sounds like a highly original piece of theatre, so I’m going in with no expectations and an open mind! I’m not sure I’ve seen a Horizon Showcase show before, so that adds to my curiosity.

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

The Edinburgh Fringe All Month Long – 2nd August 2023

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I didn’t think I could exceed last year’s mammoth attendance at the Edinburgh Fringe, coming for 25 days and nights and seeing as much as we possibly could. But I realised that I missed out on the Preview Shows that litter the schedules before the Fringe actually opens per se. So this year, we’re doing Edinburgh for a full 28 days and nights! I hope my ailing frame can take the pace.

Unlike in previous years, I’m going to write one blog a day, previewing the shows we will see the next day, uploading it around 10 pm every evening. Then I’ll publish a second blog with a brief review of each show we saw that day, which will probably come at the end of the evening, or possibly the following morning – if they are a little delayed, please forgive me – it can be an exhausting few weeks!

Here’s the schedule for 2nd August. These are all previews, so I will of course take that into account when I give my comments later:

10.50 – Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me, Pleasance Courtyard. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“***** (Stage; Three Weeks; Theatre Weekly; Advertiser, Adelaide). Critics Awards Best Play Winner and Theatre Weekly Awards Best Solo Performance. Meet Daniel Valentine, the ultimate superfan whose life has been devoted to his two favourite things, Jesus… and Jane. Daniel’s mother is a superfan too, but then one day her actions cause it all to go horribly wrong. Playwright Philip Stokes’ (Heroin(e) for Breakfast) critically acclaimed darkly hilarious and heart-wrenching 2022 hit play returns to the fringe following sell-out London and Adelaide seasons. ‘Must-see show’ (Fringe Review UK).”

I decided to see this play on the strength of the reviews it received last year. It sounds both intriguing and hilarious – let’s hope it is!

12.45 – In Loyal Company, Pleasance Courtyard.

“Returning after sell-out runs in 2018 and 2019, In Loyal Company is the incredible true story of missing WWII soldier Arthur Robinson, written and performed by his great-nephew David William Bryan. May 1941. Hitler’s bombs rain down on Liverpool. Local packer Arthur Robinson joins up, becoming a private in the 18th reconnaissance division. Deployed to Singapore where his ship is destroyed by Japanese dive bombers on arrival, Arthur is declared missing. This extraordinary true story of survival is a one-man tour-de-force war epic. ‘A masterpiece’ ***** (BroadwayBaby.com).”

Real-life historical dramas are always fascinating, and the personal element of its being performed by Robinson’s great-nephew gives it an added twist. I’m hoping for some tough and meaty drama here!

15.15 – Edmonds, Pleasance Courtyard.

“Deal or No Deal meets Doctor Faustus. 22 red boxes. One soul. Edmonds makes a Deal (or No Deal) with the Devil. How far will they go for fame, fortune, and free TV licensing? An audience member is invited to play the game, as the Cosmos decides the fate of the show. The Banker has now come to claim what is owed to them. ‘It is only a soul… what does it matter when the very life blood of mid-to-late afternoon light entertainment is hanging in the balance.’”

This really tickled my fancy, as I used to enjoy watching Deal or No Deal with my mum – and the idea of Noel Edmonds being somewhere on the darker spectrum is also strangely appealing.

16.40 – The Importance of Being… Earnest? Pleasance Courtyard.

“‘A masterclass in comedic theatre’ ***** (NorthWestEnd.co.uk). When a traditional production of Oscar Wilde’s classic play gets underway, everything seems to be going perfectly to plan… that is, until the lead actor fails to arrive on cue. You might think you know this chaotic story of love, mistaken identity and double lives, but you have never seen it like this before. Filled with wicked Wildean wit and bursting with bunburying, join us for a hilarious and unpredictable twist on the world’s favourite comedy classic. ***** (Skinny).”

One of last year’s unexpected hits was the brilliant A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception, and this production of Earnest is also giving me similar Shoddy vibes. It comes with lots of great reviews, and I know it has toured as well, so I’m hoping for some anarchic fun.

19.00 – Marcus Brigstocke: Cheese and Whine, Pleasance Courtyard.

“There are no problems that cannot be improved by eating cheese. Fact. Award-winning comedian and International Cheese Judge Marcus Brigstocke guides you through the subtle art of pairing the best cheeses with a fine whine of your choosing. ‘Devilishly Funny’ (TheArtsDesk.com). ‘Charming, hilarious and utterly refreshing. Don’t miss this incredible show’ (Sunday Mirror). ‘Sharpest one-liner merchant’ (Sunday Times). ‘Made us all grateful that comedy is back again at the Fringe’ (One4Review.co.uk).”

This will be the first of (at least) two shows this Fringe that combine food/drink tasting with another art form – at least that’s what I’m expecting. I have seen Marcus Brigstocke several times and he has never failed to send me home extremely happy. Should be good!

20.45 – Sigmund the Viking: Valhalla Calling, Underbelly Bristo Square.

“Sigmund The Viking is suffering from a very powerful and sudden spiritual awakening. Changing his Viking ways, he puts down his sword and decides to spread the teachings of peace and love as a yoga teacher. But the past catches up and forces him to find his true purpose… And this fearsome warrior must choose between bloodshed and healing. An epic Norse journey into masculinity, myth, sacrifice (personal) and sacrifice (literal).”

The premise of this show is so utterly silly that it will either be a disaster or one of the funniest things ever. The video trailer convinced me to give him the benefit of the doubt!

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

Edinburgh Fringe 2023 Reviews – Jesus Jane Mother and Me, In Loyal Company, Edmonds, The Importance of Being… Earnest? Marcus Brigstocke: Cheese and Whine, and Sigmund the Viking: Valhalla Calling

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Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me, Pleasance Courtyard.

What a way to start your day at the Fringe! Philip Stokes’ blistering but delicately written play returns to Edinburgh after a successful 2022 season. In a moving, sensitive, and frequently terrifying play, Jack Stokes plays Daniel Valentine, a troubled young man with severe mental health issues masquerading as fan worship of the one and only Jane MacDonald. He takes us through his difficult journey through childhood and school bullying, with inadequate parenting and a zest for performance. As the play develops, you sense it’s going to have a tragic ending but you can’t quite put your finger on exactly how it will turn out until the final minutes. One of those plays where you laugh out loud and then kick yourself for having been so cruel. I had my hand over my mouth for the final, excruciating scene – truly brilliantly written and performed. An immaculate production.

 

In Loyal Company, Pleasance Courtyard.

A powerful account of the real-life story of Arthur Robinson, a young man who signed up to join the army in 1941, and how he was eventually captured as a Prisoner of War by the Japanese and just about survived enough to tell the tale. The fact that it’s written and performed by his great-nephew David William Bryan adds to the personal and emotional aspect of the production, which successfully steers away from any sentimentality which could have weakened its impact. Hard-hitting, and with an athletic and intense central performance, this is a strong play that lingers in the mind way after the curtain has come down. A rare opportunity to come face to face with the horrors of war through a genuine personal narrative. Highly recommended.

Edmonds, Pleasance Courtyard.

Remember the days when Noel Edmonds ruled the light entertainment roost? With references to Noel’s House Party, The Late Late Breakfast Show, Multi-Coloured Swap Shop and even going back to the days of Radio Luxembourg, the man himself invites us to share a special edition of Deal or No Deal, with a guest player from the audience (in our case, Cameron, who played a blinder) and a very intimidating incarnation of “The Banker” indeed. It’s a very amusing idea, and Edmonds himself is horribly accurately portrayed in all his faux bonhomie and hollow laughter. It is something of a character-assassination of the man, whether you believe he deserves it or not, but there are some very nice appreciations of Mr Blobby, Crinkly Bottom and memories of his experiences on the Tring By-Pass. Whilst it doesn’t overall contribute much to our greater understanding of the human condition, and at times it gets a little underpowered, it’s still an entertaining little show.

3-stars

The Importance of Being… Earnest? Pleasance Courtyard.

The Importance of Being Earnest starts straightforwardly enough, but when Ernest doesn’t make his entrance on cue, all hell breaks loose as a member of the audience is recruited to take his place. Then when Gwendolyne gets a bit squiffy on real bourbon, someone else steps in. And then another… and then another…. and then another. If you like to see members of the audience suddenly catapulted onto the stage to fend for themselves as best they can, you’re in for a field day. It is all done with a lightness of touch and some very funny recurring jokes – my favourite being that the actor playing Algernon cannot improvise for toffee and so when things go wrong all around him he continues to act as if everything is going fine. The cast do a great job of keeping the amateur actors afloat, and there is an abundance of laughter throughout. There are a few moments when the energy saps for some reason, and I couldn’t help but think that, very good as it is, it could have been a little snappier and more dangerous. Of course, no two shows will ever be the same and it does rely on the goodwill and commitment of the audience members to make it go with a swing. Good fun!

3-stars

Marcus Brigstocke: Cheese and Whine, Pleasance Courtyard.

As we queue to get in to see Marcus Brigstocke: Cheese and Whine, the man himself greets us with a pen and a card for us to write down some of our current whines – trivial, personal and massive. And once on stage, the bulk of the show is spent with him taking some of our whines, analysing them for suitability and humour, and then, rather like a wine, choosing a cheese from an extensive and rather delicious-looking selection of fine cheeses on a table next to him, as the perfect accompaniment to that particular whine. A piece of that cheese is then offered to the whiner in question. As he himself admits, it’s a slight premise for a show. Mr Brigstocke is a naturally funny guy and can riff off whatever an audience chucks at him with effortless ease and hilarity. But I did feel this was rather an odd vehicle for him, and one which restricts his comedic abilities rather than releases them. No question, there were lots of laughs, but I still felt a bit underwhelmed by the show; normally Mr B blows me away but this was just very light entertainment.

3-stars

Sigmund the Viking: Valhalla Calling, Underbelly Bristo Square.

Sigmund the Viking has seen the light and given up a life of plundering and pillaging for the more refined practice of yoga. He takes us through a few poses, including the excellent Business Pose that I think I’ll add to my list of domestic asanas. But will Odin let him get away with that change of lifestyle? A combination of very silly and very funny comedy, Sigmund is a great comic creation with terrific stage presence and warmth. I ended up having a battle to the death with him on stage – I won, but I didn’t kill him, it would have been a very short run otherwise. We were a very small but appreciative audience; it’s one of those shows where you have to completely throw yourself into it, and we enjoyed it very much. Possibly it needs a little more actual content, but it’s still a lot of fun.

3-stars

Review – Jo Caulfield and Paul Sinha – Edinburgh Previews – The Comedy Crate at the Northampton Town Centre Hotel, 22nd July 2023

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It only seems like a moment ago that we were at that town centre hotel in Northampton, inventively named the Northampton Town Centre Hotel (I kid you not) to see Gareth Mutch and Tom Stade wow us with their Edinburgh Previews. And we were back there again on Saturday night to see Jo Caulfield and Paul Sinha do the same! Such is the appeal of both the artists and the event that they held two shows on that day – a 5pm teatime affair and an 8pm grown up’s gig – although I’m sure the material was pretty much the same for both shows. That said, you can’t be sure; as these are Work in Progress shows, they might have risked a few lines at 5pm that bombed and were never heard of again – as indeed might have happened at the 8pm show. Basically, you can look on these shows as a helping hand for the comedians whacking their show into shape, and a serving suggestion for the audience as to what the final product might look like.

We started off with Jo Caulfield, a very experienced performer in the world of comedy, preparing her new Edinburgh show, Razor-Sharp. Checking back, I think this will be the 21st time that she’s taken a show to Edinburgh, so I think it’s safe to say she knows what she’s doing – she’s as much part of the place as Arthur’s Seat itself. She admits that all her shows are basically her catching up on ideas and reactions to things that have happened to her over the past twelve months, so you always get a sense of a very personal connection with her material. And much of her material is inspired by the life and times of her husband, of whom I think it is fair to say, she is lovingly critical. She has a hilarious routine about going along to what her husband calls “a night out with the lads” much to their (the lads) uniform horror. Even though it’s a WIP, she’s assured, polished, and superbly caustic. For my own taste, occasionally I find she drifts into the almost cruel with some of her observations, but she does it so nicely that she gets away with it! She also gave a reading from her new book The Funny Thing About Death which I think was in preparation for an appearance at the Book Festival. It doesn’t dovetail into her Edinburgh show but hopefully it helped her decide on which passages she should read there. But if you’re a fan of Jo Caulfield then her new show will definitely be one to watch.

After the interval we welcomed Paul Sinha, previewing his Edinburgh Show Pauly Bengali. We’ve seen Paul Sinha many times before and his is one of the most creative and telling comedy brains on the circuit. This show was like a game of two halves; in the first, we had some of Paul’s classic takes on being a gay Asian with Parkinson’s and his affiliation (or otherwise) with leafy Luton, and in the second, he concentrated on his experience with attending last year’s TRIC awards and his interaction, for want of a better word, with the awards’ sponsor, the one and only GB News. Proudly woke (and why wouldn’t you be?) he’s no friend of KGB News, and there are loads of comedy nuggets to appreciate including why he’s not on Mark Dolan’s Christmas Card list – and probably not Adrian Edmondson’s either. One thing you can say about Paul Sinha, he’s always delightfully indiscreet about people who don’t come up his standard. He has plenty of good words to say about Milo McCabe though – again, why wouldn’t you? Interspersed with all this he gives us some comedy songs on the bontempi and ends up with a comic assassination of someone I’d never heard of but who has clearly been stealing his jokes – which is always a no-no in the comedy world. It needs a little more shaping up and editing but I’ve no doubt that Pauly Bengali will be a big success in Edinburgh.

And there’s more to come – another Edinburgh Preview tonight at The Lamplighter; we’ll be there, will you?