Fewer shows today as we’re meeting up with family!
Here’s the schedule for 17th August:
10.45 – Pundemic, Laughing Horse @ The Three Sisters. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:
“From running an online pun show gaining hundreds of thousands of views to the culmination of an appearance on Britain’s Got Talent, a lot has happened over the last two years for this prolific pun-producing comedian from Glasgow. Join him as he presents the best of his puns as written all through this Pundemic. UK Pun Championship finalist (2017, 2018, 2020, 2022). ChampiPUNship runner-up 2019. UK Pun Off Puntest of Champions runner up 2021. ‘Corny’ (David Walliams). ‘Scotland’s Prince of Puns’ (Johnny Beattie). ‘Likeable and a funny guy’ (Alesha Dixon).”
An hour of puns with Iain MacDonald. What’s not to like?
UPDATE: A fun and entertaining way to start the day, with Iain MacDonald delivering exactly what it says on the can. My only criticism is that his delivery style is quiet and measured; all the other punsters I have seen deliver their material fast and furious, with no time for you to reflect before moving on to the next joke. So, it could be a little punchier (geddit?) but it was still very enjoyable. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
16.45 – Magical Bones: Soulful Magic, Assembly Checkpoint.
“Following a totally sold-out debut in 2019, the Britain’s Got Talent finalist returns to the Fringe with ‘a dazzling show… full of imagination and flair’ **** (Guardian). Direct from appearances on America’s Penn & Teller: Fool Us, BBC One’s BAFTA Awards, ITV1’s This Morning and Sky’s Around The World in 80 Tricks, join Bones as he brings you a brand-new hour of the most awe-inspiring and high-energy magic you’ll see this year. ‘What’s happening on stage really is magic’ (Telegraph).”
This our first magic show of the Fringe; Mrs Chrisparkle isn’t always easily impressed by magic (whereas I gape open mouthed at the simplest tricks) so we’ll see how well Mr Bones entertains her!
UPDATE: A slick and skilful magic show, with a few breathtaking tricks, all nicely paced and amusingly presented. We *think* we worked out how he did one of his tricks, but the rest were pretty astounding. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
19.00 – Troy Hawke: Sigmund Troy’d! Underbelly Bristo Square.
“Last year he found the nefarious link between Ikea, the Nazis and Kanye West. Now 1930s throwback home-schooled investigator Troy Hawke returns to battle a new enemy on behalf of all people everywhere…psychotherapy! Leicester Comedy Festival Best Show nominee, 2022. Leicester Comedy Festival Best Show nominee, 2020. Perth Fringe World Comedy Weekly Award winner and main award shortlist, 2020. Perth Fringe World Comedy Weekly Award winner and main award shortlist, 2019. Total sell-out run Edinburgh Fringe, 2019. Top 40 best reviewed comedy shows at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019.”
Milo McCabe’s brilliant creation Troy Hawke returns with a new show and he always effervesces with wit – I’m expecting nothing less this year.
UPDATE: Effortless characterisation, the mischievous Milo has formed a brilliant, creative set of material for Troy based on a random tweet that caught his imagination. With scrabble values, psychotherapy, magic numbers, shop greetings and pizza dedications, this is an extraordinarily detailed flight of fantasy. I know that by sitting in the front we were asking for it – and we got it. But so did many others! Fabulously funny! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
21.00 – Dog / Actor, Greenside @ Infirmary Street.
“Two hilarious and explosive plays written by Steven Berkoff, performed back-to-back by the same actor. Dog follows a day in the life of a racist football hooligan and his beloved pit bull terrier Roy, who changes his life. Actor is a spoken-word monologue which delves into the heart of the acting industry, humorously and poignantly portraying the trying life of a struggling artist. Without the use of any set or props, Dog / Actor presents a masterclass in physical theatre and comedic storytelling, promising a thrilling theatrical experience. ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). ***** (NorthWestEnd.co.uk). ***** (Everything-Theatre.co.uk).”
As soon as I saw this show in the listings, I knew I needed to see it. Stephen Smith is the actor (and dog) in question. I always like the works of Steven Berkoff so this is a must-see for me.
UPDATE: A true masterclass in acting from Stephen Smith in this Berkoff double bill. Berkoff’s superb writing demands excellent characterisations, and that’s exactly what Mr Smith delivers by the truckload. He’s also amazing with the physical theatre – in “Dog” particularly you really got a sense of the powerful and aggressive Roy. An enthralling show! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️