Joe Wells – Daddy Autism, PBH’s Free Fringe at the Banshee Labyrinth.
Always a must-see on a visit to the Edinburgh Fringe, Joe Wells is back with Daddy Autism, a show inspired by both the fact that he and his wife are expecting their first baby, and that this has caused Joe to think more about his relationship with his own father, who seems to be on a one-way ticket to death. But this is in no way a morbid show! There’s some very recognisable comedy about what a nightmare a trip to the tip can be, and Joe’s dad has a very positive conclusion about the right way to deal with a situation when you don’t know the rules. A finely structured set with some first-rate callbacks; there are even a few glimpses of Joe’s old penchant for political comedy.
Lessons on Revolution, Summerhall.
Revolutions don’t come along quite as often as buses, but arguably they are cyclical; primarily because the reasons for revolution never really go away. Sam Rees and Gabriele Uboldi meet as students who share a flat in London. They also have come up with Lessons in Revolution, an examination of the student protests in 1968, which started at the London School of Economics, and that unrest spread all around the world. There’s also a parallel account of Sam and Gab’s own situation, living in an HMO whose licence has been withdrawn because it’s not fit for habitation and is a fire hazard. Cleverly structured as a lecture rather than a play, this is an engagingly presented, entertainingly interactive production that gives us the facts behind those LSE protests and allows us to consider them and draw our own conclusions.
Trawled – When Adventure Becomes Survival, TheSpace at Venue 45.
On a whim, Eoin Ryan signed up to work on a trawler in the Coral Sea, off Australia; having spent a lot of money enjoying the Aussie craic on a visit down under, he needed cash to fulfil his dream of flying to Peru and visiting Machu Picchu. Without any experience, but with the ability to bluff his way through an interview procedure, he ends up catching prawns on the high seas with Stu, Tom and Peter – who turn into the fishermen colleagues from hell. Tough work, bullying, the threat of violence and physical injury take him to the extremes of endurance; but he survives. Presenting his story as a one-man play, Mr Ryan expresses the sheer pain and exhaustion of his work and daily existence, and the frustrations of being imprisoned against his will. A gripping story told from personal experience; my only criticism would be that perhaps those feelings of peril, fear and agony could have been conveyed even more powerfully and viscerally.
One Man Poe: The Black Cat and The Raven, Greenside at Riddles Court.
Stephen Smith brings his One Man Poe to the Fringe with two one-hour shows, each telling two of Poe’s most famous and eerie works. At the show we saw, he gave us his dramatization of The Black Cat and The Raven, both rivetingly performed in the darkness of Riddle’s Court Clover Studio. The Black Cat takes us into the world of an alcoholic who cannot control his anger and resentment when under the influence of drink; the family black cat bears the brunt of his villainy, but when his fury gets completely out of hand – can a cat take revenge? The Raven is one of Poe’s most famous poems, where a lover is confronted by a terrible truth: Quoth the raven, nevermore. Mr Smith commands our attention throughout and brings both life and terror to these portentous tales. Totally engrossing and unmissable, and a brilliant way of keeping Poe’s legacy alive for a new generation.
Pete Heat: Bogus, Pleasance Dome.
We all know that magic isn’t really magic… but Pete Heat makes it as near perfectly magical as possible in his new show, Bogus. A series of extraordinary tricks, using playing cards, smartphones, word games, star signs, and a cuddly toy; surely there isn’t such a thing as genuine mind reading, but if there is, then Mr H is the master of it. All presented with terrific humour by the tallest man in magic, his feats simply defy logic and understanding. Impossible to describe – you just have to see it!
Ryan Cullen: Cullen in the Name Of!, Underbelly Bristo Square.
Ryan Cullen wastes no time trying to butter us up with some moderately nuanced jokes to start the gig; he goes straight for the jugular with topics that lesser comedians simply wouldn’t dare to consider. Delivered with amazing attack and confidence, I don’t think there’s a subject that Mr C wouldn’t touch – and, because his material is extremely funny, he gets away with it. Not for the easily offended; in fact, ideal for anyone who likes to get offended! This was our first exposure to Mr Cullen but certainly won’t be our last. Rapid, daredevilish comedy with superb and unexpectedly friendly crowd work. I loved it!
