Sindhu Vee Archives - The Real Chrisparkle

A big day of comedy ahead in Edinburgh!

Here’s the schedule for 28^th August:

12.05 – Possibly the Last Chance to See Susan Morrison, The Stand’s New Town Theatre. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:

“Susan Morrison is at an age and stage to get some funny stuff off her chest. Mid-life crisis? Nah. This definitely isn’t the middle of her life, but she’s still having a laugh. She survived the Cold War, shoulder pads and the Osmonds, but time marches on and it turns out the end might be sooner than expected, although she’s determined to breathe long enough to get her bloody pension. It’s been a funny old life and there’s a few things she’s learned along the way she’d like to pass on.”

This possibly will be the VERY last chance to see Susan Morrison as her show finishes today! It would be a shame not to see her before she gives up!

UPDATE: A show both funny and informative, as Susan takes us through some of us Edinburgh’s murkier history, early instances of swear words, and centuries-old sex clubs, before bringing the topics round to her own health and cancer diagnoses – but it’s never heavy, always light and funny. A very enjoyable Comedy hour! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

14.55 – Ada Campe: Too Little, Too Soon, The Stand’s New Town Theatre.

“Variety artiste Ada Campe decided to do some research into her family history during lockdown – and was delighted and intrigued by what she found! Join her for a show about wonderful women, surprising secrets and amphibian water ballets. ‘Very funny’ (Guardian). ‘Fabulous’ (ScotsGay.co.uk). ‘Genius’ (Sandi Toksvig). ‘Extravagantly mischievous’ (Chortle.co.uk). ‘A marvellous teller of tall tales’ (Scotsman). ‘Resembles an unhinged supervillain’ (DIVA). Winner: 2019 Good Egg Award, Stand Comedy Club. Winner: 2018 Hackney Empire New Act of the Year Show (NATYS). Winner: 2018 Leicester Square Theatre Old Comedian of the Year. www.adacampe.com”

We’ve never seen Ada Campe before but she looks like she’s a right laugh – so hopefully this will be fun.

UPDATE: Mad as a box of frogs, and I think she’d accept that description wholeheartedly. To be fair, there wasn’t a lot of content; but what Ada does, she does very well. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

16.45 – Wanderlust Assembly George Square Gardens.

“Hosted by an over-the-top and flirtatious host, this show delivers a dazzling array of exciting and naughty dance cabaret entertainment with frolicsome performers indulging in mesmerizing song and dance, acro, contortion, fire, pole and aerial acts, plus shameless comedic sketches, fostering oodles of audience interaction with hilarious and cheeky moments. It’s mischievous, it’s naughty and utterly wild! With a killer soundtrack and loaded with comicality, wickedness, killer vocals, hypnotic acts, dashes of nudity, exhilarating dance and so much more… this cheeky dance cabaret will leave you breathless and howling with laughter!”

More comedy and variety to while away a Sunday afternoon!

UPDATE: The last week of this show was completely cancelled, so we had drinks with friends instead!

18.30 – Sindhu Vee: Alphabet, Pleasance Courtyard.

“A show about the hair we want, the friends we have and living the vast difference between virus and viral. Expect ‘outspoken, frank and funny stand-up’ (Evening Standard) from this Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer nominee. As seen and heard on Live at the Apollo, QI, Have I Got News for You, Sandhog (Comedy Special) on Amazon Prime Video, Would I Lie To You?, Sex Education, BBC Radio 4’s Things My Mother Never Told Me (…About Lockdown) and The Guilty Feminist podcast. ‘Superior comedy… exceptionally funny’ **** (List).”

We’ve seen Sindhu Vee a couple of times and I love her acerbic style and great material. This should be excellent!

UPDATE: Sindhu Vee also cancelled the final performance of her show, so instead we went to see Basil Brush Unleashed and Uncut. Basil and Mr Martin were on terrific form, with a really funny show, with a great End of term feeling. There was also a very charming and moving tribute to the late Mr Derek. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

21.10 – Colin Hoult: The Death of Anna Mann, Pleasance Courtyard.

“Anna Mann is back! The acclaimed actress, singer and welder (gotta have a back up) returns after five long years to tell the incredible story of her life in the arts in this, her final hour. Visceral, real and achingly brave, Colin Hoult (After Life, Netflix) presents a hilarious meditation on life, death and literally everything in between. You will leave screaming ‘f*** off I love it!’ ‘Funnier than almost all other shows at this year’s Fringe’ **** (Telegraph). ‘Deliciously funny’ **** (Times). **** (Scotsman). **** (Time Out).”

I only discovered Anna Mann for the first time last year and she’s an absolute scream, so I can’t believe Colin Hoult is going to kill her off! Let’s hope it’s just a title, and not the truth.

UPDATE: Perhaps this really is the death of Anna Mann? Whatever Colin Hoult gives her an amazing send-off in this brilliant retrospective of her lives, loves and careers. Turned out very emotional in the end! One of the best comedy shows ever. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

23.00 – Spank! You and Goodnight, Underbelly, Bristo Square.

“Join the ‘best wild night out at the Fringe’ (Scotland on Sunday), Spank!, as they celebrate 20 years at The Fringe, and bow out disgracefully with this show-stopping one-night-only finale which promises to be a night to remember! With their favourite comedy and variety performers from over the years, keep an eye on @SpankComedy (Twitter) for the line-up. ‘Comedy and legendary party night… if you haven’t experienced this night, get down there right away!’ (Time Out). ‘It’s raunchy, raucous and ridiculous. Utterly and absolutely hilarious’ ***** (BroadwayBaby.com).”

So it was a no-brainer that we would have to book for the very last Spank of all, hopefully presented by arch-Spanker James Loveridge. I’m really sad that the era is ending, but this should be a great night.

UPDATE: The last ever Spank! was also the source of a lot of genuine emotion. We’ve loved this show over the past 8 years and it’s brought so much happiness to so many people. A wonderful last night final line up; brilliant acts who all made the night very special. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Back to the usual Fringe fare with some late-night comedy cabaret courtesy of Abigail and Dave with Abigail’s Party – Comedy Cabaret, at Underbelly Med Quad (Daisy) at 21:50 on Sunday 20th. This is what it says on the website: “Comedy Cabaret hosted by ‘supremely talented comic’ (Time Out) Abigail Burdess and her glamorous assistant Dave! Abigail wrote for the BAFTA-winning That Mitchell and Webb Look and Tracey Ullman’s Show! Dave can’t read! Abigail and Dave invite you to a fabulous comedy shindig of songs, characters and competitions. Jokes! Games! Exclamation marks! Let your inner party animal off the leash! With special guest stars – off the telly – every night! ‘Crazy fun’ (Sara Pascoe). ‘A shitload of fun’ (Robert Webb). ‘The best party I’ve been to in years’ (Lucy Porter).”

Abigail’s Party has been a regular event every month at the North London Tavern, Kilburn, and we went to see it in April. It is of course nothing to do with Mike Leigh’s famous play, but one of those uniquely Fringey comic shindigs where anything can happen. Dave (Abigail’s glamorous assistant) went to my school and owes me lunch. Check back around 11.15pm to see who were the guests and how much fun we had. By then the next preview blog should be available to read too.

That was enormous fun. Abigail and Dave know how to throw a great party and they’ve got loads of funny material up their collective sleeves. Abigail’s Malania Trump is a work of comedy genius. Guest artiste was the hilarious Sindhu Vee, who had brilliant “Indian family routines” material. An excellent pot pourri of fringey fun. Highly recommended!