Archive for category Angus Wyatt
Iain Stirling & Sean McLoughlin
Posted by Martin in Angus Wyatt, Iain Stirling & Sean McLoughlin, Just the Tonic on August 28, 2011
COMEDY****
Iain Stirling & Sean McLoughlin
Just the Tonic @ The Store
Comedian friends Iain Stirling and Sean McLoughlin unite at Just the Tonic’s new ‘The Store’ venue to present this hour-long stand-up routine.
I must immediately correct myself – ‘hour-long’ suggests an element of boredom, but if you ask me this show was an hour-short – I wish there had been more of it! These attractive young comedy stars were engaging and entertaining throughout the show, and coped extremely well in the face of a challenging audience. They equally divided the one-hour slot between them which created a contrasting and well-balanced show – you effectively get two great comedians for the price of one – a fact which again some members of the audience didn’t seem to fully appreciate.
This show contains everything a good stand-up show should – self-deprecation, inter-comedian banter, witty puns and hilarious anecdotes. McLoughlin has a sort of lanky awkwardness to him which is sort of endearing and amusing rather than distracting. He recounts how he was once described by a reviewer as ‘promising’, and I couldn’t agree more – I look forward to seeing where he’s climbed to by next year’s Fringe. As for Stirling, it is evident that he has been working in television as well – he has a great rapport with the audience, connecting with all of them and delivering a polished, professional performance.
My only criticism of this show is that some of the jokes and anecdotes didn’t necessarily work with this audience and in this venue – more a comment on them rather than the show itself though. Give these guys a year and they will undoubtedly be giving us a five star show in a much bigger venue – they really are stars of the future.
The Laramie Project
Posted by Martin in Angus Wyatt, Augustine's, Laramie Project on August 11, 2011
THEATRE* *
The Laramie Project
Augustine’s
It is undeniable that the events which inspired the creation of ‘The Laramie Project’ by Moises Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theatre Project were truly horrific, bringing international condemnation and eventually leading to the recent signing of the Matthew Shepard Act (enshrining homophobia as a hate crime in US legislation) by Barack Obama. As such, the original text is powerful, emotional and deeply moving. It is therefore disappointing and unfortunate that the Ophiuchus Rising production of The Laramie Project fails to capture the raw emotion of the story and lacks attention to detail which is so important in this piece.
This is an American student production, and that is evident from the outset – acting quality was generally substandard and stage presence was lacking. However, special mention must go to Joe Lilek who was outstanding throughout, and Jacob Trauberman who gave an emotionally strong description of the discovery of Matthew Shepard at the fence. It seemed that the gravity of the piece and equally the original events was lost on the young actors and the piece lacked emotional sensitivity at times. It was unclear what the director had done to develop the actors’ portrayal of the characters – it all seemed like an embellished rehearsal rather than a polished performance.
The use of projection for backgrounds and live video feeds of the on-stage action was an interesting idea, but it didn’t really work as it was out of time with the live action. A variety of music underscored the entire piece which wouldn’t have been a problem except that the music chosen was often too upbeat for the events being described. Furthermore, at one point a recent Enrique Iglesias song came on, ruining the 1998 setting of the piece – again a case in point of the lack of attention to detail.
There is much to be said about this production of The Laramie Project, but in keeping this review brief, I shall say this: the acting is unconvincing, the detail lacking and the technical aspects unnecessary – this production does not do justice to the original text. However, it is a true testament to the work of The Tectonic Theatre Project that even a poor production can still cause many of those in a very diverse audience to well-up – in my eyes, just the fact that it is The Laramie Project makes it worth watching.
The Ginge, The Geordie & The Geek
Posted by Martin in Angus Wyatt, Ginge, the Geordie & the Geek, Just the Tonic on August 10, 2011
COMEDY* * *
The Ginge, The Geordie & The Geek
Just the Tonic @ The Caves
It would appear that the idea of a ginger person, a Geordie and a geek somehow has some kind of massive attraction to people at the Fringe – this was a capacity audience and one which seemed to love what these boys do.
The comedy trio are all good actors as well as comedians, which makes a nice change from some of the lesser quality sketch shows. They also turned out to be incredible mime artists (always useful to have a fall-back trade!) An epic video-voiceover combination opens the show and sets the audience up for an hour of fun and frolics. There are some amusing, short, witty scenes, but generally this is not side-splittingly funny comedy – with the exception of the hilarious ‘Pure Imagination’ (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) re-make and the Dirty Dancing parody which closes the show.
Nonetheless, focus was maintained throughout and each sketch was new, original and exciting. It was evident that each sketch concept had been individually developed in order to deliver a well-thought through show which entertained and captivated the audience for the full hour. The only other downsides to the show were that some off-stage movement in the wings could be seen, and some of the scene changes could have been a bit slicker.
Kevin Cruise
Posted by Martin in Angus Wyatt, Assembly, Kevin Cruise on August 10, 2011
COMEDY* *
Kevin Cruise
Assembly George Square
There are a number of acts at this year’s Fringe who found fame on Britain’s Got Talent – for some, the publicity is working well for audience numbers (e.g. Out of the Blue), but for others there appears to be no impact – the latter being the case for Kevin Cruise.
Although Kevin’s show may be amusing to some people, he was in fact a physical representation of all that is despised about ‘entertainers’ (by which I mean the red-coat type). Kevin’s singing is very average – not terrible, but nothing special, and he isn’t really all that funny – I am not surprised that the equally untalented Amanda Holden loved him. Kevin also seems to have some sort of psychological complex whereby he thinks he is playing to a much bigger audience than he actually is (thirty is not three thousand!) At times, it was unclear what the point of Kevin’s show is – he creates this whole false story about his life – is he deluded enough to believe this story or does he just use it to crave attention? The answer is unclear.
At the end of the day, Kevin Cruise is little more than a failed performer; who’s jiggling sequined man-boobs were the most fascinating thing about the show. I credit his ability to entertain some people, but that is all I credit, and I certainly wouldn’t pay to see him.
The Noise Next Door: Their Finest Hour
Posted by Martin in Angus Wyatt, Noise Next Door, Pleasance on August 9, 2011
COMEDY* * * *
The Noise Next Door: Their Finest Hour
Pleasance Courtyard
Improvised comedy, like anything, is not everyone’s cup of tea, although credit must be given to the pure skill, inventiveness and genius of those who manage to pull it off successfully. The Noise Next Door are in this improvisation elite, and their show this year really is their finest hour.
The pre-choreographed routines and song templates had the audience in stitches which is encouraging as these are some of the very few fixed features of the show which won’t change with each performance. Equally though, the excitement of improvised comedy such as this is that each performance will be different based on audience suggestions, and The Noise Next Door make the most of the bizarre suggestions thrown at them. The downside to this unpredictability is that during some of the more challenging and unusual scenes the performers have a tendency to break focus and laugh at themselves, although in one scene they go through intensive conditioning to beat this lack of control out of them! The only other negatives surrounding this show was that one or two sketches/songs perhaps went on a bit too long; and a couple of minor technical errors distracted from the astonishing talent being presented on stage.
The five boys of The Noise Next Door are attractive, talented, quick-witted and quick-thinking, and I don’t doubt that they have an extremely promising future both here at the Fringe and out on the wider circuit.
Sophie Alderson is Running for President
Posted by Martin in Angus Wyatt, PBH Free Fringe, Sophie Alderson/Run President on August 9, 2011
COMEDY* * *
Sophie Alderson is Running for President
The Voodoo Rooms
‘Sophie Alderson is Running for President’ is the first solo show for the Unexpected Items comedienne. The show is essentially a comedic, light-hearted focus group in which Sophie invites the audience to help her discover what attributes the ultimate leader should have and whether she’s got what it takes in her leadership campaign.
Sophie’s performance was very natural and seemed almost effortless at times, repeatedly generating laughter from the audience. Her ability to create a believable and tangible character is undoubtedly the strongest side of her performance. The show has evidently been well planned and the concept is original and inventive. One brilliantly convenient feature was the creation of an unseen, abused secretary whose failure to complete a myriad of mundane tasks was frequently referenced, although this was often used to cover for a few in-show faults. On one occasion, Sophie also forgot the words to one of her many witty self-created songs, although she covered for the mistake immediately and it didn’t really detract from the overall impact of the show.
This show has a great concept behind it and a great comedienne and actor presenting it, but it needs a little more polishing and a few more practice performances in order to fulfil its full potential. Nonetheless, this is one of the better Free Fringe shows out there, and so worth seeing if you’re in the area and fancy a bit of light-hearted and stimulating comedy.
Oklahomaphobia!
Posted by Martin in Angus Wyatt, Oklahomaphobia!, PBH Free Fringe on August 9, 2011
COMEDY*
Oklahomaphobia!
Ciao Roma
I don’t think I have ever sat through a stand-up show as boring, disengaging and completely unfunny as Oklahomaphobia, and am frankly pissed off that an irreclaimable hour of my life was wasted seeing it. The description for the show gave little information as to what was involved, although it generated sufficient interest for me to go and see it – again, I wish I hadn’t. Even now I cannot really tell you what it was that I watched – apparently it was comedy, but I deem comedy to be at least vaguely funny – it was just a collection of ‘comedians’ reeling off some of their material in a boring and rambling manner. The only positive to this show was that the lead comedian took a very strong stance against homophobia (as alluded to in the description), although the title only inspires one joke rather than an underlying theme as initially assumed.
Thankfully this show is on the Free Fringe, and so people aren’t wasting money in seeing it, but they are wasting time – if I hadn’t been reviewing and desperate for a more inspiring end to the show, I probably would have walked out after about fifteen minutes. There was nothing witty or intellectual about the comedy, it was just a case of simple laughs for simple people. The show was also not helped by the awful venue that is Ciao Roma, although I suppose a poor show deserves no better – I just couldn’t help but thinking that there are hundreds of ambitious young performers out there who would have jumped at the chance to bag themselves a venue at the Fringe, regardless of its quality, and would have made better use of it than this atrocious excuse for comedy.
Showchoir! The Musical
Posted by Martin in Angus Wyatt, C Venues, Showchoir! The Musical on August 9, 2011
MUSICALS*
Showchoir! The Musical
C Chambers Street
With the rising popularity of Glee and an increasing number of show choirs forming across the UK, Showchoir! The Musical has a relevant concept behind it, and one which was able to draw a near-full house to this particular performance. However, I feel that the original concept and very limited number of comedic moments were the only positives to this show. That said, the plot for the musical is basically the past, present and future storyline of the fictional ‘New Directions’ from Glee – this meant that a perfectly acceptable concept was cheapened by a predictable copy-cat storyline. Another interestingly original idea was the portable mirror backdrop, although this didn’t really work and added very little to the overall experience of the show.
The acting was poor and lacked conviction, quality and believability. The choreography was cheap and often out of time. The cast were unprofessional and deficient of the ability to hold focus whilst on-stage but not in-scene. Additionally, the vocals were pitchy and dynamically unbalanced and the lyrics uninventive. Even the big musical numbers were boring, as they lacked vocal power and the support of a full band (there was just one man on one keyboard) – it felt more like a community show in a village hall rather than something worthy of a place at the Fringe. The only number I actually remember was one which repeatedly featured the lyrics ‘no day like today’ – methinks someone has been stealing from Jonathan Larson’s Rent – I also felt that this would have made a better closing number than whatever it was that did round-off the show, and it would have ended this awful performance about ten minutes earlier.
The Unexpected Items
Posted by Martin in Angus Wyatt, Gilded Baloon, REVIEWS, Unexpected Items on August 7, 2011
COMEDY* * * *
The Unexpected Items are On It, In the Zone, Off the Hook and Down with the Kids
Gilded Balloon
Like many of the comedy sketch shows gracing this year’s Fringe Festival, The Unexpected Items found their fame on YouTube (best known for ‘Gap Yah’ and ‘Newport State of Mind’), and so are able to capitalise on that in order to help them draw audiences – but that is not all they do. Whilst Orlando (the ‘Gap Yah’ kid) does feature again in this year’s sketch show, there are many other witty, amusing and inventive characters and scenarios played out by the comedy troupe.
The show opened and closed with two different, hilarious, full-company numbers, one about flash-mobs, the other about Nandos – you can already begin to imagine why the audience would be splitting their sides! Other highlights of the show include the return of Acting with Alan Rickman; and a brilliant impression of a ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ hopeful performing ‘The Jabberwocky’ – no need to mention the drop-kicking of a baby! The audience laughed throughout the show and some were even in hysterics at certain scenes; but something was lost from the show as a result of some occasional minor technical faults and a lack of focus which ended in the performers laughing at themselves. The comedians improvised well which helped to lessen the impact of such faults and actually roused further laughter from the audience; but unfortunately it prevented the show from being portrayed as professional.
It was clear that the show has been well-written and well-rehearsed, and all of the comedians have great comedic timing and create very believable characters, but it will take more focus, a few technical rehearsals and slicker scene changes to make this a five star show. But hey, there’s a strip scene!
Out of the Blue
Posted by Martin in Angus Wyatt, Out of the Blue, Pleasance on August 7, 2011
MUSIC* * * * *
Out of the Blue
Pleasance Courtyard
As a keen show choir president, admirer of a cappella groups and self-styled Gleek, I had high expectations going in to ‘Out of the Blue’, having previously seen them wow audiences on this year’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent’. They may not have won the show, but these boys certainly do have talent – a talent which would give ‘The Warblers’ a run for their money and one which had the sell-out audience awarding them rapturous applause and a standing ovation. Not only did they please (and play) the crowd, they were also completely faultless in both voice and choreography, remaining entertaining, energetic and note-perfect throughout.
As well as the fun, up-beat, high-energy numbers such as Firework, It’s My Life and Uptown Girl, there were also softer moments portrayed in Always a Woman and Fields of Gold. In terms of audience enjoyment, the highlight had to be Mustang Sally which featured the campest car I have ever seen. Choreography was original, light-hearted and sometimes even strangely sexy – these boys from Oxford certainly know how to rock Geek Chic. The lighting also added to the whole atmosphere – it was like being in the weirdest nightclub ever, but with better music. The more the show went on, the more I wished I had known about ‘Out of the Blue’ a few years ago – I don’t doubt that it would have influenced my university choice and how I hard I worked in school!
The boys of ‘Out of the Blue’ offer stunning vocals, camp choreography and even comedy – literally everything the Fringe has to offer, compiled into one awe-inspiring fifty minute show. It’s early days here at this year’s Fringe, but this really is the hottest ticket in town. In fact, I would be prepared to stick my neck out and say that ‘Out of the Blue’ is my hot tip for Fringe 2011 – truly stunning!
Puppetry of the Penis: 3D
Posted by Martin in Angus Wyatt, Assembly, Puppetry of the Penis 3D on August 6, 2011
THEATRE* * * *
Puppetry of the Penis: 3D
Assembly George Square
There are few words to describe the bizarre yet evidently talented performance presented in ‘Puppetry of the Penis’ and 3D really does add a whole new dimension to this show. I feel that on inventiveness, skill and braveness alone this show deserves high praise – I have never seen anything quite like this before (and probably never will again!) It was also evident that people love a bit of penis – this was a sell-out show and, to quote the woman who was queuing behind me, ‘everybody loves a good banana’.
I never knew that the male genitalia could be made to represent a sombrero, or a burger or Ayers Rock – the possibilities seemed endless in this genital origami show (like normal origami but without the paper-cuts!) They even give instructions on how male audience members can perform some of their tricks at home – I definitely saw myself in a new light in the shower this morning! As a man, it was also reassuring to be told by the two performers that none of the tricks were painful, although some of them looked like they would cause at least minor discomfort! The show seemed pretty slick and rehearsed (it would have to be!) although the duo did lose their way in the running at one point.
The advertising has been widespread, and the audiences are queuing in their hundreds, so it is undoubted that ‘Puppetry of the Penis: 3D’ will remain highly-popular at Fringe 2011. Although, one piece of advice for those going to see this show – sit in the middle of the auditorium for the full 3D effect, but stick to the back and don’t put your hand up…there’s a couple of audience participation sections! A completely bizarre, not-at-all arousing but downright impressive show not to be missed (unless you are under 18).
Mythbunking
Posted by Martin in Angus Wyatt, Mythbunking, Underbelly on August 5, 2011
COMEDY***
Mythbunking
Underbelly
Any show which can pull in a full house, during the afternoon, to the damp caves of the Underbelly, on just its second show is sure to do well at the Fringe. Furthermore, any show which features the comedy stylings of YouTube sensations Matt Lacey and Tom Williams, and is produced by the wonderful Unexpected Productions is guaranteed to be a popular crowd-pleaser.
‘Mythbunking’ has all the makings of being a great comedy hit, but I felt that it is not yet bedded in to its new venue and Fringe setting – I suspect that this is partly due to the recent start of its run, and also due to the hectic Fringe schedule of its stars (who also feature in the main Unexpected Items show). The result of this was that there were come awkward moments when occasionally lines or thought trains were forgotten and Tom and Matt were left to improvise – which, incidentally proved to be surprisingly successful for them!
Nonetheless the audience loved every moment and seemed to appreciate the improvised comedy created by the duo at usually off-putting moments such as late-comers and minor technical faults. There are some hilarious sections of the show and amusing use is made of multimedia through image and video projections and sound – I never thought I’d hear the lyrics of Tinnie Tempah’s ‘Pass Out’ altered to be a reference to the laddish and drunken shenanigans of Dame Judi Dench. This show even has a healthy dose of audience participation and, although I am not usually a fan, the audience seemed to be up for a laugh despite the dark, dripping surroundings.
I have no fear that this will soon become another great show for the team at Unexpected, but it just needs a little more rehearsal, performance and confidence to make it the show that it deserves to be.
Totally Tom
Posted by Martin in Angus Wyatt, Totally Tom, Underbelly on August 5, 2011
COMEDY****
Totally Tom
Underbelly
I shamelessly chose to go see ‘Totally Tom’ based on one YouTube video, a few reviews and some rather attractive advertising. However, I have now been enlightened as to the ways of this crazy comedy duo and I have to admit, I am highly impressed. Not just handsome chaps, the two Toms have created a highly witty and hilarious sketch show featuring everything from ‘Bratwurst’ – an entertaining ‘Skins meets Schindlers list’ style soap – to a re-creation of Oscar-winner ‘The King’s Speech’ but with a gay twist – some of these really have to be seen to be believed!
There was a brilliant balance between the two stars and neither outshone the other, each taking their turn to be the main character in each sketch, and each performing with vibrancy, energy and unparalleled talent. The show is clearly well written and extremely well rehearsed – this was only their second show, yet there was not a single noticeable mistake. The audience seemed entertained throughout, although perhaps enjoyed some sketches more than others. It would be impossible for me to pick a favourite sketch, although Queen Jumanji and the mocking of Shakespearean asides deserve a special mention for their side-splitting qualities.
My one query which hangs over this show is that it carries a 14+ rating, yet a myriad of expletives feature including the ever-despised ‘C-word’ – perhaps the producers would consider revising this to guard a great show against any unnecessary audience complaints. Regardless, Totally Tom is a comedy hit and will no doubt draw critical praise during its Fringe run – and hey, if you’re somehow not massively overwhelmed by their comedy, at least go for the view – these boys know how to brighten up the gloomy Underbelly venue!
NewsRevue
Posted by Martin in Angus Wyatt, NewsRevue, Pleasance on August 5, 2011
COMEDY****
NewsRevue
Pleasance Courtyard
It has been a highly varied year for news stories, so the team behind NewsRevue had a lot of inspiration for their new show; although I knew that a few months ago after I overheard the director discussing it on the phone. That’s right, unsurprisingly the recent News International phone hacking scandal was a major feature of this year’s NewsRevue, but it was presented hilariously, especially in the final musical medley which included parodies of both Journey in ‘Anyway she wants it, that’s the way you read it’ and Take That in ‘Never forget where you got it from’.
It was clear that a lot of research and planning went into the creation of this show, including some genius lyrics and witty short sketches on a huge number of topics ranging from the Pope singing ‘Bareback Necessities’ to a restaurant-style take on the Alternative Vote. The highlight of the show for me was ‘House of One’ – a take on the Madness hit ‘House of Fun’ but adapted to feature the Queen and Kate Middleton…it’s too funny to explain, so go see NewsRevue! The only downside to this show is that the format gets slightly predictable – each sketch is still very different and very funny, but in many cases, as soon as the characters are presented you can start to guess at what’s about to play out.
All of the four performers were equally talented, giving energy, conviction and great vocal ability to the sketches. Equally, the audience were entertained throughout although not quite as far hysterics, but it is clear that this show is a crowd-pleaser. However, I would suggest that those easily offended; any Libyans, David Cameron, News International (former) employees or relatives of the McCanns should probably think twice before going to see NewsRevue.
FRESHER the Musical
Posted by Martin in Angus Wyatt, FRESHER the Musical, Pleasance on August 5, 2011
MUSICALS****
FRESHER the Musical
Queen Dome, Pleasance Dome
With widespread publicity and boastful reminders of its 2010 Best New Musical award, FRESHER created quite an expectation for potential audiences – but I am happy to say that this was an expectation which it lived up to. Within minutes of its opening, this hilarious and highly realistic portrayal of the start of university life had justified every award it had won and potentially began the nominations for this year’s awards. The score was incredible, the characters believable and the energy maintained throughout. Having relatively recently experienced what it is to be a FRESHER, I felt I was able to connect with the characters who were excellently portrayed by five young, promising and highly talented actors. It would be difficult to pick a stand-out performer of the show, but in terms of character believability, convincingness and all-round aptitude I would have to say that Alexis Gerred, who plays Tuc Harris wins it for me; although the vocal talents of James Darch as Basil Wood are hard to beat. Likewise, singling out specific musical numbers is a challenge, but ‘Best Years of Your Life’ is stunning both musically and vocally and provides a great close to the show.
Sally Torode has taken a great concept in creating the storyline for FRESHER, but its real genius lies in the hilarious lyrics and brilliant musical score both by Mark Aspinall. The only disappointment however was that this show is deserving of a fuller band, more vocal depth and a larger venue – the Queen Dome, three-piece band and occasionally slightly empty vocals didn’t really do the original score and overall show complete justice. Don’t get me wrong, this is an incredible show and one deserving of several awards, but there were just a few minor qualities missing in this particular performance which prevent me from giving it a full five star review.
Regardless, FRESHER is one of the best musicals I have seen in my three years of coming to the Fringe and I fully intend to download the cast recording which is apparently now available on iTunes. All I hope is that this already amazing cast can rouse that extra 10% in vocal richness in order to give it what it needs to walk away with another handful of awards and critical acclaim.
The Hamiltons: High-Jinks with the Hamiltons!
Posted by Martin in Angus Wyatt, High Jinks with the Hamiltons, Underbelly on August 5, 2011
COMEDY***
The Hamiltons: High-Jinks with the Hamiltons!
Udderbelly
The notorious Hamiltons returned to Edinburgh with the pop of a champagne cork (no surprise there!) and a flourish of lighting effects. Despite the show starting half an hour late and the audience having been stuck outside in the rain (welcome to Edinburgh!), spirits seemed to be high – and I’m not just referring to the gin coursing through Christine’s veins. The pre-set for the show had a vaguely nautical theme to it and included a slideshow of hilarious images of the pair, who then appeared from inside a black box in a sort of camp-magic sort of way. There were some minor technical issues with microphones and Christine’s clashing pink and orange attire was verging on visually offensive, but other than that the show seemed to run pretty smoothly. Whether it was intentional or not however, the couple used clipboards to keep a track of who their guests were which I felt distanced them from more professional chat-show hosts and distracted from the hilarity at times.
The biggest downside to the show was that the bonkers Christine seemed to hugely overshadow a rather reserved Neil, almost preventing him from ever being involved – I felt that the elderly couple sitting in front of me who occasionally nattered about this and that (rude!) talked more than one of the stars of the show – it is clear that Christine wears the trousers, but I only wish a better balance had been created between the two performers. The brilliance of a chat-show such as this is that each performance will bring different guests and therefore a different atmosphere and quality to the overall experience. Admittedly, this makes my job as a reviewer challenging due to the fact that one show could be side-splittingly hilarious throughout and therefore in five-star territory but the next day could be awful.
Nonetheless, this is a light-hearted fun show with some hilarious moments and an unexpected full audience participation ending. The Hamiltons are like Marmite – you either hate them to the point of fabricating rape allegations, or you embrace their ridiculousness and pay £11 to see them here at the Fringe – for what it’s worth I would rather opt for the latter…I can’t be done with the paperwork and legal fees.
Angus Wyatt
Posted by Martin in Angus Wyatt on July 27, 2011
Shows that Angus is reviewing:
