Archive for category Martin Walker
Bridget Christie: Housewife Surrealist
Posted by Martin in Bridget Christie: Housewife, Martin Walker, Stand Comedy Club on August 24, 2011
COMEDY
*****
Bridget Christie: Housewife Surrealist
The Stand 2
Properly bonkers Bridget Christie takes to the stage in Catholic Priest garb and gorilla hands, dancing to a catchy version of the Dr Who theme tune. She goes on to throw biscuits (sorry – communal wafers) and spray (holy?) water over her capacity crowd. This is the first of many what the fuck? moments throughout this hour that make perfect sense once the punch line comes.
Christie describes herself as a Catholic, but she clearly has very little time for the pope, mocking his views on homosexuality especially. Nor does she approve of faith schools. She makes the point that “there is a lot of atheism about” amongst the large community of Stand Up comedians performing at the Fringe. Her husband is one of these atheist comics – portrayed here as a grumpy skeptic – and is the butt of many of her best jokes.
Ken Clarke’s idiotic comments about rape get another airing, but Christie’s take is fresh. She depicts the Catholic convert Tony Blair in confessional – and pokes fun at Larkin and Dawkins. She even squeezes in a skit on Martin Luther set in 1517.
I’ve been a fan of Bridget Christie since seeing her first Edinburgh Fringe show, Axis of Evil – which she performed with Andrew Doyle. This year she has surpassed herself, in a show that at its core, is intelligent satire masquerading as silliness. It features possibly the best Nick Clegg joke I have ever witnessed. The ending, featuring the Ascension of Jesus – is priceless.
Free Sexy Love Money
Posted by Martin in Free Sexy Love Money, Martin Walker, PBH Free Fringe on August 24, 2011
COMEDY
****
Free Sexy Love Money
The Street
Three weeks of performing at the Fringe sorts the kids from the grownups. By now your show has caught the collective Fringe audience imagination or it’s sunk, soon to be forgotten. Daniel-Ryan Spaulding’s Free Fringe stand-up show: Free, Sexy, Love, Money is clearly a huge success. He played to a capacity audience tonight and it’s no surprise to hear he has extended his run.
At the top of the show the openly gay Canadian confessed to having high self esteem – a state of being he clearly deserves. Spalding isn’t arrogant or sneering, but he’s intelligent and above all, very funny. He’s also adaptable, making the most of the fact that a number of Scottish Bears were in to see tonight’s show. He describes the audience as his “Circle of Love”. Yes, we’re up for that.
Whether discussing TV show Murder She Wrote (“which succeeds in being both morbid and whimsical”), the offensiveness (or not) of the word “cocksucker”, the Grinder app for the iPhone, or sending up the hard working lesbians with a heart of gold, Spalding is on solid ground.
His material is tight, his delivery is strong and his timing is perfect. He doesn’t fit into the public image of the comedy gay yet, but when society is ready, Daniel-Ryan Spalding will fit the bill.
Stewart Lee: Flickwerk 2011. Work In Progress
Posted by Martin in Martin Walker, Stand Comedy Club, Stewart Lee on August 23, 2011
COMEDY
*****
Stewart Lee: Flickwerk 2011. Work In Progress
The Stand 1
Stewart Lee professes to have no material for his show. Apparently routines are born in life experience and all Lee does these days is gig and watch Scooby Doo with his kids.
This conceit of course, is typical of Lee’s self deprecating style. And it’s how he gets away with being so damned clever. He knows. His audience knows he knows. Outsiders that call Lee arrogant have either a) never seen him perform or b) haven’t listened very well.
Fans will be familiar with his trademark audience partitioning. Arbitrarily splitting the room into those that get it – and those that don’t – encourages all to keep up. Part of the magic of stand up is the interaction between audience and comic. No one exemplifies this better than Lee – the audience is ready to laugh from the moment he walks on stage.
Jungle canyon rope bridges, Tory cuts, The News of the World paedophile panic, Radovan Karadžić, Scooby Doo, Atheism, whatever. No matter in what direction he goes, the audience is with him.
As a satire on ‘mainstream’ comedy, his act is best enjoyed if you are familiar, but not necessarily a fan of, ‘Mock the Week’, and other mainstream TV comedies. His view of such shows was recently illustrated in his own BBC2 series, Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle, when he suggested a much better programme might be, ‘Mock the Strong’.
Towards the end of the show Lee reads out some (real?) comments made about him on the internet. Some of it was misinformed criticism; most of it was simple hatred. The fools. It’s not going too far to state that with his growing audience he is genuinely loved. And no wonder – Lee is the kind of comedian who rewards familiarity – the more you know him, the more you laugh.
His latest show is always his best. Without a doubt, Stewart Lee is the best comedian working today.
Hex
Posted by Martin in Hex, Hill Street Theatre, Martin Walker on August 14, 2011
THEATRE
*****
Hex
Hill Street Theatre
Strangetown Theatre Company’s new work, ‘Hex’ starts conventionally enough – with an entertaining tête à tête between Gwen (Sarah MacGillivray) and her husband, Toby (Ben Clifford).
As they argue over the merits of mystics, mediums, psychics and other charlatans, it becomes clear that something odd is happening in their home. Gwen’s trying to find a way to fix it, she’s a true believer; indeed, she embraces any idea that is vaguely supernatural. Toby is a skeptic, who appears to be losing his patience with the array of fakes that Gwen invites into their front room.
Tonight their visitors are Siobhan (Beth Godfrey) and 6 (Coleen Garrett). They practice orthodox superdimensional retrotranscendental quasi-quantum thaumaturgy – apparently. They claim to be magicians. They say that they can help the couple with their, as yet unknown, problem.
To give any more away would be remiss. Suffice to say that the major comic twists delivered in this highly original work by Tim Primrose and Sam Siggs are inspired. Their script is rich with layered ideas, callbacks and brilliant one-liners. You will be pressed to find a funnier play at the Fringe. Indeed, the audience laughed longer and louder than many shows I’ve seen this year listed under ‘Comedy’ in the Fringe Programme. It’s also strikingly intelligent. I really didn’t want ‘Hex’ to end.
There is a lot of talk about discovering hidden gems this Fringe. I can’t claim ‘Hex’ as mine, as the play performed to a full house the night I was there. And it’s already been endorsed by SF/Fantasy legend Neil Gaiman.
Just go and see it.
Sarah Archer: Bumfluff and Brimstone
Posted by Martin in Martin Walker, Sarah Archer: Bumfluff, theSpaces on August 14, 2011
COMEDY
***
Sarah Archer: Bumfluff and Brimstone
theSpace @ The Surgeons Hall
Sarah Archer is a likeable lesbian, who has just turned forty. Her routines focuses on her life, her ex-husband, and events in her past that made her laugh. She also has a surreal edge, and it is these moments that are easily her best.
There is some good stuff here. The gag regarding the duck on the golf course was great and the advice her father gave her about men and what they keep in the trousers, was very funny. She also did this brilliant Star Wars skit, using members of the audience. Sadly there was also some less good material. Her routine on expectant motherhood must only have served to scare the pregnant woman in the audience and the Disney musical satire was met with near silence.
Archer hasn’t quite found her voice yet, some of her material is very strong, but her performance could do with a bit more direction. She has a tendency to tell members of the audience to stop laughing, so we do. She frequently laughs at her own jokes too, which can be irritating.
However, on balance, you’d have to say that there is much to be enjoyed here. There are some terrific original ideas and some hearty belly laughs. As someone who has watched a lot of Stand-Up, I can see the potential. A bit of work with an experienced director will bring out the best in her.
Hypnotist Titan Knight
Posted by Martin in City Edinburgh Nightclub, Hypnotist: Titan Knight, Martin Walker on August 14, 2011
COMEDY
****
Hypnotist, Titan Knight
City Edinburgh Nightclub
I was dreading this performance. I’ve never really approved of stage hypnotism, thinking it degrading to its subjects. Nor, if I’m honest, have I ever seriously believed it, thinking that the participants must be stooges. Never the less, I went to the City Edinburgh Nightclub with an open mind. Now it has been opened further.
The show begins with a support act, Mark Sheppard. Cross dressing, genderless, and very cool – a couple of years back he supported Lady Gaga on tour. Think Gaga and you’ll get the idea of where he’s at.
Then came Titan Knight, the main event. The lighting is spectacular, the video screen is enormous and the audience – they go bananas.
I’m not going to say much about the following 90 minutes, the less you know, the more you’ll enjoy it. Needless to say, it didn’t degrade anybody, though the performance was at times very, very funny. I also now know for a fact that stage hypnotism is very real – no stooges were used throughout the evening.
I’m a skeptic, I don’t believe in magic, or God, or Santa Clause. In Titan, I believe.
Catie Wilkins: A Chip Off the Odd Block
Posted by Martin in Catie Wilkins, Martin Walker, Underbelly on August 14, 2011
COMEDY
***
Catie Wilkins: A Chip Off the Odd Block
Underbelly
Rich subject matters for comedians – one’s parents, children, partners or other embarrassing relatives or spouses. If a comic is going to approach this area yet again, better that they come up with something original.
Appearing in Edinburgh as a debut Fringe comedian, Wilkins explains that her pedant father turned his back on the Swinging Sixties, in favour of accountancy training for a supermarket. Meanwhile her mum is an over emotional time bomb, exploding unpredictably at irregular intervals.
Fortunately this familiar family stuff is given a fresh kick by an energetic, infectious and compulsive performance – Wilkins is much slicker than a debut Fringe comedian should be. It was extremely wet the night I attended, the audience wasn’t exactly in the best of moods, but Wilkins very quickly lifted the room and cheered everybody up.
She’s good. And speaking as someone who prefers his comedians edgy – which Wilkins palpably isn’t – I look forward to seeing her career develop. If she can win ME over with this sort of material, then she’s on to something.
Chris Martin: No. Not That One
Posted by Martin in Chris Martin: No. Not That One, Martin Walker, Underbelly on August 14, 2011
COMEDY
***
Chris Martin: No. Not That One
Underbelly
This is Chris Martin’s debut hour at the Edinburgh Fringe, having previously played ten or fifteen minute club spots. He is charming, competent, and with the exception of a little (probably unintended) casual homophobia, pretty inoffensive.
He’s a nice guy, and is the boyfriend that your mother would love. To be fair, your mother would probably go for his humour as well. The script is well structured, properly paced and very well executed. He’s an observational story teller – Martin could adequately cover for Michael McIntyre on TV, should he phone in sick. There are enough people out there, who see this as a compliment, to ensure his future success.
It does take a particular kind of skill to make the mundane, like parking a car, funny. The reality is that it just isn’t enough for me. I did laugh more than once during this hour, but I left the theatre thinking, “so what?”
Milo McCabe: Get Brown
Posted by Martin in Gilded Baloon, Martin Walker, Milo McCabe: Get Brown on August 14, 2011
COMEDY
****
Milo McCabe: Get Brown
Gilded Balloon
The hardest working comedians are the character comics. Whilst performing, every stand-up comedian is in character to some extent, as exaggerated versions of themselves. Milo McCabe, and his like, invent whole new personalities from scratch and then try and get funny with them.
In ‘Get Brown’, McCabe performs as four unique characters – taking part in a spoof daytime television chat show.
Philberto, the Portuguese warm up man, kicked off proceedings. McCabe has been performing as Philberto for years and the poor treatment this character receives tonight signposts the desire of McCabe to move on. Tyson Moon, son of 70’s Irish legendary comic Kenny Moon, was the first guest. Moon is as old school as his dad and the further McCabe pushed it – including some racist material – the funnier this character was.
The second guest was camp Liverpudlian, Anthony Sixsmith, the new age drummer. Ripping the proverbial out of bad science healing therapies is always good for a laugh, and here it was intelligently done, if not very sympathetically. Finally there was Australian, Nobbo Johnson, the ex football player turned culture commentator. Imagine David Beckham on NewsNight Review and you’re there.
The genius of McCabe is that each character is so unique, if they weren’t appearing in the same show, you might wonder if they were actually real. The script was strong and there was plenty of audience interaction, with running gags gluing the whole thing together. All in all, a very funny and very satisfying hour.
Jen Brister is British(ish)
Posted by Martin in Jen Brister is British(ish), Just the Tonic, Martin Walker on August 13, 2011
COMEDY
*****
Jen Brister is British(ish)
Just the Tonic @ The Caves
I did wonder what on earth was in store for this almost capacity audience, when the British National Anthem blares at the top of this show. An as yet unseen, Jen Brister, urges us all to stand to attention and sing. Thankfully nobody does, the music is cut, and the comedian gets down to the business at hand.
Brister’s mother is Spanish, but her father’s English. The result is a stunningly attractive “sepia tinged” comic, who is forever being asked where she comes from “originally”. Or as she put it – where she “really, really” comes from. This question leads her to consider what it really means to be British(ish).
To attempt to list the highlights of this show would be futile; the whole thing was so mightily impressive. Her stereotypically overbearing mother was given – or if we believe Brister – gave the comedian, many of the show’s best lines. The idea that her mum couldn’t pronounce ‘Stephen’, her own son’s name, set the ball rolling.
Brister also talks openly about being a lesbian. The routine around having to watch girl-on-girl porn with a room full of strangers was hilarious, but the point about women’s treatment in such films was well made.
Brister’s timing was perfect and her mimicry spot on. Upper class English, working class Australian and of course, her mums Spanish were beautifully voiced.
This was as near a perfect stand up performance as I have seen. On the basis of tonight, she would look very much at home on any stage, any size, anywhere. If Jen Brister is not appearing on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow very, very soon, then perhaps Stewart Lee, the finest stand up on the planet, can find a space on his Comedy Vehicle’s red button. There is no greater accolade.
Paul Foot: Still Life
Posted by Martin in Martin Walker, Paul Foot: Still Life, Underbelly on August 13, 2011
COMEDY
****
Paul Foot: Still Life
Underbelly
Followers, or rather connoisseurs, of the openly gay Paul Foot will be familiar with the OCD like attention to detail on which his routines are based. ‘Still Life’ takes it to a whole new level – it seems to take an age for his back stage introductory announcement to conclude… even longer for him to talk us through what would happen when the show finally began. Everything had to be just right and there were many false starts. This is all, of course, part of the fun.
More and more people have cottoned on to the humour of Foot. Those pockets of the audience that didn’t ‘get it’ in previous years, were nowhere to be seen tonight. There’s a Pythonesque quality to his material – in that on paper, it really shouldn’t work. I doubt whether anyone but Paul understand why it does.
Satisfyingly, we’ve seen a glimpse of how his humour might work on television. His appearance on Buzzcocks, alongside his friend, Noel Fielding, has proven that his act can translate to the small screen with relative ease. He also proved that he can improvise. That skill was tested successfully tonight when a sketch involving the audience and a stuffed animal, could have gone horribly wrong.
If the execs at the BBC are reading this – give Paul Foot his own show.
Rosie’s Pop Dairy
Posted by Martin in Just the Tonic, Martin Walker, Rosie's Pop Diary on August 11, 2011
COMEDY
****
Rosie’s Pop Dairy
Just the Tonic at The Tron
Before Rosie Wilby became famous for being a stand-up comic, she was (less) well known as a 90’s Brit Pop singer – heading her own band. She had performed at Glastonbury and Ronnie Scott’s before jacking it all in and turning to comedy. This show is a pleasant and nostalgic look at Wilby’s life in the band, built around her self-penned pop diary which was published from 1996-2000 in ‘Making Music’ magazine.
Along the way she reads poems and letters from her old fans. She gives us the juicy details of the band members she slept with, and wanted to sleep with – but we don’t really get under her skin. This is still a comedy show after all, and we don’t have time for too many inner feelings.
Wilby is an accomplished singer, lyricist, comedian and story teller. She sings five of her favourite songs from the era: “Everything is Wrong”, “You Amaze Me” (about her then girlfriend Stephanie), “I Want You” (about Jo, another woman that she fancied), “This Time” and “Reward” punctuate the funny stories.
She does have a story to tell. I enjoyed it. Actually, I loved it. But I can’t help feeling there is more that she isn’t telling…
Rachael’s Café
Posted by Martin in Laughing Horse, Martin Walker, Rachael’s Cafe on August 11, 2011
THEATRE
****
Rachael’s Café
Jekyll & Hyde
You won’t find it in the Fringe programme, but this terrific piece of Free Fringe theatre by Lucy Danser is well worth a look. It tells the real life story of US Midwest Christian Eric Laverne, who becomes Rachael Jones, and buys a café.
It’s a beautifully written one person piece, as the tale of this sensitive and strong pre-op transsexual woman is played out. It is in turns humourous and poignant, with a moral code that says, ‘everyone is equal’. When Rachael states at the top of the play that, “this isn’t a GLBT café, everyone is welcome here. No exceptions…” the tone is set.
Of course no man, or woman, is an island. When Eric became Rachael she already had a wife and three children. How Rachael’s family came to terms with her transition – and Rachael’s response to their varied reactions, becomes the focus of the piece.
Rachael is convincingly portrayed by the charismatic actor Graham Elwell, in a challenging role that demands subtlety of emotion and utter conviction – the part could easily have been overplayed in less competent hands. And it’s hard to believe that this is Lucy Danser’s first play – a young woman with a fine writing career ahead of her.
Notable mention must also go to Joyce Terry, the most persistent show promoter on the Fringe. And that really is saying something.
Paul Sinha: Looking at the Stars
Posted by Martin in Martin Walker, Paul Sinha: Looking at the Stars, Stand Comedy Club on August 11, 2011
COMEDY
*****
Paul Sinha: Looking at the Stars
The Stand 3
Last August, Paul Sinha’s show ‘Extreme White Vitriol’ discussed, amongst other things, the British National Party and argued for dialogue with the individuals who advocated racist or other objectionable views. Not a tactic shared by many on the left.
Later that year, Sinha had the opportunity to meet Jim Davidson, something that he was understandably reluctant to do. Since the death of Bernhard Manning, Davidson is the highest profile (allegedly) racist, (allegedly) homophobic and (truly) misogynistic comedian in Britain. Would Sinha be willing and able to follow the message of his last show – and meet him?
This is one of many, very loosely connected stories that Sinha tells with the confident touch of a real professional. Unlike too many stand up shows this Fringe, the show doesn’t appear over-written and so it feels like a genuine performance, unique from the gigs on other nights. His delivery is a little slower than before, which allows the audience to keep up with the jokes. Not a line is wasted.
To date this is the best stand-up I’ve seen this Fringe, from a comedian who should be on the television much more often. He says that he doesn’t have a face for TV, but he’s much better looking than Michael Hazen James McIntyre.
Mark Thomas: Extreme Rambling (Walking the Wall)
Posted by Martin in Bongo Club, Mark Thomas, Martin Walker on August 11, 2011
COMEDY
****
Mark Thomas: Extreme Rambling (Walking the Wall)
The Bongo Club
Based on Mark Thomas third book, this stand-up show comes to the Fringe following a successful sell-out UK tour. Thomas tells the story of his walk along the illegal Israeli separation barrier, which he argues suits neither side of this land dispute.
The laughs come from the rich characters he portrays, rather than the situations, which are often rather grim. He depicts himself as a self-deprecating ‘Englishman abroad’ – a stereotype that he embraces with surprising relish for a man on the left. Exclaiming, “Sorry I’m English” in pseudo-Boris bumbling fashion seems to have genuinely got Thomas out of a few scrapes. Phil the hippy cameraman… the former cadet who constantly quotes Monty Python… the rich Zionist house builder who believed that Israel stretches as far as Iraq… and many others add to the tapestry of personalities.
Ultimately though, the reality of the wall is what lingers in the memory, long after the show has ended. This wall, or fence, or barrier, has separated communities, schools, and even homes. It segregates the Palestinians and Israelis further, leading to more conflict and less tolerance.
The story of Israeli settlers’ daily throwing stones at Palestinian children on the way to school was shocking, even for those familiar with the conflict.
Mitch Benn
Posted by Martin in Martin Walker, Mitch Benn Solo, Stand Comedy Club on August 11, 2011
COMEDY
****
Mitch Benn
The Stand 3
Fresh from frequently being the funniest thing on BBC Radio 4’s The Now Show, the ‘country’s leading musical satirist’, Mitch Benn presents his first solo Fringe show in years. Benn has a rich Fringe history, originally appearing as one of the Improverts at Bedlam theatre, whilst at Edinburgh University. He’s lost a LOT of weight in the last year or so and he’s looks terrific. Those of you attending the show expecting the Bear of old will be disappointed.
Highlights? There are a-plenty. His tribute to the BBC, in the style of Bob Dylon, or if you prefer, Billy Joel, served to remind us what we’ll miss should the institution be diminished. You can buy the T-shirt here: www.mitchbenn.com/proudofthebbc
The satirical tribute to Eurovision, which imagined each European county shouting racist insults at each other rather than singing, during the unfeasibly popular contest, hit the nail of the head beautifully. And his routine asking why members of the British National Party were so fat was hilarious.
The very best bit for me was the brand new take on a number he has been performing with his band, ‘The Attractions’ for years. To rap the story to MacBeth to the tune of Eminem’s ‘My Name Is’ using only an iPhone app – which he programs as we watch – was genius.
Sadly, in this short hour there was no time for other favourites, ‘Happy Birthday War’, ‘Everything Sounds Like Coldplay now’ or his skit on James Blunt – but wanting a show to last a lot longer is hardly a criticism is it?
Ava Vidal: The Hardest Word
Posted by Martin in Ava Vidal: The Hardest Word, Martin Walker, Stand Comedy Club on August 11, 2011
COMEDY
***
Ava Vidal: The Hardest Word
The Stand 5
Is ‘sorry’ the hardest word? Ava Vidal clearly thinks so. In this cosy makeshift performance space above the GHQ gay club, she delivered a pretty run of the mill set, with only a couple of real stand out moments. This was competent stuff and the audience certainly laughed in all the right places, but it treaded very familiar ground. Nor did she delve too deeply into her chosen subjects – racism, Islamophobia, being a parent, celebrity and so on.
Her strongest section was during a discussion about racism in Australia – and the continued prejudice endured by the indigenous communities there – despite a very public apology by the Australian government. One got the feeling that this was the bit of the show she most cared about – and it showed. She also briefly talked about homophobia and the tensions between gays and Muslims. Sadly she resorted to making statements here – although she may well have been right – there was very little to back up her argument. Another section attacking Johann Hari – again making statements without any, well, facts, left me cold because I simply didn’t agree with her.
Ava Vidal is a very talented comic, who has a shot at making it really big. She could be selling out venues several times this size if – and I hate to sound patronizing – she tried just a little harder.
Josie Long: The Future is Another Place
Posted by Martin in Josie Long Future/Another Place, Martin Walker, Pleasance on August 11, 2011
COMEDY
****
Josie Long: The Future is Another Place
Pleasance Dome
There is much more political comedy around since the ‘election’ of this Con/Dem coalition and it’s easy to see why. The hatchet job on pretty much everything that working people care about – cuts in schools, hospitals, libraries et al – demand a satirical response. The recent riots in England must also be addressed.
Josie Long, once described as the queen of whimsy, has gone proper political. And so the familiar comic themes of being let down by New Labour and of-course, hating the Tories receive another Fringe airing tonight. The difference here is that whilst other comics have merely observed, Long has gotten herself involved.
As a supporter of ‘UK Uncut’ she discussed the occupations of tax avoiding businesses during the half million strong demo in London in March. It’s now common knowledge that the police commanders lied to activists, but the protesters subsequent vindication in the courts has done nothing to dampen her anger over the event. And when Long is angry, she’s funny.
She’s also appeared on political panel shows on TV, and most poignantly, corresponded with a member of the Black Panthers on death row. Whilst Long conveyed despair to the captive American, he in turn, replied with optimism – urging her to continue to stand up for her beliefs.
Her skill is to make this ‘message comedy’ very funny, even for those in this capacity audience that disagree with her. And as a performance, it totally works. There are one or two digressions away from politics – her take on the Bronte Sisters gave us the Josie Long of old, but overall she delivered some of the very best political comedy I have seen.
My only real quibble is that she kept apologizing for this new found anger, stating that the Con/Dem coalition has “made me a much worse comedian”. I whole-heartedly disagree.
Andrew Doyle’s Crash Course in Depravity
Posted by Martin in Andrew Doyle Crash Course, Just the Tonic, Martin Walker on August 8, 2011
COMEDY
****
Andrew Doyle’s Crash Course in Depravity
Just the Tonic at The Store
A reviewer previously described openly gay Andrew Doyle’s act as a crash course in depravity, with good reason on the basis of tonight. This is a bold, brash, confident hour by the solo stand-up Fringe newcomer. It’s not a set for everyone, but the show has ‘Depravity’ it the title – and you get what you pay for.
Doyle doesn’t just resort to shock tactics to entertain this capacity audience however, though shocks, there are a few. This is intelligent stuff as he exposes the absurdity of Catholicism, sex, racism and homophobia. He occasionally deconstructs his own work in the style of an angry, queer version of Stewart Lee, but also reminds one of Jim Jeffries or Brendon Burns. Scott Capurro’s influence as director is often apparent, though this is a very different show to his. However, like Capurro’s shows, if you do not want to take part, don’t sit in the first few rows.
On reflection, perhaps the point of the show is lost a little, as the more extreme physical elements inevitably linger longer in the memory. Doyle’s one of this country’s great comic wordsmiths, but here his actions are so much louder than his words. It seems churlish to be so picky about such a good, strong performance, but he is very close to producing a very rare five star stand up show – if he can get that balance right.
That said, if you want to have a damn good laugh, by an up-and-coming star, you’ll see few shows that deliver this often – and this well.
Pinocchio: A Fantasy of Pleasures
Posted by Martin in Martin Walker, New Town Theatre, Pinocchio: Fantasy of Pleasures on August 6, 2011
DANCE
****
Pinocchio: A Fantasy of Pleasures
New Town Theatre
Austin McCormick’s bilingual operatic dance remix of Carlo Collodi’s classic delivers a mash-up of genres frequently seen fused on the Fringe stage, but rarely this well.
Pinocchio, the wooden boy, sets off for his first day at school, but an amorous encounter with an enchanting Blue Fairy, leads him astray. Burlesque, S&M and gay and straight sex form the backdrop to ‘Pleasure Island’, a decadent Venetian Carnival and depraved paradise, where Pinocchio is made to perform for spectators like a slave.
Baroque choreography, eclectic music, Pop Culture, Opera, burlesque, ballet, gender-bending, high fashion, and sumptuous design ensure that this feast for the eyes succeeds in entertainment that’s both highbrow and accessible. Cutting-edge, yet extravagantly classical. This will be enjoyed by most, though a basic grasp of the Pinocchio story will deliver the best results.
Seen during a preview on the second day of the Fringe run, there were sadly one or two sound problems. Also, as other audience members later commented, there were “some interesting lighting decisions”. One doesn’t usually come to the theatre needing a torch. Finally, the full stage, and therefore much of the action, couldn’t be seen by many in the audience in seats not near the central aisle.
However this was a Preview and these quibbles will be addressed. And when they are, Pinocchio: A Fantasy of Pleasures will doubtless be a five star show.
