Archive for category PBH Free Fringe
Mae Martin: Mae Day, I’m Not Waving I’m Drowning
Posted by Martin in Mae Martin, PBH Free Fringe, Sophie Alexander on August 27, 2011
COMEDY
****
Mae Martin: Mae Day, I’m Not Waving I’m Drowning
The Rat Pack Piano Bar
Not all comedians can get away with that sort of look-at-me-I’m-awkward-cute-and-still-funny type of act, but Mae Martin, perhaps because she genuinely is all of the above, pulls it off.
What I really liked about Martin’s show was the breath of topic within her humour. Underpinning the show was her anxiety of life, YOYO (you’re only young once) and a general uncertainty of what direction she should be taking. These are feelings at some point, we have all felt, and to juxtapose them with increasingly amusing anecdotes and songs was kind of lovely.
The gawky slightly nervous demeanour enabled the audience to feel safe and as though they could relate to her. Hers is not the type of comedy where you’re terrified to sit in the front row, save the comedian verbally accosts you for your fine choice of plaid shirt. This is not to say her comedy strays on the safe side, it is an eclectic jumble of songs about endless showers, Ke$ha rants and a startling accurate impersonation of Julia Roberts.
I think when Martin is at her best, is when she is just sort of, fucking confident. She’s a clever gal; she knows how make an audience laugh. Her portrayal of herself as a young, spidery 14 year old is a bit silly, but loud and full of the confidence of a veteran comedian.
Mae Martin is enticingly endearing, despite looking slightly like Sid from Toy Story. I feel myself sort of willing her on throughout her set. There are moments of brilliance from this lady and I’m crossing my fingers she’ll be back in Edinburgh next year.
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.
Simply the Jest
Posted by Martin in PBH Free Fringe, Rex de Vil, Simply the Jest on August 23, 2011
COMEDY
***
Simply the Jest
Banshee’s Labyrinth
Consisting of 9 students currently studying at the University of Exeter, ‘Simply the Jest’ is a comedy troupe whose début show at this year’s Fringe may not be perfect, but is full of promise.
One understands how easy it is to assume that a show on the Free Fringe by undergraduates may not be worth the time, however there are some moments in this hour-long production that with the right direction and some focused editing could work extremely well. Take for example their advertised Maggie Smith sketch, in which Luke Theobald’s hilariously uncanny impression is lost amidst the skit’s poor structure and unfunny concept. Were the group to construct a solo Maggie monologue this would ensure that Luke’s impersonation is not subject to distraction and the ample opportunity for comedy is not lost. This lack of focused editing continues when observing the show as a whole – the opening sketch lacks impact, and the closing one drags on. With such a large group being self-directed one wonders whether such moments of unsuccessful material is due to the troupe lacking an outsider’s direction or editing in the devising process.
The stand out performer was without a doubt Bryony Twydle, whose subtlety and timing suggests an exciting future for her as a performer be it in comedy or theatre. Her contribution to a mostly successful sketch in which Hollywood veterans are interviewed was sublime, remaining controlled and composed unlike some of the show’s other contributors. This skit was a highlight, alongside one involving an English class for French students and some short interludes demonstrating fictional iPod Apps. With the latter, continued consideration and confidence in its moments of perverted humour could transform it in to something mighty.
Were this show not part Free Fringe, the rating for this review would be much lower – one recognizes however that this production far outdoes the car-crashes often observed as part of the PBH programme, and the potential is there.
News at Kate 2011
Posted by Martin in Martin Powell, News at Kate 2011, PBH Free Fringe on August 22, 2011
COMEDY
****
News at Kate 2011
Caio Roma
Some comedians like to keep a strict divide between themselves and the audience. Not so Kate Smurthwaite who likes to develop a relationship with them. She starts by the standard – asking people where they are from or what they do for a living – but here it works really well and gets us all on the same side.
Mind you if you have an imaginary friend in Jesus this is probably not the show for you.
The theme of the show is things that have been in the news in the last year and things that have happened to her, yet it was clear from some of the material that quite a bit of it was as recent as during the Fringe. My somewhat incoherent notes list subjects as diverse as supermarket checkouts, swearing in netball, the Daily Mail, Nicholas Parsons, the royal wedding, tampons, Santa, Brecht, and religion.
With a crisp delivery she really knows how to work an audience. Oh, and just to add to the fun this left wing performer is working in a space with quotes from Mussolini on the wall and the owner is called Franco. She assures me that to the best of her knowledge Hitler does not work in the kitchen. Now there’s a great show title.
You are Being Lied to
Posted by Martin in Martin Powell, PBH Free Fringe, You are Being Lied to on August 19, 2011
COMEDY
***
You are Being Lied to
Medina
David Mulholland, who originates from New Orleans, is a former journalist turned comedian. Traditionally US media if one ignores Fox News, are regarded as having a higher standard of fact checking than UK media, so Mulholland was interested to see just how inaccurate some of the stories in the UK press were. He takes a number of stories including EU myths and some economic reports and analyses the truth behind them. The details of the distortions are indeed appalling.
However to present this type of material well you really need to come across as angry and Mulholland to me comes across as a genial guy who wants to tell a few jokes as well as deliver this hard hitting material and the two don’t really fit well together.
All the same, a thought provoking show.
The Comedy Manifesto
Posted by Martin in Comedy Manifesto, Martin Powell, PBH Free Fringe on August 17, 2011
COMEDY
***
The Comedy Manifesto
The Voodoo Rooms
Some shows are almost impossible to fairly review. This is one of them. I’ve seen this show in three successive years and every time it has been the same but totally different. The format doesn’t change, it starts with the host, Kate Smirthwaite, doing a warm up. She then introduces two team captains, who now seem to have settled down to being Jools Constant and David Mulholland who have a couple of minutes to tell jokes. They then are joined by their team members, on the day I saw it Tom Webb and Sunna Jarmen, who do likewise. It then turns into a panel game. Divided into three sections the panellists are asked questions about news of the last year, are asked to come up with a test of Britishness, and finally to come up with a new law they would like to introduce. There were some extremely witty and at times thought provoking comments.
However, unlike most comedy shows, this one positively thrives on audience heckles or comments, with them being invited to award or take away points or to give their own answers to the questions and on the day I saw it this just didn’t work as most of the audience just wanted to sit there quietly. A great pity, for with the right audience this is a brilliant show.
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.
