Archive for category Comedy
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.
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.
Frisky and Mannish
Posted by Martin in Brett Herriot, Frisky and Mannish, Underbelly on August 25, 2011
COMEDY**** Frisky and Mannish
Udderbelly
Laura Corcoran and Matthew Floyd Jones return to the Edinburgh fringe as their alter egos Frisky and Mannish to complete the trilogy of productions with Pop Centre Plus.
Essentially the premise this time around is that Frisky and the gorgeous Mannish have taken it on themselves to open a centre to turn random nobodies in pop stars using their tried and tested series of tests and tasks with hilarious effects. Their ability to take known songs from the charts and the back catalogue of famous pop stars and make them something completely different is a unique talent. So cheesy dance numbers like “Saturday night” become power ballads and the Carpenters are given a new lease of life thanks to N-Dubz. The songsters build to a finale were they put together their own boy band with a little audience help ensuring the audience leave on a high.
What Frisky and Mannish do in terms of their show is being done by several other acts but what sets them apart is the infectious charm they present in their clearly defined characters that are so different from who Corcoran and Floyd Jones are in real life. The humour is topical but never offensive and their enjoyment of performing comes across from the stage to the audience. They are endlessly watchable and the hour long slot doesn’t seem long enough – I could watch them all night. As long as they continue to allow the act to grow greater heights lie ahead for them. For me personally I could sit and watch Mannish for hours alone so don’t miss out on seeing the Pop Centre Plus before the festival ends and life seems just that little bit duller again.
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.
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.
Drags Aloud
Posted by Martin in Brett Herriot, Drags Aloud, Underbelly on August 22, 2011
COMEDY**** Drags Aloud
Underbelly
It’s becoming a fringe tradition to have the drags aloud girls here to celebrate the season with us, and boy do they do it in style.
The theme for this years show at the underbelly is that of Showgurls! those wonderful women who are just a cut above the rest. We get a plethora of musical numbers from the three ladies intercut with a solo section each. These sections allow the gurls to explain how they came to be in the profession of drag theatre and what it means to them. Two out of three choose to do so in a highly comedic fashion. It’s the third of the drags aloud girls who opens her heart and lets us know it was by doing drag that she came to recognise her Transgenderism and realise it wasn’t a bad thing to want to be who you truly are inside. It was a moment of deep pathos in an otherwise camp comedy hour and really sets the drags aloud team apart from the rest. They also get through a succession of wonderful and colourful costumes. To make up for the quick change periods in the show they use some pre filmed segments on the big screen to join the show together to great effect.
If you’re looking for a fun filled late night comedy production then the Legendary Drags aloud are a must just remember to wear your sparkles when you see them!!
Michael Winslow
Posted by Martin in Brett Herriot, Michael Winslow, Underbelly on August 19, 2011
COMEDY**** Michael Winslow
Udderbelly
Anyone over the age of 20 will remember a string of films titled “Police Academy”. There was a character called “Sgt Motor Mouth Jones”, performed by Michael Winslow. Now Winslow has made his debut on the Fringe.
What he does is amazing – he really is a man of 10,000 sounds – everything from a bloke having a piss right through to a recreation of Jimi Hendrix live at Woodstock. He gives a full hour of belly laughs as he recalls his life growing up in the Motor City, Detroit and how radio infused his sense of sound. He also gives us a graphic demonstration of his ability to upset many an air steward. He also excels in his affectionate tribute to Star Wars – where an extract is projected on to a giant screen and the sound track is replaced by Winslow voicing the characters and special effects. He closes the performance with a tribute to Louis Armstrong.
This man is unique. His show at the up side down cow is selling out well in advance, so even though it may be a struggle, I’d say get a ticket while you can. This is one comedian who is unforgettable.
The Axis of Awesome
Posted by Martin in Axis of Awesome, Brett Herriot, Gilded Baloon on August 19, 2011
COMEDY**** The Axis of Awesome
Gilded Balloon
Jordan, Lee and Benny return to the fringe for their fourth season at the gilded balloon and they are packing them in!
The Axis of awesome have become somewhat of a fringe success story having started at the gilded balloon at the tiny sportsman’s theatre and working their way up the building to the debating hall which is the venue’s biggest theatre for this year’s show. What the three Aussie lads do is portray a rock back with a twist, they are happy to steal others tunes as well as present their own comedy efforts. Their humour is taken from observations on daily life as well as the cheesy side of modern pop music.
The music is always intercut with comedy asides but the joke surrounding Benny’s height is getting very old hat, which is why the review is four stars not five, if the boys are able to change their musical material so well then they must alter the comedy to match it. There were some pretty clever moments and a tribute to Harry Potter unlike any other I’ve ever heard.
The hour soon whips by with hits such as “floppy guy” and “KFC” getting the audience cheering. The axis became a YouTube sensation with a track called “4 chord pop” which splices together around 15 songs using the same four chords of music to brilliant effect. Thankfully the boys are always changing the make-up of this section keeping it fresh and getting huge roars of approval when they closed the show with it.
The show is sold out well in advance of the 21:30 slot so make sure you’re there early to get a ticket to the Axis and discover why there so awesome!
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 Boom Jennies
Posted by Martin in Boom Jennies, Pleasance, Sophie Alexander on August 17, 2011
COMEDY
The Boom Jennies
*****
Pleasance Courtyard
To any who state the old ‘but women aren’t funny’ diatribe, The Boom Jennies are about to knee you in the balls. But will do it with a smile, and a sprinkling of cayenne pepper.
These girls are sketch and character comedy at its absolute best. Often slightly surreal and with a touch of the bizarre, this energetic trio rocket through character sketches, a couple of hilarious dance routines and some brilliantly written running jokes. The focus on food becomes more apparent, but for no apparent reason too. Watch out for the mayo if you deign to sit in the front row.
The girls interact with the audience like old friends, mingling, with some slightly scary flirting and inviting unsuspecting guys to dinner. The best audience interaction I’ve seen at the Fringe, impeccably timed whilst making everyone feel quite at ease. They utilise every inch of their stage space making this performance an all round welcome attack on the senses. The hurricane-esque force with which these three perform is something other performers should take a note of. Managing to balance in your face laughs and subtlety quite perfectly.
The writing is fantastic, with a plethora of characters from a French pen pal gone wrong to a desperate single hankering for a husband. With a bloody great soundtrack; Cher anyone? This show was an hour of constant laughs, hilarious bemusement and free chips.
Be blown away by the Boom Jennies, go and support them and ask them to marry you. They’ll say yes.
Scott Capurro’s Position
Posted by Martin in Brett Herriot, Gilded Baloon, Scott Capurro's Position on August 17, 2011
COMEDY*** Scott Capurro’s Position
Gilded Balloon
The chat show continues to appeal to many stand-up comedians as an additional show during the festival. The Gilded balloon has placed Scott in the talk show chair alongside David Mills making it a truly gay and camp chat show hour.
The guests at my viewing were the immaculate and articulate Simon Callow who is enjoying a sell-out run with Tuesday at Tesco’s. He was completely engaging and got a great reception from the audience. The interview was intercut with a performance from Northern Theatre Companies “Sweet Charity” which gave the show variation.
The show is not bad overall and there are laughs to be had but you do kind of feel that is just a filler show in the gilded diary, one of which isn’t getting sell-out crowds to attend. The acts feature can’t all be to the standard of Mr Callow and “Sweet Charity”, therefore on a bad day it’s probably hit and miss.
If you’ve got an hour to spare around late afternoon then this show is good way to fill it. Watch out for Scott’s trademark sassy humour which is aimed at the gay audience but works just as well on those who aren’t LGBT.
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.
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.
Colm O’Regan: Dislike! A Facebook Guide to Crisis
Posted by Martin in Colm O'Regan: Dislike!, Gilded Baloon, Martin Powell on August 14, 2011
COMEDY
****
Colm O’Regan: Dislike! A Facebook Guide to Crisis
Gilded Balloon
In spite of the title this is not really about Facebook, although there are lots of references to it. We get a Powerpoint presentation with the look and feel of Facebook about the history of Ireland, where writing on someone’s wall has an entirely different meaning if they live in an end terrace in Belfast or Derry.
We are led through the life of the performer, from the unfashionable end of Co. Cork, growing up in the village of Dripsey, to his life in Dublin, through the financial crisis and beyond in a hilarious and intimate way. By the time he got onto the subject of idiotic solicitors’ letters, of which I’ve had a few, I was so drawn in I found myself in conversation with him and it took me a few seconds before I thought to myself “shut up you idiot, these people have come to see a comic genius not the ramblings of a jaded hack”.
Sadly readers of this publication will have to put up with the latter unless they have the good sense to see this show. I’d advise seeing it soon, when word gets out of how good it is tickets will be like gold dust.
Barry Cryer: Innit
Posted by Martin in Barry Cryer: Innit, Gilded Baloon, Martin Powell on August 14, 2011
COMEDY
*****
Barry Cryer: Innit
Gilded Balloon
Innit a stupid title? Yes, and that’s about the worst I can say about this show.
For several years before everyone was wandering round with a laptop I developed a habit of sitting in a large throne like chair in the Gilded Balloon’s Library Bar each evening and writing up my notes. One year it wasn’t there and Karen Koren, who runs the venue, came up to me and said “Barry Cryer’s using your chair in his act this year”. I was not sure whether to react to this by feeling I must have become part of the furniture at the Fringe or, as the Gilded Balloon is a university building and I had a chair there, that was the closest to a professorship I was ever likely to come. Barry Cryer is still using that chair.
He prefers to perform in a small space and for the last couple of years I’ve chosen not to see him so that others can have a chance. This year I decided to indulge myself and I’m glad I did. A majestic magic of mirth from a master.
We are taken on a somewhat unlikely A-Z of comedy ranging from Dave Allen, who Cryer has written for, via Bogart, Euclid, the Falklands War, Pete Postlethwaite, all the way to the Zimmer frame blues. But if you ask me whether Humphrey Lyttelton was H or L I’m sorry I haven’t a clue.
Cryer may now be 76 but he is clearly a long way from a Zimmer frame, and long may it last that way. Keep that chair Barry, you are making far better use of it than I ever could or would.
Vikki Stone – Big Neon Letters
Posted by Martin in Gilded Baloon, Jodie Fleming-Stanley, Vikki Stone & the Flashbacks on August 13, 2011
COMEDY
****
Vikki Stone – Big Neon Letters
Gilded Balloon
An hour of late night comedy that epitomises exactly what the fringe is all about! From her platform behind her keyboard, she regales us with hilarious anecdotal skits of her life so far along with her future aspirations. Most of it’s slapstick, with the occasional heart melter that’s soon pulled back with a dark or edgy shocker befitting the show’s late night billing!
Much of Stone’s performance is communicated by the medium of song, as she dessimates the classics with parotic replacement lyrics that will forever stay with you! Searing one-liners are shot at us in a fast paced hour which will have you clinging to the edge of your seat in laughter, together with a screen of Stone’s memories as a visual accompaniment.
Disney and thrush, abba and incontinence, dildos and Gordon gopher – these are just a few of the topics close to her heart, as she muses on Pierce Brosnan and wonders about the big neon letters that this performance would imply she’ll be seeing real soon. Stone’s brand of bad (read as incredibly good!) is accompanied by an incredibly talented drummer and a. Guitarist; the trio making up a motley Crüe of mayhem that will have you pissing yourself into the next morning.
David Morgan: Triple Threat
Posted by Martin in Brett Herriot, David Morgan: Triple Threat, Just the Tonic on August 13, 2011
COMEDY**** David Morgan: Triple Threat
Just the Tonic @ The Tron
Birmingham lad David Morgan brings his debut show to the fringe and wins over his audience with comedy and pathos.
David draws on his personal life story to give us stories about always being in the chorus of the many musical theatre productions he took part in during his childhood and teen years alongside his fixation with a boy name Clint that leads to a rather scary stalkerish photo board. He also takes swipes at the fact he is dyslexic and being very comfortable in own skin as he admits he is happy to be an out and proud gay man.
One of the endearing facts about David is his humour is never nasty and he includes his audience in comedy asides but it’s never at the expense of the audience themselves. The tone of the hour long show changes, as he recants the story of his coming out at school that had a mixed reaction especially from the headmaster who suggests to David’s mother that perhaps he shouldn’t be head boy any more due to his homosexuality. David goes on to tell us how his mother sprang to his defence ensuring that David got to be who he was on merit alone.
The added pathos alongside the humour made for a refreshing comedy hour and one which deserved to be seen. Catch this cute boy in action while you can!
Edinburgh Tonight with Joe Simmons and Lorraine Chase
Posted by Martin in Brett Herriot, Edinburgh Tonight, theSpaces on August 13, 2011
COMEDY**** Edinburgh Tonight with Joe Simmons and Lorraine Chase
Space Cabaret @54
The chat show theme is something which is appearing more and more on the fringe and this year due to Tommy Sheridan’s indisposition and following their success last year the Edinburgh Tonight team return to the fringe.
The show is simply the chat show of yore very much in the vein of Parkinson and Wogan with the exception that the guests get a small window in which to show a little bit of their act followed by a chinwag with the hosts.
The format from last year has been updated to include Joe’s onstage comedy partner, Michael Topping, (the best cabaret artist working in Britain today) at the piano to great comic effect. Also the delightful Lorraine Chase is added to the mix, which really gives the show a touch of celebrity glamour. Refreshingly, Lorraine comes across as being very grounded and gracious to the guests. Lorraine and Joe take microphone troubles in their stride as they introduce a mixture of acts taken from comedy, dance and cabaret. It was also a delight to hear Lorraine recall moments from her career but these never comes across as being showy but more memories from an interesting journey through life.
If this is the best talk show on the fringe, it’s because it comes a bonus. Each act who appears offers up a pair of tickets for their production to the assembled audience. The production is playing in the tea time slot of 16:45 and is a brilliant launch point for a night on the fringe. So get yourselves down to the bridges for a real treat.
