Hosted by Thom Tuck with changing judges and lawyers for defense and prosecution, This Is Your Trial invites audience members to accuse their friends (preferably present) of injustices. Essentially this is very structured improv but tonight it worked very well.
Accusations included someone of being "inexcusably tall" (at 6 foot 6 they very nearly "the height of The Beast"), a man of stepping on his friend's glasses (for a builder the accused did seem like a hipster and his friends were suspiciously middle-class looking), and one person even accused Scotland (yes, the nation of Scotland) of not existing.
In this melting pot of accusations, the lawyers were able to make some very creative and fun arguments, and many of the laughs came from genius puns (I confess, I'm a pun lover, and this show played right up my street).
Overall an excellent night and fun and playful accusations, creative and inventive legal arguments. a great way to end this year's festival.
Score: 8/10:
Venue: Assemble George Square Theatre
Dates: 27th-30th August
Time: 23:30
Price: £12.50 (£11.50) weekdays, £10 (£9) weekday
Monday, 31 August 2015
Show 30: Matthew Crosby: Smaller Than Life
Matthew Crosby's been stand-up for a while and he's definitely comfortable on stage and with the audience. This year's show he deals with a trip to Russia and how he's felt inferior due to his height throughout his life.
It's an hour peppered with some lovely jokes and observations but there's also some tomfoolery that doesn't quite hit the mark; an impression and dance of Vladamir Putin goes for an especially long time and at the end the audience throws oranges into a bucket held by another audience member (it's a callback to a story (it makes sense in the show) but to be honest I wanted to eat the orange, so I did).
It's an enjoyable hour and this is clearly someone who's confident in his material, and it's certainly not bad. Stories are well structured and punchlines are put in nicely, but there's not really enough in the way of jokes or such an engaging story-telling technique to really captivate us. Still, it's worth a watch.
Score: 6/10
Venue: Just The Tonic At The Mash
Dates: 27th-30th August
Time: 19:40
Price: £5 or pay what you want
It's an hour peppered with some lovely jokes and observations but there's also some tomfoolery that doesn't quite hit the mark; an impression and dance of Vladamir Putin goes for an especially long time and at the end the audience throws oranges into a bucket held by another audience member (it's a callback to a story (it makes sense in the show) but to be honest I wanted to eat the orange, so I did).
It's an enjoyable hour and this is clearly someone who's confident in his material, and it's certainly not bad. Stories are well structured and punchlines are put in nicely, but there's not really enough in the way of jokes or such an engaging story-telling technique to really captivate us. Still, it's worth a watch.
Score: 6/10
Venue: Just The Tonic At The Mash
Dates: 27th-30th August
Time: 19:40
Price: £5 or pay what you want
Sunday, 30 August 2015
Show 29: Trygve Wakenshaw: KRAKEN
Trygve Wakenshaw brings last year's cult favourite back alongside his new show Nautilus. There's plenty of physical comedy from the mime but compared to the magnificent Nautilus this seems like it's slightly weaker twin. Nevertheless it's a cracking show.
There's quite the eye-opening start when Wakenshaw is forced to undress once (and arguably the second time is just exhibitionist) in order for him to get to his clothes for the performance and from there multiple scenes seamlessly merge into one.
There's a lot more audience participation compared to Nautilus, including a lot of kissing and one man becoming a unicorn. For me, though, this doesn't really add or take anything away from the experience. It's all still playful and creative. He does end with a rather interesting and very flexible improvised contemporary dance sequence to go along with Enya's Orinoco Flow.
However, I feel that Nautilus had a lot more variety and more creative avenues explored and mined quite brilliantly. Nautilus also had some nice callbacks that seemed to create a greater sense of coherence through the show. Regardless it was very nice to have another dose of Wakenshaw before the festival's end.
Score: 8/10
Venue: Underbelly, Cowgate
Dates: 27th-30th August
Time: 18:00
Price: £12.50
There's quite the eye-opening start when Wakenshaw is forced to undress once (and arguably the second time is just exhibitionist) in order for him to get to his clothes for the performance and from there multiple scenes seamlessly merge into one.
There's a lot more audience participation compared to Nautilus, including a lot of kissing and one man becoming a unicorn. For me, though, this doesn't really add or take anything away from the experience. It's all still playful and creative. He does end with a rather interesting and very flexible improvised contemporary dance sequence to go along with Enya's Orinoco Flow.
However, I feel that Nautilus had a lot more variety and more creative avenues explored and mined quite brilliantly. Nautilus also had some nice callbacks that seemed to create a greater sense of coherence through the show. Regardless it was very nice to have another dose of Wakenshaw before the festival's end.
Score: 8/10
Venue: Underbelly, Cowgate
Dates: 27th-30th August
Time: 18:00
Price: £12.50
Show 28: Foil, Arms and Hog: Skiddlywup
Foil, Arms and Hog return with another hour of gloriously silly sketch fun, but this year there's far more audience interaction, which creates an overall feeling of camaraderie.
The night starts with a musical introduction from the audience orchestrated by the trio and what proceeds is an hour of masterful comedy acting and enormously silly comic ideas played out with style and panache by these comedy veterans.
Particular highlights included the weirdly medically themed game of musical chairs, the equal opportunities spy organisation that got a Caucasian man to play an African infiltrator (with an exceptional portrayal of a stereotypical sassy black woman) and the audience being part of a living room.
These guys certainly know how to play a room and to make a riotous hour of fun. I'll definitely be coming back next year to see what new fun they'll be bringing.
Score: 9/10
Venue: Underbelly, Cowgate
Dates: 27th-30th August
Time: 22:00 and 23:20
Price: £12 (£11) weekend, £11 (£10) weekday
The night starts with a musical introduction from the audience orchestrated by the trio and what proceeds is an hour of masterful comedy acting and enormously silly comic ideas played out with style and panache by these comedy veterans.
Particular highlights included the weirdly medically themed game of musical chairs, the equal opportunities spy organisation that got a Caucasian man to play an African infiltrator (with an exceptional portrayal of a stereotypical sassy black woman) and the audience being part of a living room.
These guys certainly know how to play a room and to make a riotous hour of fun. I'll definitely be coming back next year to see what new fun they'll be bringing.
Score: 9/10
Venue: Underbelly, Cowgate
Dates: 27th-30th August
Time: 22:00 and 23:20
Price: £12 (£11) weekend, £11 (£10) weekday
Saturday, 29 August 2015
Show 27: Alex Edelman: Everything Handed To You
Edelman returns to the Pleasance, but this year in the slightly bigger Pleasance Beside venue.
He's not lost his storytelling skills and it's an utter joy to hear Edelman slip asides and jokes seamlessly into his narrative to make a tremendous hour.
This year there's a slightly looser feel to the show; where Millenial had the strong thread of the feeling of being part of the Millenial generation, Everything Handed To You is more of a collection of observations about Edelman's brothers and his move to the UK but together they bring a realisation of how Edelman is slowly changing and growing up as a comedian.
He holds the audience well and his vibrant storytelling, buildups and punchline delivery make this a fine hour. His stories are wide-ranging, from his observation of those who are part of his cycling club, to his and his friend's inadvertent racism in Soho, to his remarks about Gregg's, all belying a growing understanding of UK life. Mainly, though, the show is focussed on how his Jewish upbringing gave him certain perspectives on the world and how these are changing, and what relationship he has with his brothers (AJ, a twin and a professional bodybuild, and Austin, 13 years younger and, seemingly, "also funny...not kid funny, like properly funny".
There's nothing groundbreaking here, but it's tremendously enjoyable watching Edelman perform - it's going to be interesting seeing how he grows and changes as a comedian.
Score: 8/10
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Dates: 27th-30th August
Time: 20:30
Price: £12 (£10.50) weekend, £10 (£8.50) weekday
He's not lost his storytelling skills and it's an utter joy to hear Edelman slip asides and jokes seamlessly into his narrative to make a tremendous hour.
This year there's a slightly looser feel to the show; where Millenial had the strong thread of the feeling of being part of the Millenial generation, Everything Handed To You is more of a collection of observations about Edelman's brothers and his move to the UK but together they bring a realisation of how Edelman is slowly changing and growing up as a comedian.
He holds the audience well and his vibrant storytelling, buildups and punchline delivery make this a fine hour. His stories are wide-ranging, from his observation of those who are part of his cycling club, to his and his friend's inadvertent racism in Soho, to his remarks about Gregg's, all belying a growing understanding of UK life. Mainly, though, the show is focussed on how his Jewish upbringing gave him certain perspectives on the world and how these are changing, and what relationship he has with his brothers (AJ, a twin and a professional bodybuild, and Austin, 13 years younger and, seemingly, "also funny...not kid funny, like properly funny".
There's nothing groundbreaking here, but it's tremendously enjoyable watching Edelman perform - it's going to be interesting seeing how he grows and changes as a comedian.
Score: 8/10
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Dates: 27th-30th August
Time: 20:30
Price: £12 (£10.50) weekend, £10 (£8.50) weekday
Show 26: The Pin: Ten Seconds With The Pin
After having heard about them last year I decided to watch The Pin do a London preview for Edinburgh. Such was the standard of the preview, I recommended it to my friends and booked a ticket to see the show a second time.
Sadly, there seems to have been some magic lost in the transition from the preview to Edinburgh. But first, a precis of the show.
The Pin contrive to make an ultimate sketch that incorporates all the best bits of their previous sketches throughout a show and along the way there are some brilliant comic bits, including a sketch playing on theatre convention of showing beds as upright and the actors holding the bedsheet vertical as if horizontal - Ben gets out of beds and drops on the floor to maintain the geometry of the situation - it's a beautiful play on theatre and brilliant. There's a multitude of other lovely sketches too, including a text exchange of mistaken identity.
In the London preview, the final playback of the supposed 'ultimate sketch' has an incoherent collection of lines but you finally realise the video forms part of a coherent conversation with the live actors commenting on the video. It's a mind-blowing moment of realisation...at least, it was.
Sadly in the Edinburgh version the sketch at the end has fewer lines incorporated from previous sketches and it becomes a bit too meta without the humour. Some great sketches from London are also lost (a memorable one being Ben asking Alex to play a director as Ben plays the actor showing the director a script, a script in which Ben is playing an Actor and Alex a producer who's meeting an actor (played by Ben) who's meeting an executive producer (played by Alex)....you get the picture. Alex is left horrifically confused and I was left in tears). Other sketches too were tweaked but, to me, slightly lost the edge and became either too contrived or had lost their rhythm.
Nevertheless this is a very well put together show with delightful meta-narrative moments but sadly it just didn't have the same vibe as the London previews. Alas...there's always next year, and here's hoping they don't go backwards.
Score: 8/10
Venue: Pleasance Dome:
Dates: 27th-31st August
Time: 19:00
Price: £11 (£10) weekend, £10 (£9) weekday
Sadly, there seems to have been some magic lost in the transition from the preview to Edinburgh. But first, a precis of the show.
The Pin contrive to make an ultimate sketch that incorporates all the best bits of their previous sketches throughout a show and along the way there are some brilliant comic bits, including a sketch playing on theatre convention of showing beds as upright and the actors holding the bedsheet vertical as if horizontal - Ben gets out of beds and drops on the floor to maintain the geometry of the situation - it's a beautiful play on theatre and brilliant. There's a multitude of other lovely sketches too, including a text exchange of mistaken identity.
In the London preview, the final playback of the supposed 'ultimate sketch' has an incoherent collection of lines but you finally realise the video forms part of a coherent conversation with the live actors commenting on the video. It's a mind-blowing moment of realisation...at least, it was.
Sadly in the Edinburgh version the sketch at the end has fewer lines incorporated from previous sketches and it becomes a bit too meta without the humour. Some great sketches from London are also lost (a memorable one being Ben asking Alex to play a director as Ben plays the actor showing the director a script, a script in which Ben is playing an Actor and Alex a producer who's meeting an actor (played by Ben) who's meeting an executive producer (played by Alex)....you get the picture. Alex is left horrifically confused and I was left in tears). Other sketches too were tweaked but, to me, slightly lost the edge and became either too contrived or had lost their rhythm.
Nevertheless this is a very well put together show with delightful meta-narrative moments but sadly it just didn't have the same vibe as the London previews. Alas...there's always next year, and here's hoping they don't go backwards.
Score: 8/10
Venue: Pleasance Dome:
Dates: 27th-31st August
Time: 19:00
Price: £11 (£10) weekend, £10 (£9) weekday
Show 25: Minor Delays
Minor Delay's set up is very interesting and brave. The only props being a chair facing the audience for each member. They sit side-by-side facing the audience and never look at each other but the sketches play out as if they were. Strong potential for this to fall flat but Minor Delays do very well with making this format work very well.
There are some great performances from the members, at times being only a touch too much 'acting' but there are some tremendous moments, the best being the very precocius Graham's look of smugness preceding whatever display of pretentiousness the character will bring out with flourish.
Overall the tone of the show is slightly dark and at times sinister taking humour from slightly horrific circumstances, but it's all done very tastefully and jokes that work well.
There are some great ideas realised very well in the show but nothing really to make one ache.
Nevertheless it's a very fresh format with lightening-quick sketch turnover that's delightful to watch.
Score: 7/10
Venue: Gilded Balloon
Dates: 27th-30th August
Time: 16:15
Price: £10 (£8) weekends, £8 (£6) weekdays
There are some great performances from the members, at times being only a touch too much 'acting' but there are some tremendous moments, the best being the very precocius Graham's look of smugness preceding whatever display of pretentiousness the character will bring out with flourish.
Overall the tone of the show is slightly dark and at times sinister taking humour from slightly horrific circumstances, but it's all done very tastefully and jokes that work well.
There are some great ideas realised very well in the show but nothing really to make one ache.
Nevertheless it's a very fresh format with lightening-quick sketch turnover that's delightful to watch.
Score: 7/10
Venue: Gilded Balloon
Dates: 27th-30th August
Time: 16:15
Price: £10 (£8) weekends, £8 (£6) weekdays
Show 24: Sheeps Skewer The News
Sheeps present a sketch show that attempts to be a political satire while being all round silliness.
They have great ideas and good performances, most notably the shy tory (Al meekly hiding behind a curtain purporting to be a tory voter) and a sketch of David Cameron persuading Ed Sheeran to become a member of the Conservative Party being especially funny. There are moments that seem to lag and the energy dies down, including a protracted bit towards the end where Sepp Blatter attempts to become prime minister, though Sheeps knowingly them mock the sketch itself by highlighting the issues with it.
Slightly oddly Sheeps attempt to end the show with a vinegar eating competition that just feels a bit off-kilter from the rest of the show.
Overall, though, a very decent hour.
Score: 7/10
Venue: Laughing Horse at The Cellar Monkey
Dates: 27th-30th August
Time: 14:30
Price: Free
They have great ideas and good performances, most notably the shy tory (Al meekly hiding behind a curtain purporting to be a tory voter) and a sketch of David Cameron persuading Ed Sheeran to become a member of the Conservative Party being especially funny. There are moments that seem to lag and the energy dies down, including a protracted bit towards the end where Sepp Blatter attempts to become prime minister, though Sheeps knowingly them mock the sketch itself by highlighting the issues with it.
Slightly oddly Sheeps attempt to end the show with a vinegar eating competition that just feels a bit off-kilter from the rest of the show.
Overall, though, a very decent hour.
Score: 7/10
Venue: Laughing Horse at The Cellar Monkey
Dates: 27th-30th August
Time: 14:30
Price: Free
Show 23: Pappy's Live At The Cabaret Bar
Pappy's events are nearly always a raucous event, with Parry bulldozing his presence onto the stage, Clarky inevitably corpsing at some point and Crosby become frustrated at Parry.
Pappy's Live at the Cabaret Bar was a 'best of' show, or similar to Beta Male's promise "sketches that we could remember", and even with that promise Clarky was faltering at moments to great comic effect.
Throughout the show Parry made hilarious reference to his Best Newcomer nomination and allusions to him not needing Crosby and Clarky to continue his career, though hopefully the threesome will continue to remain strong.
The night brought back some classic sketches, including the brilliant Three Songs sketch, the Make Your Own Adventure Sketch, the Ben's Wife sketch, the gloves song and the YMCA sketch from probably the most brilliant piece of work, Last Show Ever, and a host of other classics including Dean the dinosaur and the tallest man in the world.
The highlight of the night must have been the Marty, Mim and Julius sketch, where Parry enters the stage dressed in only a makeshift toga and, tonight, no underwear. Once again, the festival sees some outrageous nudity, but the funny came from Clarky and Crosby's attempts of preventing Parry from becoming indecent, and Parry's many attempts of pushing the boundaries. An unfortuante girl who probably saw far too much was asked how old she was. Her reply of "Should I lie?" brought the house down.
Overall a thoroughly enjoyable night. Long may Pappy's continue.
Score: 9/10
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Dates: 27th-29th August
Time: 21:20
Price: £9 (£7)
Pappy's Live at the Cabaret Bar was a 'best of' show, or similar to Beta Male's promise "sketches that we could remember", and even with that promise Clarky was faltering at moments to great comic effect.
Throughout the show Parry made hilarious reference to his Best Newcomer nomination and allusions to him not needing Crosby and Clarky to continue his career, though hopefully the threesome will continue to remain strong.
The night brought back some classic sketches, including the brilliant Three Songs sketch, the Make Your Own Adventure Sketch, the Ben's Wife sketch, the gloves song and the YMCA sketch from probably the most brilliant piece of work, Last Show Ever, and a host of other classics including Dean the dinosaur and the tallest man in the world.
The highlight of the night must have been the Marty, Mim and Julius sketch, where Parry enters the stage dressed in only a makeshift toga and, tonight, no underwear. Once again, the festival sees some outrageous nudity, but the funny came from Clarky and Crosby's attempts of preventing Parry from becoming indecent, and Parry's many attempts of pushing the boundaries. An unfortuante girl who probably saw far too much was asked how old she was. Her reply of "Should I lie?" brought the house down.
Overall a thoroughly enjoyable night. Long may Pappy's continue.
Score: 9/10
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Dates: 27th-29th August
Time: 21:20
Price: £9 (£7)
Friday, 28 August 2015
Show 22: Massive Dad 2.0: Step Up 2 Massive Dad
This female sketch trio bring their 2nd show to Edinburgh. They start off with an interesting 'gamer selection' opening revealing strengths and weaknesses of each member before starting the show proper.
Overall there are some great ideas and some are realised very well, including a left-wing anti-surveillance government children's puppet show, and a nice sketch about how the group had attempted to translate a storyboard idea to the live stage, but the moments of hilarity and brilliance aren't frequent.
You can tell that there's strong potential in the trio and can come up with tremendous comic ideas but sadly the result is slightly underwhelming. Still a very decent effort.
Score: 6/10
Venue: Pleasance Dome
Dates: 27th-31st August
Time: 18:50
Price: £9.50 (£8.50) weekend, £8.50 (£7.50) weekdays
Overall there are some great ideas and some are realised very well, including a left-wing anti-surveillance government children's puppet show, and a nice sketch about how the group had attempted to translate a storyboard idea to the live stage, but the moments of hilarity and brilliance aren't frequent.
You can tell that there's strong potential in the trio and can come up with tremendous comic ideas but sadly the result is slightly underwhelming. Still a very decent effort.
Score: 6/10
Venue: Pleasance Dome
Dates: 27th-31st August
Time: 18:50
Price: £9.50 (£8.50) weekend, £8.50 (£7.50) weekdays
Show 21: Adam Hess: Salmon
He's at The Hive again and this time there's the distinct smell of vomit in the air (such a classy establishment). Hess makes note of this to humourous effect and proceeds with with high energy, lightening speed show.
There's much of the same material as last year with a couple of additions, particularly a nice bit about scaring his Edinburgh housemate Rhys James, but there's a feel that the delivery this year has slightly lost the edge and timing that Hess had last year. He doesn't linger enough to bring the most out of the punchlines and sometimes there's just not enough buildup.
Nevertheless it's still a very enjoyable show, filled with insights into Hess's odd childhood behaviours. There's a nice middle section where he brings an unsuspecting audience member on stage to read out some of Hess's jokes while wearing a Hess mask as Hess plays the bongos and doing some weird yoga like dance. It makes for a nice respite from the break-neck delivery.
Overall a good show and a deserved newcomer nomination. Best of luck to him tomorrow.
Score: 7/10
Venue: Heroes at The Hive
Dates: 27th-31st August
Time: 17:20
Price: £5 or pay what you want on the door
There's much of the same material as last year with a couple of additions, particularly a nice bit about scaring his Edinburgh housemate Rhys James, but there's a feel that the delivery this year has slightly lost the edge and timing that Hess had last year. He doesn't linger enough to bring the most out of the punchlines and sometimes there's just not enough buildup.
Nevertheless it's still a very enjoyable show, filled with insights into Hess's odd childhood behaviours. There's a nice middle section where he brings an unsuspecting audience member on stage to read out some of Hess's jokes while wearing a Hess mask as Hess plays the bongos and doing some weird yoga like dance. It makes for a nice respite from the break-neck delivery.
Overall a good show and a deserved newcomer nomination. Best of luck to him tomorrow.
Score: 7/10
Venue: Heroes at The Hive
Dates: 27th-31st August
Time: 17:20
Price: £5 or pay what you want on the door
Show 20: UCL Graters - 2015: A Sketch Odyssey
Student sketch shows are a tremendously risky affair: a bunch of young vibrant people brought together to write jokes and elaborate on comic ideas without having much experience of comedy performance and joke writing has strong potential for falling flat. That potential was made true in this show.
Had there been funny premises, the show might have had chances of redemption, but as it turns out there were precious few ideas that were probably worth being explored and many of the sketches probably never had potential. Yes they were subversive and oh-so-clever but deeply unfunny.
The show also falls due to the poor writing - scenes escalate far too rapidly for there to be any real suspense and the timing just doesn't do any of the sketch ideas justice. The performances are unconvincing and they just don't bring you in. The physical comedy elements seem token and desperate and there really is no nuance to any of the scenes.
The show could have done with some serious comedy direction. Alas, it's another victim to the trials of student comedy writing and performance.
Score: 1/10
Venue: Just The Tonic at The Caves
Dates: 27th-29th August
Time: 14:20
Price: £7 weekends, £5 weekdays
Had there been funny premises, the show might have had chances of redemption, but as it turns out there were precious few ideas that were probably worth being explored and many of the sketches probably never had potential. Yes they were subversive and oh-so-clever but deeply unfunny.
The show also falls due to the poor writing - scenes escalate far too rapidly for there to be any real suspense and the timing just doesn't do any of the sketch ideas justice. The performances are unconvincing and they just don't bring you in. The physical comedy elements seem token and desperate and there really is no nuance to any of the scenes.
The show could have done with some serious comedy direction. Alas, it's another victim to the trials of student comedy writing and performance.
Score: 1/10
Venue: Just The Tonic at The Caves
Dates: 27th-29th August
Time: 14:20
Price: £7 weekends, £5 weekdays
Show 19: The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society
A semi-regular event in London, The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society (aka ACMS) was set up by some of UK comedy's upcoming stars some years ago as a way of trying out very different comedy from their usual material. As part of this there are permitted heckles (e.g. "we appreciate what you're trying to do" and "I've drawn you a cat" [permissible only if accompanied by a cat drawing]) and the hosts, Thom Tuck and John Luke Roberts, declare each performance as "A failure!" to which the audience responds "A noble failure!".
All in all, it sounds rather fun.
Thom Tuck and John Luke Roberts even give out awards, such as "Best Worst Man", chosen at random by an unwitting audience member.
The night overall was a great laugh, highlights being Tuck and Robert's playful interaction, and Tuck was clearly in a mischievous mood (one of the permitted heckles is "Oh Thom!" - one could see quite easily how that came to be), though what was rather brilliant was how they both slowly exchanged cloths between each performance back-stage.
From a varied mix of acts, the absolute highlight was Joe Lycett dressed in drag (rather convincingly as it turned out) as the character Nigella Farage, a very racist and northern lady who could make an excellent Patagonian Lamb Curry - he did comment that he had probably spent more time on the costume than the material, but the patchy material and characterisation he had was exceptionally funny. The room was in hysterics and I'll never forget it.
I look forward to further ACMS events.
Score: 7/10
Venue: Heroes at The Hive
Date: 27th August
Time: 22:00
Price: £5 or pay what you want at the door
All in all, it sounds rather fun.
Thom Tuck and John Luke Roberts even give out awards, such as "Best Worst Man", chosen at random by an unwitting audience member.
The night overall was a great laugh, highlights being Tuck and Robert's playful interaction, and Tuck was clearly in a mischievous mood (one of the permitted heckles is "Oh Thom!" - one could see quite easily how that came to be), though what was rather brilliant was how they both slowly exchanged cloths between each performance back-stage.
From a varied mix of acts, the absolute highlight was Joe Lycett dressed in drag (rather convincingly as it turned out) as the character Nigella Farage, a very racist and northern lady who could make an excellent Patagonian Lamb Curry - he did comment that he had probably spent more time on the costume than the material, but the patchy material and characterisation he had was exceptionally funny. The room was in hysterics and I'll never forget it.
I look forward to further ACMS events.
Score: 7/10
Venue: Heroes at The Hive
Date: 27th August
Time: 22:00
Price: £5 or pay what you want at the door
Wednesday, 26 August 2015
Edinburgh Comedy Award Nominations 2015
A short post before my final weekend of Edinburgh Comedy Festival 2015.
Today to punctuate the mild tedium of a training day I was refreshing my twitter feed having followed the Edinburgh Comedy Awards twitter profile in anticipation of today's nomination announcement. After the longest nomination debate in the award's history, they were finally announced just before 4pm.Suffice to say, I was rather excited after seeing the nominations.
The nominees are:
Best Comedy Show:
James Acaster: Represent
Joseph Morpurgo:Soothing Sounds for Baby
Kieran Hodgson: Lance
Nish Kumar: Long Word. Long Word.. Blah Blah Blah.. I'm So Clever
Sam Simmons: Spaghetti for Breakfast
Sarah Kendall: A Day in October
Seymour Mace is Niche as F**k!
Trygve Wakenshaw: Nautilus
Best Newcomer:
Adam Hess: Salmon
Daphne Do Edinburgh:
Larry Dean: Out Now!
Sofie Hagen: Bubblewrap
The Story Beast
Tom Ballard: Taxis & Rainbows & Hatred
Tom Parry: Yellow T-shirt
As I've got a ticket to see Adam Hess on Friday, this means I'll have watched 4 shows nominated for an award this year - a new personal best!
James Acaster is probably the favourite to win the Best Show award given that this is his 4th nomination (in a row, no less, and equaling Al Murray's number of nominations before winning on his 4th) he's probably overdue it. I'm hoping to catch Acaster in October in Sheffield during the Sheffield Comedy Festival.
It's great to see Kieran Hodgson be recognised for his work. He's long been recommended by many comics but I've never been convicted enough to make the effort; now I rather regret it. I hope he returns next year with just as formidible a show.
Lovely as well to see Nish Kumar finally be recognised - after a long climb through the comedy ladder to his current position and skill, he's reached a new high with his show - I've heard wonderful things and I can't wait to see him in London in December.
Fantastic to see the tremendously flexible and very clever and funny Trygve Wakenshaw recognised for Nautilus this year, an absolute joy to watch and a delight and privilige to have watched him.
However, I hope in my heart that Joseph Morpurgo takes the crown - his show was just so brilliant, so packed to the brim with silliness and sheer comedic flair and ultimately heart that it's really stayed with me, and I think it'll continue to stay, having made an indelible mark into my mind and heart. An outrageously excellent show.
With regards to newcomers, interesting to see Daphne be nominated after having heard a friend of a friend be rather disappointed by this. Their showcase sketch with Peter Pan really doesn't fly (pun intended) and I hear their material is rather patchy at best.
Parry's show was sadly a bit of a disappointment for me, his material not really quite reaching the proper punches for my liking, but he certainly had the energy and bravura of a top class comedian.
Adam Hess will be interesting to see - his show last year (ineligible as it was too short) had some very decent, solid material and given that he's beaten Jonny Pelham to a nomination, it'll be interesting to see how the two newcomers compare.
Liam Williams, the Pin and Alex Edelman are notable absences from the nominatons this year - perhaps the judges just weren't enamoured by William's and The Pin's tight writing, and it'll be interesting to see how Edelman performs this year compared to last year.
May the best act win on Saturday and here's to the final weekend!
Today to punctuate the mild tedium of a training day I was refreshing my twitter feed having followed the Edinburgh Comedy Awards twitter profile in anticipation of today's nomination announcement. After the longest nomination debate in the award's history, they were finally announced just before 4pm.Suffice to say, I was rather excited after seeing the nominations.
The nominees are:
Best Comedy Show:
James Acaster: Represent
Joseph Morpurgo:Soothing Sounds for Baby
Kieran Hodgson: Lance
Nish Kumar: Long Word. Long Word.. Blah Blah Blah.. I'm So Clever
Sam Simmons: Spaghetti for Breakfast
Sarah Kendall: A Day in October
Seymour Mace is Niche as F**k!
Trygve Wakenshaw: Nautilus
Best Newcomer:
Adam Hess: Salmon
Daphne Do Edinburgh:
Larry Dean: Out Now!
Sofie Hagen: Bubblewrap
The Story Beast
Tom Ballard: Taxis & Rainbows & Hatred
Tom Parry: Yellow T-shirt
As I've got a ticket to see Adam Hess on Friday, this means I'll have watched 4 shows nominated for an award this year - a new personal best!
James Acaster is probably the favourite to win the Best Show award given that this is his 4th nomination (in a row, no less, and equaling Al Murray's number of nominations before winning on his 4th) he's probably overdue it. I'm hoping to catch Acaster in October in Sheffield during the Sheffield Comedy Festival.
It's great to see Kieran Hodgson be recognised for his work. He's long been recommended by many comics but I've never been convicted enough to make the effort; now I rather regret it. I hope he returns next year with just as formidible a show.
Lovely as well to see Nish Kumar finally be recognised - after a long climb through the comedy ladder to his current position and skill, he's reached a new high with his show - I've heard wonderful things and I can't wait to see him in London in December.
Fantastic to see the tremendously flexible and very clever and funny Trygve Wakenshaw recognised for Nautilus this year, an absolute joy to watch and a delight and privilige to have watched him.
However, I hope in my heart that Joseph Morpurgo takes the crown - his show was just so brilliant, so packed to the brim with silliness and sheer comedic flair and ultimately heart that it's really stayed with me, and I think it'll continue to stay, having made an indelible mark into my mind and heart. An outrageously excellent show.
With regards to newcomers, interesting to see Daphne be nominated after having heard a friend of a friend be rather disappointed by this. Their showcase sketch with Peter Pan really doesn't fly (pun intended) and I hear their material is rather patchy at best.
Parry's show was sadly a bit of a disappointment for me, his material not really quite reaching the proper punches for my liking, but he certainly had the energy and bravura of a top class comedian.
Adam Hess will be interesting to see - his show last year (ineligible as it was too short) had some very decent, solid material and given that he's beaten Jonny Pelham to a nomination, it'll be interesting to see how the two newcomers compare.
Liam Williams, the Pin and Alex Edelman are notable absences from the nominatons this year - perhaps the judges just weren't enamoured by William's and The Pin's tight writing, and it'll be interesting to see how Edelman performs this year compared to last year.
May the best act win on Saturday and here's to the final weekend!
Sunday, 23 August 2015
Show 18: The Humble Quest For Universal Genius
Matthew Crosby hosts this quiz as two comedians are challenged in various disciplines to see who is the ultimate genius.
Today Tom Allen was pitted against Angela Barnes. Both held their own as Crosby kept the audience warm and led us through the challenges, from writing a poem about armadillos (some light teasing from Crosby about Allen's pretty crap poem being a highlight of the show) to shooting nerf guns at a swan.
It's an enjoyable show with Barnes bringing the occasionally dark or blue joke (welcomed by me, not sure about everyone else) and Allen being his usual imperious self.
Overall it's a decent show with amusing moments if you can stand the heat of the tent.
Score: 5/10
Venue: Assembly George Square Gardens
Dates: 22nd-30th August
Time: 14:00
Price: £12 (£11)
Today Tom Allen was pitted against Angela Barnes. Both held their own as Crosby kept the audience warm and led us through the challenges, from writing a poem about armadillos (some light teasing from Crosby about Allen's pretty crap poem being a highlight of the show) to shooting nerf guns at a swan.
It's an enjoyable show with Barnes bringing the occasionally dark or blue joke (welcomed by me, not sure about everyone else) and Allen being his usual imperious self.
Overall it's a decent show with amusing moments if you can stand the heat of the tent.
Score: 5/10
Venue: Assembly George Square Gardens
Dates: 22nd-30th August
Time: 14:00
Price: £12 (£11)
Show 17: Beta Males: Alpha Sketches
After seeing a couple of the Beta Males performers in Marriage, I thought I'd check them out.
Having been to the festival for the previous 5 years, the Beta Males are putting on a 'best of' show for just a couple of weekends.
It's a very silly, very fun, sometimes delightfully uncomfortable show (some shocking nudity done with great comedic performance) but where the show really brings out the laughs are the times when lines get forgotten and some very unsubtle prompting is needed alongside accusation of who wrote the sketch - in other hands this would be horribly dire, but last night it was dealt with fantastic humour.
They have a lovely series of sketches about Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and the other guy who went to the moon (yeah, I didn't know either), a fantastic scene involving an audience member deciding on an innocent child's fate and a an ingenious ploy to see if the audience can tease out a sketch for as long as comedically possible - the late night atmosphere and all-day boozing from (presumably) most the audience carries the energy well.
Overall a very good show, and well worth a watch. Here's to hoping they return in future years.
Score: 8/10
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Dates: 23rd August only
Time: 00:00
Price: £10
Having been to the festival for the previous 5 years, the Beta Males are putting on a 'best of' show for just a couple of weekends.
It's a very silly, very fun, sometimes delightfully uncomfortable show (some shocking nudity done with great comedic performance) but where the show really brings out the laughs are the times when lines get forgotten and some very unsubtle prompting is needed alongside accusation of who wrote the sketch - in other hands this would be horribly dire, but last night it was dealt with fantastic humour.
They have a lovely series of sketches about Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and the other guy who went to the moon (yeah, I didn't know either), a fantastic scene involving an audience member deciding on an innocent child's fate and a an ingenious ploy to see if the audience can tease out a sketch for as long as comedically possible - the late night atmosphere and all-day boozing from (presumably) most the audience carries the energy well.
Overall a very good show, and well worth a watch. Here's to hoping they return in future years.
Score: 8/10
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Dates: 23rd August only
Time: 00:00
Price: £10
Show 16: Trygve Wakenshaw: Nautilus
After hearing Trygve Wakenshaw's Comedian's Comedian Podcast episode last year, I was very intrigued to see what this physical comedian/mime could offer.
Wakenshaw is a New-Zealand comedian now based in London. This is his third Edinburgh solo show and last year's show KRAKEN (which I'm due to see on the 30th) garnered a lot of hype and excitement. Expectations were high.
He didn't disappoint.
Nautilus is an 80 minute show filled to the brim with slick mime and animals. With only two props (some bubble wrap and a can of coke) and talented work from the spotlight Wakenshaw produces a breath-takingly funny and creative show.
Although it's mime, there's plenty of adult material, but nothing so crude that it's mindless; no, his scenes are carefully performed and with just the right level of suggestion to make this a very intelligently made show. He plays on lots of classic comedy ideas but twists them into new ways to breathe life into them - everything in his show is at once familiar and new.
There are many similarities between Wakenshaw and Boy With Tape On His Face - both are tremendously inventive in their physical stylings, both are fantastically playful and both are great performers.
What Wakenshaw does well is he's able to create whole worlds and scenes from nothing but his fascinatingly flexible thin frame; he's got outstanding control of his body.
He's got some great callbacks and running themes and overall this is a truly entertaining, joyous show that is sure to fill everyone with delight and remind you of the childhood fun from simple slapstick and mime comedy. An excellent show. I can't wait to see KRAKEN.
Score: 9/10
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Dates: 22nd-30th (not 24th)
Time: 22:00
Price: £12 (£11) weekends, £11 (£10) weekdays
Wakenshaw is a New-Zealand comedian now based in London. This is his third Edinburgh solo show and last year's show KRAKEN (which I'm due to see on the 30th) garnered a lot of hype and excitement. Expectations were high.
He didn't disappoint.
Nautilus is an 80 minute show filled to the brim with slick mime and animals. With only two props (some bubble wrap and a can of coke) and talented work from the spotlight Wakenshaw produces a breath-takingly funny and creative show.
Although it's mime, there's plenty of adult material, but nothing so crude that it's mindless; no, his scenes are carefully performed and with just the right level of suggestion to make this a very intelligently made show. He plays on lots of classic comedy ideas but twists them into new ways to breathe life into them - everything in his show is at once familiar and new.
There are many similarities between Wakenshaw and Boy With Tape On His Face - both are tremendously inventive in their physical stylings, both are fantastically playful and both are great performers.
What Wakenshaw does well is he's able to create whole worlds and scenes from nothing but his fascinatingly flexible thin frame; he's got outstanding control of his body.
He's got some great callbacks and running themes and overall this is a truly entertaining, joyous show that is sure to fill everyone with delight and remind you of the childhood fun from simple slapstick and mime comedy. An excellent show. I can't wait to see KRAKEN.
Score: 9/10
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Dates: 22nd-30th (not 24th)
Time: 22:00
Price: £12 (£11) weekends, £11 (£10) weekdays
Show 15: Joe Lycett: That's the Way, A-ha, A-ha, Joe Lycett
After a year's absence Joe Lycett returns with a new hour. He's really built his charisma, his panache and exuberant style for this very entertaining hour.
As ever his rapport with the audience is deft and funny; he's just the right side of condescending and he's not afraid to go even to the back of the room to pick out an audience member. The Saturday night crowd added to the energy and interaction, and Lycett feeds off it tremendously well.
His written segments are brilliantly performed with slick, off-hand delivery that seems so natural; he's a gifted stand-up comedian. It's a lovely mixture of material, from his laddish TA acquaintance 'Johnny' from a stag-do, to examples of his infamous light-hearted internet antics and stories of home and artisan coffee shops.
Overall a thoroughly entertaining hour from this delightfully funny comic.
Score: 9/10
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Dates: 22nd-30th August
Time: 20:00
Price: £10 (£8) weekdays (otherwise sold out on edfringe website)
As ever his rapport with the audience is deft and funny; he's just the right side of condescending and he's not afraid to go even to the back of the room to pick out an audience member. The Saturday night crowd added to the energy and interaction, and Lycett feeds off it tremendously well.
His written segments are brilliantly performed with slick, off-hand delivery that seems so natural; he's a gifted stand-up comedian. It's a lovely mixture of material, from his laddish TA acquaintance 'Johnny' from a stag-do, to examples of his infamous light-hearted internet antics and stories of home and artisan coffee shops.
Overall a thoroughly entertaining hour from this delightfully funny comic.
Score: 9/10
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Dates: 22nd-30th August
Time: 20:00
Price: £10 (£8) weekdays (otherwise sold out on edfringe website)
Saturday, 22 August 2015
Show 14: Ivo Graham: No Filter
This 24-year-old Etonian is frightfully aware of his privilege and poshness, but he's got enough self-deprecation and good humour to make a tremendously charming and engaging comedian. This is someone who you feel has really found their 'voice', and what a delightfully funny, honest and charming one it is.
There's nothing ground-breaking or off-the-wall with Graham's show, but it's a very confident, carefully written, well delivered set.
He touches on his 14-month long relationship (if only for artistic purposes they'd split up, but no, he's just too good a boyfriend [his words, not mine]), growing up in boarding school and the state of modern society and it's relationship with technology. Along the way he even has some very funny riffs with the audience, and he handles 4 front-row audience members leaving half way through very well.
This is a natural comic who really reverberates with the middle-class-yet-not-a-stuck-up-arse demographic (I like to think I half fit that) and is a great talent. A very enjoyable and worthwhile show.
Score: 8/10
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Dates: 22nd-30th August
Time: 18:00
Price: £11 (£10) weekends, £10 (£9) weekdays
There's nothing ground-breaking or off-the-wall with Graham's show, but it's a very confident, carefully written, well delivered set.
He touches on his 14-month long relationship (if only for artistic purposes they'd split up, but no, he's just too good a boyfriend [his words, not mine]), growing up in boarding school and the state of modern society and it's relationship with technology. Along the way he even has some very funny riffs with the audience, and he handles 4 front-row audience members leaving half way through very well.
This is a natural comic who really reverberates with the middle-class-yet-not-a-stuck-up-arse demographic (I like to think I half fit that) and is a great talent. A very enjoyable and worthwhile show.
Score: 8/10
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Dates: 22nd-30th August
Time: 18:00
Price: £11 (£10) weekends, £10 (£9) weekdays
Show 13: BEASTS: Live DVD
BEASTS (Owen Roberts, James McNicholas and Ciarán Dowd) return with another (loosely) narrative show, this time they're recording their show for a Hollywood producer.
This year's there bolder and more energetic, they're going into the audience, sometimes even blow-drying them, there's bread galore this year (so much bread - watch it and find out) and Ciarán is indulged by doing more nudity this year.
They don't do conventional sketch; they take an idea and they explode it into a glorious technicolour display of pranks and antics. There are some crude, deliberately cringe-worthy, squirm in your seat moments, there are some moments when it's a bit much and some moments of such sheer silliness it's a joy. Overall a very entertaining show that really embodies the exuberant spirit of the Fringe.
I just feel sorry for the venue staff who have to clean the stage (just go watch it).
Score: 8/10
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Dates: 21st-30th August
Time: 16:45
Price: £10 (£9) weekends, £9 (£8) weekdays
This year's there bolder and more energetic, they're going into the audience, sometimes even blow-drying them, there's bread galore this year (so much bread - watch it and find out) and Ciarán is indulged by doing more nudity this year.
They don't do conventional sketch; they take an idea and they explode it into a glorious technicolour display of pranks and antics. There are some crude, deliberately cringe-worthy, squirm in your seat moments, there are some moments when it's a bit much and some moments of such sheer silliness it's a joy. Overall a very entertaining show that really embodies the exuberant spirit of the Fringe.
I just feel sorry for the venue staff who have to clean the stage (just go watch it).
Score: 8/10
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Dates: 21st-30th August
Time: 16:45
Price: £10 (£9) weekends, £9 (£8) weekdays
Show 12: Paul Duncan McGarrity: Today is the Good Old Times of Tomorrow
Paul Duncan McGarrity is a tall, energetic, Mumford-and-Son's-looking Yorkshireman (only he had the look first) with a show about nostalgia, history and facts.
He has some nice ponderings based on his time as a professional archaeologist (it's still a proper job), and flights of whimsy when he imagines a hawk army saving him from youths.
He's a charasmatic stage performer with a lot of energy and conviction in his material, but sadly the jokes just don't really hit the mark most of the time.
Plus points for trying though.
Score: 4/10
Venue: Laughing Horse at the COunting House
Dates:22nd-30th August
Time: 14:30
Price: free
He has some nice ponderings based on his time as a professional archaeologist (it's still a proper job), and flights of whimsy when he imagines a hawk army saving him from youths.
He's a charasmatic stage performer with a lot of energy and conviction in his material, but sadly the jokes just don't really hit the mark most of the time.
Plus points for trying though.
Score: 4/10
Venue: Laughing Horse at the COunting House
Dates:22nd-30th August
Time: 14:30
Price: free
Friday, 21 August 2015
Show 11: Comedians' Cinema Club
Comedians Cinema Club is a show where comedians aim to perform a famous movie with guidance by the off-stage director. The challenge being that this is an exercise in improvisation done by those who may never have improvised, and they may never have seen the movie. Potential for disaster, or hilarity (as seems to be the case for most comedic experiments).
Today's show was the Godfather. Edward Aczel brought his characteristic deadpan style to his role as Don Vito Corleone, which worked wonderfully well.
Most of the other cast were part of the free fringe performers but all made wonderful turns as various members of the movie. Paul Duncan McGarrity was especially good as various characters and one of the performers did a nice turn as an unexpectedly Irish character (not sure if he's in the original film).
A nice moment occurred when two women was seemingly being courted in a single scene, yet the excellent planning of the organisers meant there was only one female performers. Thank goodness she could multi-task/multi-characterise.
Overall, a very good show and worthwhile.
Score: 7/10
Venue: Just The Tonic At The Tron
Dates: 12th-29th August (not 18th)
Time: 15:40
Price: £8 (£7)
Today's show was the Godfather. Edward Aczel brought his characteristic deadpan style to his role as Don Vito Corleone, which worked wonderfully well.
Most of the other cast were part of the free fringe performers but all made wonderful turns as various members of the movie. Paul Duncan McGarrity was especially good as various characters and one of the performers did a nice turn as an unexpectedly Irish character (not sure if he's in the original film).
A nice moment occurred when two women was seemingly being courted in a single scene, yet the excellent planning of the organisers meant there was only one female performers. Thank goodness she could multi-task/multi-characterise.
Overall, a very good show and worthwhile.
Score: 7/10
Venue: Just The Tonic At The Tron
Dates: 12th-29th August (not 18th)
Time: 15:40
Price: £8 (£7)
Show 10: Scaramouche Jones
Scaramouche Jones is a theatrical piece about a 100 year old classical clown. For the last 50 years he's been playing a clown, entertaining children and families with his mime and antics. As the clock ticks towards the dawn of a new millenium, he sits in his dressing room contemplating his life. At this point, he turns to us, the audience, his "ghosts" and, at last, tells his story.
It's a fascinating story with great lyrical prose, with lovely acting from Thom Tuck. A very emotional and touching moment towards the end of the play is touchingly and sensitively performed.
Tuck first performed this piece at the Fringe ten years ago, and as an artistic endeavour he's decided to perform this piece every ten years as an exploration of how his relationship with the character changes as he slowly approaches the character's same 100 year old age.
Tuck performs well and has a delightful array of accents. For any theatre drama lovers, it's a great performance and show, but for the pure comedy goers, it's got a smattering of laughs but it's a piece more for the drama-philes.
Score: 6/10
Venue: Underbelly, Cowgate
Dates: 21st-30th August
Time: 12:20
Price: £110 (£10) weekends, £9 (£8) weekdays
It's a fascinating story with great lyrical prose, with lovely acting from Thom Tuck. A very emotional and touching moment towards the end of the play is touchingly and sensitively performed.
Tuck first performed this piece at the Fringe ten years ago, and as an artistic endeavour he's decided to perform this piece every ten years as an exploration of how his relationship with the character changes as he slowly approaches the character's same 100 year old age.
Tuck performs well and has a delightful array of accents. For any theatre drama lovers, it's a great performance and show, but for the pure comedy goers, it's got a smattering of laughs but it's a piece more for the drama-philes.
Score: 6/10
Venue: Underbelly, Cowgate
Dates: 21st-30th August
Time: 12:20
Price: £110 (£10) weekends, £9 (£8) weekdays
Wednesday, 19 August 2015
Show 9: Pajama Men: Pterodactyl Nights
Canadian Graham Clark opens the show with a nice 10 minute set about his life, being a vegetarian and how "apparently drunk Graham isn't vegetarian!". He then promises to pain a picutre using his impressive beard. The challenge: Donald Trump - he actually succeeds with a nice pop-art style picture of Trump!
The main attraction of the show is the Fringe favourites, the Pajama Men. I had been expecting a night of improvisation from this imaginative duo, but alas it was mainly a revisiting of many of their most famous characters.
For people uninitiated to The Pajama Men, it probably would have held greater delight and comedy. For those who had seen their previous shows, it was more a trip down memory lane for the most part, with occasional riffing of new characters, or familiar ones in unfamiliar situations. Sadly, no reappearance of Cute Thing.
There were a couple of improv sets: long-distance love letters and two-headed monsters, which did produce a funny moment ("What's haggis made out of?" "Haggis is made from...bad...dreams").
Overall an entertaining night but a tad disappointing from these geniuses. Maybe best stick to their new material.
Score: 7/10
Venue: Assembly George Square Studios
Dates: 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd August
Time: 22:50
Price: £12.50 (£10)
The main attraction of the show is the Fringe favourites, the Pajama Men. I had been expecting a night of improvisation from this imaginative duo, but alas it was mainly a revisiting of many of their most famous characters.
For people uninitiated to The Pajama Men, it probably would have held greater delight and comedy. For those who had seen their previous shows, it was more a trip down memory lane for the most part, with occasional riffing of new characters, or familiar ones in unfamiliar situations. Sadly, no reappearance of Cute Thing.
There were a couple of improv sets: long-distance love letters and two-headed monsters, which did produce a funny moment ("What's haggis made out of?" "Haggis is made from...bad...dreams").
Overall an entertaining night but a tad disappointing from these geniuses. Maybe best stick to their new material.
Score: 7/10
Venue: Assembly George Square Studios
Dates: 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd August
Time: 22:50
Price: £12.50 (£10)
Tuesday, 18 August 2015
Show 8: Joseph Morpurgo: Soothing Sounds for Baby
Joseph Morpurgo had been recommended by none other than the infamous, the genius, Daniel Kitson last year. Morpurgo also had a rather striking poster and the dramatically named Odessa as last year's show. I was intrigued.
As such, I thought I'd check his show out this year. I really didn't know what to expect and I didn't know much about him.
The stage is adorned with a large blanket folded around the perimeter of the stage and a chair and various props. The backdrop is a screen surrounded by dozens of old LP covers. On each chair was an odd looking quiz sheet. It promised to be a very interesting show.
My God, it was so much more.
Morpurgo has carefully spliced snippets of Desert Island Discs so that it sounds like he's the guest. Through the show he and Kirsty tensely discuss Morpurgo's various chosen Discs, and for each record he's created a spectacular sketch, from the slightly mad Joseph Cooper in his leaf-covered suit teaching the audience music to the smarmy lothario Stanley Clarke teaching an unwitting audience member how to woo the ladies.
It's a spectacular display of multimedia comedy, making great use of the projector for a range of visual gags and some tremendous musical tidbits (including a rap about golf!) all woven around the Desert Island Disc interview.
But this is also a show with heart and warmth - the emotions are slipped in carefully by Morpurgo and brilliantly, it doesn't feel cheesy or tacky, instead it's right, it fits in perfectly amongst the madness.
Writing this review three days after seeing it, I can confirm that I'm still dazzled by it, I still think about the sheer brilliance, bravado, tight writing and editing and the technological mastery Morpurgo displayed that night.
It's a perfect venue for his show - any smaller and the energy would dip, any bigger and the intimacy of the show would be lost, and the audience participation (oh there's plenty of it) would go.
This show is exceptional: it's so inventive and creative, it's so joyfully silly and fun and mad, but it's also heartfelt and brilliantly performed by Morpurgo.
The sheer breadth of jokes and the density of comedic ideas leaves you breathless; it's like the show's got ADHD, but it's still coherent and tight.
Few shows are so flawless and make such an impact.
After the show ended, for a brief moment, it was like life just wasn't worth living now that it had finished. But I continue, because the world needs to know about Joseph Morpurgo.
This has been one of the best shows I've ever seen at Edinburgh, and I've probably seen somewhere between 150 and 200 by now.
I look forward to seeing his future work.
Score: 10/10
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Dates: 9th-31st August (not 18th)
Time: 20:15
Price: £10.50 (£9) weekends, £8.50 (£7) weekday
As such, I thought I'd check his show out this year. I really didn't know what to expect and I didn't know much about him.
The stage is adorned with a large blanket folded around the perimeter of the stage and a chair and various props. The backdrop is a screen surrounded by dozens of old LP covers. On each chair was an odd looking quiz sheet. It promised to be a very interesting show.
My God, it was so much more.
Morpurgo has carefully spliced snippets of Desert Island Discs so that it sounds like he's the guest. Through the show he and Kirsty tensely discuss Morpurgo's various chosen Discs, and for each record he's created a spectacular sketch, from the slightly mad Joseph Cooper in his leaf-covered suit teaching the audience music to the smarmy lothario Stanley Clarke teaching an unwitting audience member how to woo the ladies.
It's a spectacular display of multimedia comedy, making great use of the projector for a range of visual gags and some tremendous musical tidbits (including a rap about golf!) all woven around the Desert Island Disc interview.
But this is also a show with heart and warmth - the emotions are slipped in carefully by Morpurgo and brilliantly, it doesn't feel cheesy or tacky, instead it's right, it fits in perfectly amongst the madness.
Writing this review three days after seeing it, I can confirm that I'm still dazzled by it, I still think about the sheer brilliance, bravado, tight writing and editing and the technological mastery Morpurgo displayed that night.
It's a perfect venue for his show - any smaller and the energy would dip, any bigger and the intimacy of the show would be lost, and the audience participation (oh there's plenty of it) would go.
This show is exceptional: it's so inventive and creative, it's so joyfully silly and fun and mad, but it's also heartfelt and brilliantly performed by Morpurgo.
The sheer breadth of jokes and the density of comedic ideas leaves you breathless; it's like the show's got ADHD, but it's still coherent and tight.
Few shows are so flawless and make such an impact.
After the show ended, for a brief moment, it was like life just wasn't worth living now that it had finished. But I continue, because the world needs to know about Joseph Morpurgo.
This has been one of the best shows I've ever seen at Edinburgh, and I've probably seen somewhere between 150 and 200 by now.
I look forward to seeing his future work.
Score: 10/10
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Dates: 9th-31st August (not 18th)
Time: 20:15
Price: £10.50 (£9) weekends, £8.50 (£7) weekday
Show 7: Tom Parry: Yellow T-Shirt
Tom Parry, one third of the famous Pappy's sketch troupe (creators and stars of Badults, but more importantly the creators of one of the best sketch show of modern times, the 2012 nominated show Last Show Ever) comes to Edinburgh this year with his first show.
It's a show about fancy dress, the joys of silliness, ridiculousness and the importance of just having fun.
A wonderful message, for sure. He starts his set with a comically dubious impression (I shan't spoil the surprise) and follows swiftly with all his comic antics.
He's full of energy and you can tell he loves the stage, but sadly his material just didn't set my laughter furnace ablaze as much as I had hoped.
It's a nicely delivered set with lovely comic ideas and anecdotes, and certainly good value for £5, but there's nothing to really stick in one's mind.
This particular show, however, did rather benefit from some slight derailment when the infamous Dr Shipman was brought up and ended up being a topic much closer to home than anticipated for one audience member (who took it a tremendous humour, it must be said). It was a brilliant reminder that it's the dangerous moments in live comedy when the bizarre comments (some say heckles - it depends on the spirit of things, I wouldn't call this a heckle) or coincidences the audience brings that can make a show just fizzle with tension and attention. Maybe some of the audience members felt uncomfortable; I was reveling in the madness of it all.
Sadly, I doubt Parry will attempt to recreate the weirdness of it.
Still, a decent show overall.
Score: 5/10
Venue: Just The Tonic At The Tron
Dates: 9th-30th August (not 18th)
Time: 18:20
Price: Free or £5 to guarantee entry
It's a show about fancy dress, the joys of silliness, ridiculousness and the importance of just having fun.
A wonderful message, for sure. He starts his set with a comically dubious impression (I shan't spoil the surprise) and follows swiftly with all his comic antics.
He's full of energy and you can tell he loves the stage, but sadly his material just didn't set my laughter furnace ablaze as much as I had hoped.
It's a nicely delivered set with lovely comic ideas and anecdotes, and certainly good value for £5, but there's nothing to really stick in one's mind.
This particular show, however, did rather benefit from some slight derailment when the infamous Dr Shipman was brought up and ended up being a topic much closer to home than anticipated for one audience member (who took it a tremendous humour, it must be said). It was a brilliant reminder that it's the dangerous moments in live comedy when the bizarre comments (some say heckles - it depends on the spirit of things, I wouldn't call this a heckle) or coincidences the audience brings that can make a show just fizzle with tension and attention. Maybe some of the audience members felt uncomfortable; I was reveling in the madness of it all.
Sadly, I doubt Parry will attempt to recreate the weirdness of it.
Still, a decent show overall.
Score: 5/10
Venue: Just The Tonic At The Tron
Dates: 9th-30th August (not 18th)
Time: 18:20
Price: Free or £5 to guarantee entry
Show 6: Hari Sriskantha: Like Breath On A Mirror
I first saw Hari Sriskantha at the Edinburgh University student comedy festival in 2013 where he headlined the stand-up night, and he ended brilliantly. I was interested to see where he had got to two years later.
He has a very tightly written, packed 40 minute show on the subject of immortality making effective and efficient use of his time. It's a cleverly written, well performed show with plenty of material on ethnicity, mortality and making a name for oneself.
He has a nice mix of wordplay, misdirection and anecdotes which together do well to keep his audience engaged in an unbelievably hot and tiny room (performing in true Edinburgh style).
Although very funny, there's no boundary pushing or belly-aching sets, but it's a very assured, confident and well honed 40 minutes. Give him a couple of quid, at least, at the end.
Score: 7/10
Venue: Laughing Horse At The Counting Horse
Dates: 8th-30th August (not 19th)
Time: 15:20
Price: Free
He has a very tightly written, packed 40 minute show on the subject of immortality making effective and efficient use of his time. It's a cleverly written, well performed show with plenty of material on ethnicity, mortality and making a name for oneself.
He has a nice mix of wordplay, misdirection and anecdotes which together do well to keep his audience engaged in an unbelievably hot and tiny room (performing in true Edinburgh style).
Although very funny, there's no boundary pushing or belly-aching sets, but it's a very assured, confident and well honed 40 minutes. Give him a couple of quid, at least, at the end.
Score: 7/10
Venue: Laughing Horse At The Counting Horse
Dates: 8th-30th August (not 19th)
Time: 15:20
Price: Free
Show 5: Sketch Thieves
Sketch thieves is the sister to Joke Thieves, where stand up comedians are paired up, they perform their sets and then the comedian they have been paired with performs their set. Sketch thieves does the same, but with sketch troupes. It's a precarious format, with great potential or it could fall flat on its face.
Today's show had Daphne (Phil Wang, Jason Forbes and George Fouracres), Thunderbards (Glenn Moore and Matt Stevens), Anna Morris, and Norris and Parker.
Daphne, an eclectic trio united by a University of Cambridge degree, start with a Spanish monologue (probably more to screw over their paired performer, the Anna Morris) before moving to an amusing if protracted sketch about Peter Pan's death (it's funny, honest).
Norris and Parker, a female duo dressed in what appeared to be black catsuits, perform an interesting medley about deceased husbands to an array of modern pop songs, including single ladies (alongside alluring dance moves, and, bizarrely, a recorder), perhaps also a trap laid for their thieves, Thunderbards?
Anna Morris performs as Georgina, a very privileged, pompous wedding planner whose mission it is to sort out all ladies' dream weddings in the UK. It's a great character, well crafted character, ending with her own anthem. It does leave one wondering what Daphne will make of it.
Lastly, Thunderbards have quite a witty fast-paced, slick sketch about working in a greeting cards shop followed by a reasonable parody take of local news shows.
Daphne do a bizzare but quite funny improvisation involving a 4-armed man and they somehow managed to dodge having to do much with Anna Morris's anthem.
Norris and Parker start off well by mocking Thunderbard's "conventionally handsome" selves but don't quite manage to hit it off with their take on the greeting cards and news sketches.
Anna Morris gives a valient and entertaining effort at performing as all three members of Daphne, but even she couldn't save the protracted stage death of Peter Pan. A good performance though.
Thunderbards end with a haphazard but ultimately very funny cack-handed run through Norris and Parker's musical number.
Overall this particular show was decent - one only wonders what mayhem would ensue if Pappys, The Pin or Beta Males were to participate.
Score: 6/10
Venue: Laughing Horse at City Cafe (19 Blair Street)
Dates: 15th-30th (not 18th)
Time: 13:45
Price: Free
Today's show had Daphne (Phil Wang, Jason Forbes and George Fouracres), Thunderbards (Glenn Moore and Matt Stevens), Anna Morris, and Norris and Parker.
Daphne, an eclectic trio united by a University of Cambridge degree, start with a Spanish monologue (probably more to screw over their paired performer, the Anna Morris) before moving to an amusing if protracted sketch about Peter Pan's death (it's funny, honest).
Norris and Parker, a female duo dressed in what appeared to be black catsuits, perform an interesting medley about deceased husbands to an array of modern pop songs, including single ladies (alongside alluring dance moves, and, bizarrely, a recorder), perhaps also a trap laid for their thieves, Thunderbards?
Anna Morris performs as Georgina, a very privileged, pompous wedding planner whose mission it is to sort out all ladies' dream weddings in the UK. It's a great character, well crafted character, ending with her own anthem. It does leave one wondering what Daphne will make of it.
Lastly, Thunderbards have quite a witty fast-paced, slick sketch about working in a greeting cards shop followed by a reasonable parody take of local news shows.
Daphne do a bizzare but quite funny improvisation involving a 4-armed man and they somehow managed to dodge having to do much with Anna Morris's anthem.
Norris and Parker start off well by mocking Thunderbard's "conventionally handsome" selves but don't quite manage to hit it off with their take on the greeting cards and news sketches.
Anna Morris gives a valient and entertaining effort at performing as all three members of Daphne, but even she couldn't save the protracted stage death of Peter Pan. A good performance though.
Thunderbards end with a haphazard but ultimately very funny cack-handed run through Norris and Parker's musical number.
Overall this particular show was decent - one only wonders what mayhem would ensue if Pappys, The Pin or Beta Males were to participate.
Score: 6/10
Venue: Laughing Horse at City Cafe (19 Blair Street)
Dates: 15th-30th (not 18th)
Time: 13:45
Price: Free
Sunday, 9 August 2015
Show 4: Marriage
Thanks to social media, I learnt that Tom Parry of Pappy's fame had adapted a mid 19th century Russian play by Gogol called Marriage.
Yeah, me neither.
But it promised a star studded cast of Ben Clark (Pappy's), Adam Riches, the members of Lazy Susan and two of BEASTS, which is surely a recipe for great comic theatre.
The play is held in one of my old lecture theatres, oddly (one of the George Square lecture theatres) which made me wonder what the learning objectives of the session would be.
Light jazzy piano sets the scene. Peter (Ben Clark) plays a taxman contemplating ending his days of drinking and leisure with the assured life of marriage, but the problem is, who shall he marry? His good friend (played by Riches) is initially astounded that his friend would even contemplate entering the institution, himself seemingly trapped in marriage, but he sets out to find his friend a suitable wife.
Enter a potential wife and three competitors: a womaniser, an obese auditor and perhaps the most dull man to have ever visited the Isle of Sicilly.
What ensues is a delightfully comic adventure as Riches' character attempts to sabotage his friend's competitors while persuading Peter to actually marry.
While the play has excellent acting and writing, it also throws up interesting questions: what really is the point of marriage? Is it for convenience? Do we really want it, or do we enter it due to social expectations? Is there really love between a married couple?
The intentions and motives of Riches' character are also questionable, and Riches' superb acting leaves the audience wondering what really are his feelings towards Peter.
Something has to be said too about the actors - a delightful set of sketch and character comedians well versed in creating memorable comic creations, and the whole ensemble worked extraordinarily well together.
A great production and thoroughly enjoyable, it was great to see some well known comedians in the more conventional theatrical setting and still make an engaging piece.
Score: 8/10
Venue: Assembly George Square Studios
Dates: 8th-30th August (not 19th)
Times: 14:00
Price: £13 (£11.50) weekends, £12 (£11) weekdays
Yeah, me neither.
But it promised a star studded cast of Ben Clark (Pappy's), Adam Riches, the members of Lazy Susan and two of BEASTS, which is surely a recipe for great comic theatre.
The play is held in one of my old lecture theatres, oddly (one of the George Square lecture theatres) which made me wonder what the learning objectives of the session would be.
Light jazzy piano sets the scene. Peter (Ben Clark) plays a taxman contemplating ending his days of drinking and leisure with the assured life of marriage, but the problem is, who shall he marry? His good friend (played by Riches) is initially astounded that his friend would even contemplate entering the institution, himself seemingly trapped in marriage, but he sets out to find his friend a suitable wife.
Enter a potential wife and three competitors: a womaniser, an obese auditor and perhaps the most dull man to have ever visited the Isle of Sicilly.
What ensues is a delightfully comic adventure as Riches' character attempts to sabotage his friend's competitors while persuading Peter to actually marry.
While the play has excellent acting and writing, it also throws up interesting questions: what really is the point of marriage? Is it for convenience? Do we really want it, or do we enter it due to social expectations? Is there really love between a married couple?
The intentions and motives of Riches' character are also questionable, and Riches' superb acting leaves the audience wondering what really are his feelings towards Peter.
Something has to be said too about the actors - a delightful set of sketch and character comedians well versed in creating memorable comic creations, and the whole ensemble worked extraordinarily well together.
A great production and thoroughly enjoyable, it was great to see some well known comedians in the more conventional theatrical setting and still make an engaging piece.
Score: 8/10
Venue: Assembly George Square Studios
Dates: 8th-30th August (not 19th)
Times: 14:00
Price: £13 (£11.50) weekends, £12 (£11) weekdays
Show 3: Pajama Men: 2 Men and 3 Musketeers
The Pajama Men are Fringe legends, always well loved and there's also an exciting anticipation of what madness they'll bring to the festival. They do not disappoint this year with an inventive interpretation of the story of Dumas' The Three Musketeers.
As ever there are absurd characters, with Cardinal Richelieu and Milady being particularly memorable, and excellent physical comedy. The show starts strongly with the duo lightly bickering over how the show starts and there's more meta-comedy when they portray ditzy American audience members who are baffled by the plot.
One wonders though if they had bitten off slightly more than they could chew as the show lulls somewhat toward the end as the plot become ever more twisted and convoluted, and it doesn't have quite the same emotional gut wrench as their 2009 show Last Stand To Reason had. Unfortunately there are no technical difficulties this year - they sublimely ad-libbed and improvised in their 2013 show Just The Two Of Each Of Us when their microphones stopped working (one of the most memorable and hilarious 5 minutes I've ever experienced).
Nevertheless this is a delightful hour and a thoroughly enjoyable show from these two masters of physical comedy.
Score: 8/10
Venue: Assembly Roxy
Dates: 8th-30th August (not 17th and 24th)
Times: 20:20
Price: £15 (£14) weekends, £14 (£13) weekdays
As ever there are absurd characters, with Cardinal Richelieu and Milady being particularly memorable, and excellent physical comedy. The show starts strongly with the duo lightly bickering over how the show starts and there's more meta-comedy when they portray ditzy American audience members who are baffled by the plot.
One wonders though if they had bitten off slightly more than they could chew as the show lulls somewhat toward the end as the plot become ever more twisted and convoluted, and it doesn't have quite the same emotional gut wrench as their 2009 show Last Stand To Reason had. Unfortunately there are no technical difficulties this year - they sublimely ad-libbed and improvised in their 2013 show Just The Two Of Each Of Us when their microphones stopped working (one of the most memorable and hilarious 5 minutes I've ever experienced).
Nevertheless this is a delightful hour and a thoroughly enjoyable show from these two masters of physical comedy.
Score: 8/10
Venue: Assembly Roxy
Dates: 8th-30th August (not 17th and 24th)
Times: 20:20
Price: £15 (£14) weekends, £14 (£13) weekdays
Show 2: Johnny Pelham: Before and After
The 2012 runner-up of the Chortle Student Comedy Award and So You Think You're Funny has his debt Edinburgh hour, it's a very solid effort. Pelham starts and ends rather abruptly, like he's making a comic getaway attack on his audience, but leaves us with great laughs and a well structured set.
His show deals with the before and after effects of jaw realignment surgery he had as an adolescent, sprinkled liberally with numerous anecdotes about how he and others have dealt with his disabilities. His assured, self-deprecating, gentle style suggests that this is a comedian who has found (or is very close to finding) his voice.
This is well rehearsed material that hits the mark well. A great effort for this comedian's first hour.
Score: 7/10
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Dates: 8th-31st August
Time: 18:45
Price: £9.50 (£9 concession) weekends, £7.50 (£7 concession) weekdays
His show deals with the before and after effects of jaw realignment surgery he had as an adolescent, sprinkled liberally with numerous anecdotes about how he and others have dealt with his disabilities. His assured, self-deprecating, gentle style suggests that this is a comedian who has found (or is very close to finding) his voice.
This is well rehearsed material that hits the mark well. A great effort for this comedian's first hour.
Score: 7/10
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Dates: 8th-31st August
Time: 18:45
Price: £9.50 (£9 concession) weekends, £7.50 (£7 concession) weekdays
Saturday, 8 August 2015
Show 1: Daniel Kitson: Polyphony
Daniel Kitson has written a play, but it is so ambitious, so daring that he couldn't possibly give his script to actors; instead he's recorded every voice, apart from the main character's, and the recordings, meticulously edited and one each given to an audience member to hold, form the majority of the performance.
His new hour has all the hallmarks of Kitson: it's meta, it touches on the profound (such as the futility of love and relationships), it's masterfully crafted and performed, imaginative comic characters spring from the story, it's filled with jokes and superb comic timing and, as with any of Kitson's work, he takes delight in mockingly reveling in his his oeuvre and his stage persona.
It's a dizzying performance, with some rather well known comic voices (who knew the famous recluse was so well connected?) which brings you into a play about a play about a play.
That the venue is a circular theatre and the audience almost within touching distance of Kitson adds to the intimacy of the piece - this work demands that atmosphere, and it works exceptionally well. Are the audience really part of the performance?
It doesn't have the same level of depth or heart as some of Kitson's previous work, and he hasn't indulged us in the same amount of profound musings of life as After The Beginning, Before The End, but it's still a performance to leave you breathless.
Score: 8/10
Venue: Summerhall, Roudabout Theatre
Dates: 7th-30th August (not Tuesdays)
Times: 12:15
Price: £12 (sold out - check twitter and the venue for people selling tickets)
His new hour has all the hallmarks of Kitson: it's meta, it touches on the profound (such as the futility of love and relationships), it's masterfully crafted and performed, imaginative comic characters spring from the story, it's filled with jokes and superb comic timing and, as with any of Kitson's work, he takes delight in mockingly reveling in his his oeuvre and his stage persona.
It's a dizzying performance, with some rather well known comic voices (who knew the famous recluse was so well connected?) which brings you into a play about a play about a play.
That the venue is a circular theatre and the audience almost within touching distance of Kitson adds to the intimacy of the piece - this work demands that atmosphere, and it works exceptionally well. Are the audience really part of the performance?
It doesn't have the same level of depth or heart as some of Kitson's previous work, and he hasn't indulged us in the same amount of profound musings of life as After The Beginning, Before The End, but it's still a performance to leave you breathless.
Score: 8/10
Venue: Summerhall, Roudabout Theatre
Dates: 7th-30th August (not Tuesdays)
Times: 12:15
Price: £12 (sold out - check twitter and the venue for people selling tickets)
Edinburgh 2015
A new year, a new festival and a new schedule.
Last year was filled with exceptional delights and great finds, and I was particularly pleased when I discovered that Alex Edelman had deservedly won the newcomer award. He'll be making a repeat appearance this year, provided that there are tickets left when I book them. I'm also delighted that I managed to get tickets for the legendary Daniel Kitson for my first day, with The Pajama Men following later in the night; it's going to be excellent (fact).
Last night was a slightly chaotic journey. The pricing wisdom of the British rail industry is such that a direct train to Edinburgh from Sheffield costs twice as much as getting a train to Manchester Piccadilly then getting a train to Edinburgh. Obviously, I'm going to buy the Manchester connection.
The fates had deigned to offer me a tumultuous journey for my first Edinburgh weekend: the Sheffield train was late by 40 minutes meaning I had missed my connection, which was also the last train to Edinburgh from Manchester. The solution: the train company organised a taxi to take me to Edinburgh. One 4 hour car journey later, I had come back home.
Hopefully the next three weekends won't be as dramatic.
Also, staying in my friend's very nice flat has made me realise that my Sheffield place is less than grand. I hereby vow to utilise my new-found earnings to their greatest renting potential next year. Also, it'd be nice not to have a place with frequent snail/slug visitations in one's bedroom (even on the 1st floor). I did accidentally step on a snail last night - perhaps that is an omen of times to come? Who knows?
Top tips for this year:
Liam Williams (as ever, he encapsulates the current generation in biting mockery)
The Pin (outstanding sketch duo with a very intelligent, beautifully crafted hour)
Alex Edelman (will this year's show live up to the hype and promise of last year?)
Joe Lycett (a reliably funny, charismatic stand up)
Pappys (excellent sketch trio - they're doing a variety of things this year)
Pajama Men (exceptionally funny physical comedians with elegantly written character shows)
Adam Hess (he's a bit mad and hyper, but very funny)
Last year was filled with exceptional delights and great finds, and I was particularly pleased when I discovered that Alex Edelman had deservedly won the newcomer award. He'll be making a repeat appearance this year, provided that there are tickets left when I book them. I'm also delighted that I managed to get tickets for the legendary Daniel Kitson for my first day, with The Pajama Men following later in the night; it's going to be excellent (fact).
Last night was a slightly chaotic journey. The pricing wisdom of the British rail industry is such that a direct train to Edinburgh from Sheffield costs twice as much as getting a train to Manchester Piccadilly then getting a train to Edinburgh. Obviously, I'm going to buy the Manchester connection.
The fates had deigned to offer me a tumultuous journey for my first Edinburgh weekend: the Sheffield train was late by 40 minutes meaning I had missed my connection, which was also the last train to Edinburgh from Manchester. The solution: the train company organised a taxi to take me to Edinburgh. One 4 hour car journey later, I had come back home.
Hopefully the next three weekends won't be as dramatic.
Also, staying in my friend's very nice flat has made me realise that my Sheffield place is less than grand. I hereby vow to utilise my new-found earnings to their greatest renting potential next year. Also, it'd be nice not to have a place with frequent snail/slug visitations in one's bedroom (even on the 1st floor). I did accidentally step on a snail last night - perhaps that is an omen of times to come? Who knows?
Top tips for this year:
Liam Williams (as ever, he encapsulates the current generation in biting mockery)
The Pin (outstanding sketch duo with a very intelligent, beautifully crafted hour)
Alex Edelman (will this year's show live up to the hype and promise of last year?)
Joe Lycett (a reliably funny, charismatic stand up)
Pappys (excellent sketch trio - they're doing a variety of things this year)
Pajama Men (exceptionally funny physical comedians with elegantly written character shows)
Adam Hess (he's a bit mad and hyper, but very funny)
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