Show six...Alan Cumming: I Bought a Blue Car Today

Here it is.  The show I was most excited about seeing...Mr Alan Cumming!

Photo from www.edfringe.com

This show was a wonderful mix of cabaret, laughs brought about by his chatting, heartfelt moments and generally feeling like Alan had invited you all back to his place as a group of friends rather than the adoring fans we were.  I don't think there was a person in the place who didn't appreciate the man standing before us on stage.

The songs were a mix of stage tunes, songs that had been written by people he knew that he liked, and stuff he'd written himself...some funny, some meaningful, all beautifully sang.

Alan recounted stories from his past, both long ago and quite recent...having us in stitches or agreeing wholeheartedly or indeed ready to lynch E! online (c*nts is my only opinion of them now - something I'm sure many there last night will agree with!).  He came across as so very tender and genuine - he either was or is truly the greatest actor who walks on this earth.  At times I will admit I saw the Alan who was Bernard...and I smiled.

One of the songs he did was one he wrote for his husband and it was just brilliant.

I swear, I've seen a lot of old favourites so far on this trip, and have quite a few I've not seen before coming up...but honestly, if it wasn't for the viewing of Jim Sweeney's film on Tuesday I would probably look for an alternative train home as I don't think anything will top that show.  For all round entertainment, for the two hours of smiles afterwards, for the glow.

Basically, two words describe this show...choose your preferred out of AWESOME & PHENOMENAL.


To check out more of Alan go to http://www.alancumming.com/blog.php which includes some video diaries of him in Edinburgh!

Photo shamelessly pinched from www.alancumming.com

Show five...Jo Caulfield: Cruel to be Kind

I have a feeling that many of these reviews could end up a little biased as I have, at least for the start of my time here, chosen old favourites of mine...comedians I've seen various times over the years...those I KNOW will make me laugh...and Jo Caulfield is yet another of these.

It was about 9/10 years ago that I first saw Jo perform.  It was The Comedy Store in London, 9/10 acts on for charity...I had booked the ticket because Rob Newman (of The Mary Whitehouse Experience - an object of many teenage fantasies and giggles) was performing...sadly he was overshadowed by two ladies that night, Miss Jojo Smith and Jo Caulfield.  Since then I have seen Jo perform both at Edinburgh every visit, and also been to many radio recordings.

Anyhoo I digress...

Photo thanks to www.edfringe.com

So, Jo's show.  It opened with Jo conducting a small survey to help with an article she's writing for an American magazine about losing your virginity...something the also ends the show as she asks various people about where they lost theirs.

Then we swiftly move on to the rest of the show.  One of the things I love about Jo is she says things that many women think, but never vocalise...or at least, things I think but never vocalise.  I like to imagine Jo is also irritated by the likes of women who apply make-up in public and would be slightly proud of me as I try my best to "accidentally" nudge such ladies, usually on trains.

She goes on to bitch about her "girlie friends" and also her "annoying friend" (and it's true, we do all have them!)...before recounting a fan-fecking-tastic tale (and I do so hope it was true on some level!) of just thinking she recognised someone and ends up meeting up with their fiancee, having dinner with them, only to realise that she has no clue who they are!

The show concludes with the virgin survey, where she asks various members of the audience where they lost there virginities, expanding for more details with many (although I was asked I thankfully didn't have to expand).  Much hilarity over these, details of which you can find on her website & blog...so I won't ruin it. http://www.jocaulfield.com/

The show isn't for those who want a "nice little lady comic" to go and see...but IS for those who want to spend an hour laughing their arses off and finding themselves (often secretly) agreeing with many of the words spilling out of Jo's mouth.


EDIT: Oh and go here... http://blog.jocaulfield.com/ ...I made it onto Jo's site WOOT!

Show four...Paul Merton's Impro Chums

I might as well say it now...this review was always going to be biased.  It has the comedy deity that is Lee Simpson as part of it...enough said!

Photo from http://paulmerton.com/improchums.html

Another impro show, this time starring three of the CSPs and two regular guests - so again, I KNOW it's going to be a good show as I've been watching these guys perform live for 11 years now...and for 20ish years if we backdate to WLIIA & Terry & Julian!

Games from The Store in London on a CSP night were used for the first half, however the second half changes and has Scenes from a Hat (well, bin) - these are suggestions written down by many audience members whilst in the queue - and Shakespeare.  The latter is a game I wish they did more often at The Store.

Highlights for me were Mike and his Welsh-Irish accent, Richard becoming the middle aged baby man vacuum and Lee and Mike being socks in a washing machine.  Suki deserves honourable mention for her fabulous Michael McIntyre impression!!!

Nice to see them in a bigger venue that previous years I've seen them - if there are still tickets available, get yourself one and go seen them.  Alternatively catch them on tour when they go http://paulmerton.com/improchums.html

Show three...Itch: A Scratch Event

Itch (as it shall be known from here on in) was a last minute booking, as we'd had the Tip that Messers Vranch and Frost were going to be on, and quite frankly, we can't get enough of them!

Photo from www.EdFringe.com

The show is a collection of mini shows/sketches/plays/performances, often not really rehearsed...hell, a script might have literally only just been finished moments before a show.  Many of the performers came out holding scripts, something you would think you would notice more than you actually did.  It wasn't long in any of them that I forgot they were even holding them!

The first was KILL PHIL, written by Phil Whelans and starring Phil himself, Ruth Bratt, Stephen Evans and James Wren (please forgive any spelling of names in this blog - I've tried to be accurate).  Armed only with minimal props (mainly chairs) we were treated to a dark/light comedy/play juxtaposition. The opening scene was by the graveside (cardboard coffin shape pinned to black curtain, all actors lay on the floor giving the impression we were viewing from above - very cleverly done!), followed by will reading in the style of a gameshow, followed by slightly insane goings on, including a fabulously creepy housekeeper.

Second was a more serious mini-play, although unsure as to whether they meant it to seem as such - they should, however, not take that as a criticism as I enjoyed it very much.  The story was about a comedian, Kyle, and a very over-eager fan, Sarah.  Scarily I wondered if this was how many of the comedians over the years felt about myself and many other people I know...am I comedian stalker crazy?? (please if any of the comedians I go to see read this just remember people like us mean you get to buy nice things like food and socks!) ...btw I don't *actually* want anyone to answer that...I know I'm at a safe stalker level because not ONCE has a restraining order been applied for...

Up next was Charlyne Yi.  A very brief appearance of her performing a song for her boyfriend who had just dumped her..."so what else could she do except invite him along?" She was literally on for a few minutes...and in those few minutes I got a stitch from laughing.  I am sorely tempted to see if I can fit her show in before I leave, if not, maybe I can catch her playing London some time?

Fourth was a monologue from Stuart Goldsmith...recounting meeting a girl and falling in love...and wasabi. Very sweet and amusing.

Last but by no means least were Richard Vranch and Stephen Frost, who were a pushy showbiz Dad and middle aged son who "wanted to be normal".  Lots of good old humour as well as visual gags, although Frosty's conversation with an inaudible petrol station night attendant was hilarious.

All in all, a very lovely hour which apparently changes to varying degrees on different days.

Edinburgh...Day two

Sunday was anything but a quiet day, so will give a very quick overview of the day with reviews coming separately.

Woke earlyish, before 0800, got up fed, showered, and ready. 

My friend, Chris, was coming to EdFest from Preston on a mammoth mission of seeing five shows before grabbing first train back on Monday morning, something made no less easy by him being in a wheelchair.

I met Chris at Waverley Station and got to the taxi queue to grab a cab up to Pleasance...we waited our turn and got rather miffed when a cab, empty with light on, would rather drive on by than pick up a fare which required him getting out his ramp so the chair could be wheeled on.  Another couple of cabs mysteriously never turned their lights on, but shortly afterwards a very friendly & helpful cabbie stopped and we were on our way up to Pleasance.

We found ourselves a place to settle, grabbed a quick drink, before heading to our first show, Itch: A Scratch Event (very interesting & funny), only to accosted by Mike McShane (he of WLIIA infamy amongst other things).  Lovely chit chat, marred only by the fact I was bursting for the loo!

After Itch, another drink and this time in the company of Mr Stephen Frost and his marvellous eyebrows (look at me name dropping names that only really mean things to Gag Hags!).

Then it was time for Paul Merton's Impro Chums (wonderful as always), followed by another drink, before I handed Chris over to be with my fellow flatmates for the week for the next two shows, whilst I headed across town to see the ever hilarious Jo Caulfield: Cruel to be Kind.

After Jo, back to Pleasance to meet up with Chris...another drink before we decided we would head to Assembly Hall early and have a drink there as we had to wait until midnight for our last show of the night, Alan Cumming: I bought a blue car today.

Outside the Pleasance is a taxi queue...rows of black cabs with their yellow lights shining brightly into the night.  This was where we experienced, yet again, an empty cab, yellow light blazing, look at us before driving off.  My patience by this time was wearing thin, and thankfully the next cabbie was even MORE helpful and friendly than the earlier cabbie.  He also informed us that we could make a complaint about him doing that...he, himself, found it disgusting the cabbie had just driven off.  In we got, and headed to the rear wheelchair access of Assembly Hall...which ironically has the HIGHEST stepped kerb I think I've ever seen!!  Lovely cabbie number 2 gave me the driver number of the earlier cab that drove off, and a complaint will surely be made...

We were swiftly inside Assembly Hall, only to discover (once outside the venue room where Mark Watson was about to go on) that we couldn't get to the bar from this side...only way would be if I wheeled Chris (or Pissed Priss as he shall now be known!) down the Royal Mile and then back up what is a rather steep incline to the front of Assembly Hall.  I asked if it wasn't possible for us just to wait where we were, which the staff kindly let us do. I popped off to the bar again, only to discover no bacardi - I was offered Malibu and almost instantly gagged - and we actually had a jolly old time waiting outside the room.

The staff we got chatting to were all very lovely lads, but the best entertainment came from a group of older ladies and gentlemen (and I mean that with utmost respect and that they really WERE classy folk).  We ended up chatting to them as we all waited together, having giggles.  One of the chaps was an actor in the 40s/50s before becoming a producer of programmes and films...yes yes I really should've asked who he was, but instead I WOWed him with my five year old daughter's brilliant card trick...

Alan was, for want of a better word, AWESOME!!!! I can't wait to write that review...BEST. SHOW. EVER.

Post Alan glow thankfully kept me smiling for the next few hours, because sadly Waverley station was closed, and not open as Pissed Priss had planned (with waiting in the waiting room until the train at 0530ish).  This left us pondering what to do...whereas I could leave him in the safety of a station, I couldn't leave him waiting outside...it's not what mates do.  So we took a wander over to the National Gallery and chatted and waited it out...man alive Edinburgh is cold at 0400!

Once the station opened, I took Pissed Priss in, and then headed back to the flat for some much needed sleep.

So a very long day involving me be up and about for 21 hours...thankfully day three was a chilled not-much-planned day!!!

Reviews to follow...

Show two...Richard Herring - Christ on a Bike

Although only my fourth EdFest, every single one has one thing in common...and that's seeing Richard Herring on the Saturday night. No other night will do.  Has to be the Saturday.

Photo from www.edfringe.com

Oh my, tonight's show was possibly the BEST Richard Herring show I've seen...beats even one where he utters the words "fisting Wee Jimmy Krankie".

This show is a revised version of his 2001 show, with implications that he's improved and added to it, however I can only take his word for it as I've never seen the original outing.

A question posed is "Is RH the second coming of Christ?"

Richard explores many many avenues in both his and Jebus' lives...he also points out some very obvious problems in the bible, such as the fact that the commandments appear to have been made up on the spot rather than thought through before final release.

As one expects from Herring, he is very close to the line...in fact, sometimes he is so far over the line that the line is a mere speck in the distance...and I LOVE THAT! That he is STILL so un-pc...not in a Bernard Manning/Chuckie Brown "stuck in the 70s" way...but in a "seriously Richard, just save me that seat in Hell next to you" way.

By far and away the most impressive section is on the New Testament...I shan't reveal stuff as it's not the done thing...but blimey, how he remembered the stuff he did, well...

So definitely one to recommend, even if you aren't up in Edinburgh, I think he is probably touring with it afterwards...and even if he isn't everyone should watch him live at least once in their life.  Check out his website http://www.richardherring.com/ for more information and also he has a very good blog to follow.

First show done - The Rupert Pupkin Collective

First show is over...the 2010 show cherry was taken by the marvellous gents of The Rupert Pupkin Collective at the Debating Hall at The Gilded Balloon Teviot.

Pic from www.edfringe.com

The Rupert Pupkin Collective are Steve Steen, Stephen Frost, Andy Smart, Ian Coppingger and Dave Johns...so unsurprisingly to me, I utterly loved it.

The show begins much as a show of The Comedy Store Players do - it's also an impro show, and given that Andy is a CSP, and the rest of the gents are regular guests, well... 

For me, once they'd moved away from what I would see as the "regular" CSP games, I nearly wet myself. HUGE belly laughs.  Turning the life of a chap called Derek from Dunfermline, who was a retired engineer with a Dire Straits fixation, and met his wife Kate in The Shetlands...this was pure comedy gold!

The dubbed Sherlock Holmes adventure was brilliant...but complete highlight for me had to be during Film & Theatre styles game, with the suggestion of Chinese Acrobatic Theatre, Ian did some outstanding acrobatic moves including the very daring jumping off a chair!  Made all the funnier because Ian makes Stevie Steen look tall!

Popped back to the apartment (yay I found it on my own) to change footwear, then I'm off in search of food before Richard Herring tonight.