YOUR DAILY SHEET OF EDINBURGH FESTIVAL REVIEWS: #12 TUESDAY 16 / WEDNESDAY 17 AUG IN EDINBURGH ThreeWeeksGET THREEWEEKS CHILDREN’S SHOWS COMEDY DIRECT TO YOUR IN-BOX Ian Billings: Dumbs Up! Bad Bread: TV Times There are even more reviews in the IRB Bad Bread ThreeWeeks eDaily email. At times very funny, at times groan-inducing In the Fringe programme ‘Bad Bread’ Sign up right now for free at (“that’s why they’re called groan-ups,” describe themselves as “an award-winning www.ThreeWeeks.co.uk/eDaily quipped Billings as another moan rose from sketch-troupe”; go watch them and then the adults in the audience) this show was a you’ll understand why they might have mixture of hit and miss. While the children deserved a gong. In this third year at the enjoyed themselves, especially when asked fringe, the boys are aiming to get on TV and to participate in choruses of poetic gems like so we are treated to their possible pitches ‘There’s a Shark in the Toilet’, the convoluted for TV shows and advertisements. Utterly story that served as the finale failed to skewed and heavy on Pythonesque-puns, delight. For me, the problem was more that, ‘Bad Bread’ will have you wishing that they for a show claiming to “dumb up” rather than do, in fact, have their own TV show. Ever down, the content didn’t deliver. Labelling wondered what it would be like if Carlsberg all bullies Neanderthal “snot brains” for made concentration camps? Or if ‘Reservoir example, seemed a bit off. I might be asking Dogs’ featured the ‘Teletubbies’ in starring a bit much from an hour-long children’s roles? Now you can finally find out. I’m not show; nevertheless, I’d either change the title sure if I’d kill for a ticket but I’d certainly or the tune. maim for one. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3 - 29 Aug, 11.15am Underbelly Cowgate, 4 – 28 Aug, 5.45pm (6.45pm), (12.15pm), £7.00 - £9.00, fpp22. tw rating 2/5 [ka] £8.50 - £10.50 fpp42. tw rating 5/5 [cd] Kreestan Sennakie’s Magical Chris McCausland – Big Time Story Emporium Bound And Gagged Comedy By Arrangement With Beyond Compere Quids In Theatre Company I can’t help but feel a little sorry for Kreestan. “I feel I should tell you that, yes, I am blind. When I reviewed him, his performance was Just in case some of you are sitting there undeniably hampered by the fact that the thinking ‘Christ, how drunk is this guy?’” audience consisted of one small boy, his So begins Chris McCausland’s offering of mother and grandmother, and me. This clever and endearingly self-deprecating led to one or two awkward moments when stand-up comedy. McCausland turns his he looked for audience participation that wry, honest wit to topics such as the male was never very forthcoming, but he pushed experience of Topshop and middle-class valiantly on with his act, consisting of stories groceries. His everyman humour can also be and magic tricks, aided by a giant orange slightly surreal, as he paints us pictures with dog called Milo. He was an engaging, likeable fantastical words and images. The effect is performer, but in all honesty, his illusions utterly charming and it’s almost impossible were pretty mediocre and depended entirely to dislike him. The vague theme of the on props that can be bought from any magic show is time and it’s bookended by lovely shop. That said, the small boy seemed happy anecdotes on the relativity of it. Indeed, this enough, and the show was very reasonably hour long show flew by, somewhat proving priced. McCausland’s point. Pleasance Courtyard, 3 - 28 Aug, (not 17), 7.00pm Who sent for the men in white theSpaces on North Bridge, 5 - 13 Aug (not 7), SNAP OF THE DAY: (8.00pm), £9.50 - £12.00, fpp57. tw rating 4/5 [ek] 11.10am (11.55am), £3.00 - £5.00, fpp24. tw rating 2/5 [im] coats? It’s ‘The Real Macguffins: Skitsophrenic’ at the Colm O’Regan: Dislike! The Hamwehads A Facebook Guide To Crisis Pleasance Courtyard. Photo: Kat Gollock Kat’s Whiskers Colm O’Regan It’s difficult to describe in a few words this I really hope Colm O’Regan’s tales of 1980s cute - if borderline nonsensical - show. Photoshop and comedy court cases are The Dog-Eared Collective: 4 Poofs And A Piano – Indeed, unlike many ‘children’s shows’, it’s true. We’re taken through a story of his You’re Better Than This Business As Usual certainly appropriate, and appeals to and life and of Ireland through the medium of Dog-Eared Collective Bound And Gagged Comedy holds the attention of the youngest audience Facebook and a PowerPoint, which is brilliant Flitting from one sketch to another with Camper than a row of tents, the former members. It opened promisingly, with well when it works, but dire when it doesn’t. lightning speed and delivering abstract, house band of Jonathon Ross’s BBC1 written, plot driving rhyme; but when this The only thing holding O’Regan’s show off-the-wall but hilarious performances, this show are appearing at the Fringe again subsided, it became much less engaging. As back is technical difficulties – that and the troupe leave you feeling like you’ve stepped with songs and, of course, dancing. Their one character in the tale rightly noted, “this too-formal feel of a university seminar we out of a comedy whirlwind. A myriad of frequent tongue-in-cheek crudeness may just gets weirder and weirder” – a statement all experience when faced with an overhead costumes, props, wigs and accents flit by not be to everyone tastes, but if you’re that summarised the mild pantomime projector. But the newborn medium of as these four incredibly talented comedians willing to look past this, then you’re in for an humour and eclectic range of characters Facebook for comedy is an effective one, and create ‘Snooker: The Musical’, an Italian hour of laughs and increasingly outrageous which left parents utterly bemused. However, O’Regan uses it with skill and good timing. version of ‘Top Gear’, and a short film about costume changes. Some of the songs lack this well-meaning children’s oddity has His short history of Ireland is particularly street dance with help from the audience. originality, for example ‘How To Write A Pop many of the right features for children’s captivating, and his creation of comic The scope of their material is diverse and Song’ is very much the kind of self-parodying entertainment – a little shorter and some characters makes us feel we really get to consistently funny, while the inventiveness of fare that has been available on YouTube more of that wicked opening rhyme and this know the comedian and his world. their many backgrounds and guises is to be for years. However, it’s not just for the could be a more memorable show. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3 – 29 Aug (not 16), 4:00pm marvelled at. The show is occasionally too songs’ content that people should consider Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 4 – 18 Aug (5:00pm), £7.50 - £10.00, fpp59. tw rating 3/5 [ja] (not 15), 12:00pm (1:00pm), free, fpp22. tw rating fast-paced to quite keep up, but as you are seeing the show – there’s a tangible air of 2/5 [ck] speedily transported to the next scene, it’s professionalism that makes this show a impossible to dwell on this minor grievance. treat to watch. Underbelly Cowgate, 4 - 28 Aug (not 17), 4.00pm Pleasance Courtyard, 3 – 28 Aug (not 17), 6.00pm for quick recommends www.twitter.com/twittique (5.00pm), £8.00 (£10.00), fpp67. tw rating 4/5 [ec] (7.00pm), £12.50 - £15.00, fpp77. tw rating 4/5 [ljc] WORK YOUR REVIEWS! Advertising in the ThreeWeeks Daily is the perfect way to promote your great reviews. SPECIAL OFFER: £60 for 2 x 50mm boxes including VAT! Limited places, so book now! To book, email your 50mmx50mm greyscale artwork (300dpi PDF or jpeg) to [email protected] including a mobile number we can call to confirm booking. MORE REVIEWS PLUS NEWS, INTERVIEWS AND EXCLUSIVE COLUMNS: WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK Frimston And Rowett Sammy J And Randy: Ricketts Robin Ince’s Struggle For written than performed: usage of “do Fetch not” and “cannot” doesn’t suit the oral Ever wanted to know every joke about birds Lane Brett Vincent For Get Comedy Existence Twa Dugs Theatre Company tradition. Despite this, Bellwood performs ever told? Come to Frimston and Rowett, Robin Ince / PBH’s Free Fringe ‘Fetch’ transcends the clichés of what Take the surreal odd-couple comedy of naturally and engagingly, never boring the who gleefully take the audience through a it means to be a Scottish man. Instead ‘Spaced’, add the musical crime caper of The relentlessly intelligent Robin Ince is audience with self-indulgence; reflections whirl of tight sketches that never overstay of revelling in the football violence and ‘The Producers’, sprinkle with boisterous, performing four different shows at the upon imagination, judgements and death their welcome. A marvellous opening sketch alcoholism seemingly often present in profane gags, and imagine the whole thing Fringe this year, but there was enough involve us all. Thought-provoking but not about birthday presents is reprised more Scottish drama, communication and family cast by the Muppets – and you’re still not delightful material in this one alone for six or terribly profound, polished but not exciting, than once with a new twist each time, and are the centrepiece of this moving tale.