YOUR DAILY SHEET OF FESTIVAL REVIEWS: #18 MONDAY 23/TUESDAY 24 AUG

IN EDINBURGH ThreeWeeksGET THREEWEEKS CHILDREN’S SHOWS Dig for Victory Sketch Show - Free Dig For Victory/ PBH’s DIRECT TO YOUR IN-BOX The I Hate Children Children’s Show To keep this review simple, sand to reflect There are even more reviews in the Comedy on the Square the nature of the show itself, I shall begin with the good points. One joke stood out as the ThreeWeeks eDaily email. First a confession: the jaded cynicism funniest, a sketch about the after-effects of a expressed in this show’s title may have Sign up right now for free at Facebook rape; the punchline caught me off resonated with me a little too much prior to www.ThreeWeeks.co.uk/subscribe guard and consequently caused a meaningful viewing. Nevertheless, it is now with confident laugh. And thus ends my list of good points. objectivity that I attest to the genuine all Consistently, the material was of a type that, round wonderfulness of this comedic show! if jokingly told to your friend on the spur of Magician Paul Nathan exudes unpretentious the moment, might evoke a grin or perhaps charisma by the bucket load and, assisted by even dig up a chuckle. The show simply didn’t his equally personable sidekick Al, each and pack enough intelligence in the writing, or every child is invited to partake in at least conviction in the delivery, to really deal a one of his mesmerising magic tricks. Sharp Last night’s audience professional blow. New sketches and better and full of dry humour, Nathan unashamedly called the show actors needed desperately. indulges in a spot of playful child-mockery - Swingers & Roundabouts The Voodoo Rooms, 9 - 27 Aug, 3.00pm (4.00pm), something which can evoke an initial sense free, fpp 56. [tv] An epic tale of naughty traffic systems of audience shock. It is not long, however, before shock morphs into laughter from all tw rating 1/5 What will tonight’s musical be? corners. Cannot recommend enough! Teviot 10.50pm Zoo Roxy, 6 - 30 Aug, 12.00pm (1.00pm), £5.00, fpp The Rap Guide To Human Nature 13. [kr] www.showstoppermusical.com*PLUS VAT Baba Brinkman tw rating 5/5 Baba Brinkman returns to the Fringe with another educational insight explained through the art of rap, dealing with creationism, COMEDY ovulation and the evolution of gayness in this hour of energetic and insightful rap. He confronts issues that most rappers The Axis of Awesome: Songs in the Key of wouldn’t dare to touch with both intelligence Awesome Axis of Awesome and humour. Although the show is cleverly The Axis of Awesome are rapidly becoming written, it does have a few faults however; the Fringe legends, and rightly so. There’s a long audience interaction is awkward at times and tradition of antipodean comic songsmiths some of the material flew straight over my - from the Doug Anthony All Stars to Flight head. However, don’t let these minor issues of the Conchords - and these boys are right put you off going to see this enjoyable show. up there with them. This year’s gig includes If you’re looking for something different, this a song lamenting the lack of lasers in educational and original production is well modern life, an excellent deconstruction of worth an hour of your time. clichéd boy-band love songs, and their most Gilded Balloon Teviot, 4 - 30 Aug (not 9, 16, 23), well-known song ‘Four Chords’, a medley 3.45pm (4.45pm), £8.00 - £10.50, fpp 113. [sr] of famous tracks which all use the same tw rating 3/5 4 chords. The stand out for me was their literal cover version of ‘Hotel California’. Their Gordon Southern - Borders Who’s that in the sky? set romps through more musical genres SNAP OF THE DAY: Gordon Southern than you may expect, but every number is a Why, it’s Jonathan Eio from ‘Jump The Musical’ hilarious barnstormer. This show rocks; go Rat-a-tat-tat goes the machine-gun fire of see it! jokes from this free-wheeling comedian, who at Dome. Photo: Kate Edwards Gilded Balloon Teviot, 4 - 30 Aug (not 18, 25), 19.45 takes few intakes of breath during the show. (20.45), £9.00 - £10.00, fpp 30. [al] Somewhat twitchy during his performance, Southern constantly gropes the mic stand, tw rating 5/5 enjoyed his Lib Dem disco and he can make This show is the perfect antidote to the occasionally putting the mic back in for a up catchy songs in his sleep. Yet though he soft and flabby comedian who delivers pithy fraction of a second then taking it straight is a very able storyteller, his straight routines observational comedy or engages in tête-à- Caroline Rhea Gilded Balloon back out. It’s also odd to see him at one point drag the show down a bit; these sections tête with audience members. It is instead an Completely mental, completely unstructured check his mobile phone mid joke: maybe just don’t share the verve and pace that the observation of observation that is odiously and completely fabulous. You might it was an important text? That isn’t to say music inevitably brings to the set. However, clever, and pant-wettingly funny. I sincerely remember Rhea from ‘Sabrina the Teenage his set about borders and boundaries isn’t this is elegantly written and charmingly hope Eldon makes a return to the Fringe, if Witch’ but after this show you’ll know amusing, however, and there is a nice arc to delivered, a very enjoyable way to spend and he continues to perform with such sterling her simply as a spellbinding comedian. his stories and a good set finale, but this is hour and a fiver. sublimity. Introduced by her support act, her lacklustre unfortunately crippled by a joke in incredibly husband, Rhea is a ball of energy and scatty The GRV, 6 - 29 Aug (not 23), 7.00pm (8.00pm), The Stand Comedy Club, 2.30pm (3.10pm), 6 - 30 bad taste about the death of Steve Irwin. £5.00, fpp75 [cnm] Aug (not 16, 23), £7.00 - £8.00, fpp 84. [mb] enthusiasm. She recounts amusing mishaps Downstairs At The Tron, 5 - 29 Aug (11, 25), 9.00pm and offers advice such as, “avoid the pill: its (10.00pm), £5.00, fpp 68. [ta] tw rating 3/5 tw rating 4/5 like a sexual credit card, you end up taking tw rating 3/5 things home you would never normally buy”. Kevin Eldon Is Titting About Morgan & West: Time Travelling Magicians We’re constantly wondering what Rhea Kevin Eldon/ The Stand Comedy Club James Sherwood - One Man And His Piano Stage magic can (and probably should) will come out with next, and I’m pretty sure always be funny, and since the combination James Sherwood Kevin Eldon makes his Fringe debut with the she is too. The show’s haphazard nature panache of a Fringe veteran: of course, he of Victoriana and comedy seems to go James Sherwood is a bright-eyed comic adds to its brilliance, although it does lose doesn’t need to conform to the style of the down well in Edinburgh, these two Victorian- with great presence and warm confidence momentum in places. A loveable lady with a ubiquitous nice guy comedians who natter comedian-magicians ought to be on to a who really comes alive when tinkling the truly entertaining show - but honey, lose the on about shoe sizes and bus tickets, nor winner. Morgan and West are obviously very ivories. Like a musical David Mitchell, he is husband. does he need to produce a ‘well rehearsed’ amusing men, because they are funniest in knowingly clever without being smug, but Gilded Balloon Teviot, 6 - 25, 9.30pm (10.30pm), and ‘professional’ piece. Eldon thinks he their more conversational stretches. Their £10.00 - £15.00, fpp 41. [sk] this mixture of straight stand up and musical can just tit around: and he is just so right. cont>> tw rating 4/5 accompaniment is hot and cold. I particularly

MORE REVIEWS PLUS NEWS, INTERVIEWS AND EXCLUSIVE COLUMNS: WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK enthusiasm and clarity. Every prop has multiple uses and no part of the wooden story frame is left underused. Storey is wonderfully resourceful, and the audience chuckle and gasp with delight as he deftly manoeuvres his canvas and record player resulting in surreal humour, a dreamlike story and a touch of the disturbing that make this quite unlike anything you may have seen before. Zoo Roxy, 6 - 30 Aug (not 18), 3.55pm (4.45pm), £5.00 - £8.00, fpp. 262. [gjs] tw rating 4/5

@Virtually_Real Roundhouse Theatre Company This quirky new play explores the difference between virtual life and reality, and their tendency to blur together. The play lacks a plot but rather focuses on a bunch of characters who interact both online and in real life and the combination of a fantastically talented cast, good writing and strong direction make each personality extremely real. To the amusement of the audience, cont>> tricks are consistently entertaining are provided to play chess and the Lewis Six And A Half Loves into uninhabited rooms, all the while hearing when the actors switch to the virtual world and deft and, while there is perhaps nothing Chessmen’s part in the Harry Potter films is Terry Saunders whispered Argentinian stories through inhabited by their avatars, they assume the of astounding ingenuity, they are varied and explored. Using back projections of endearingly headphones. This should have made for an physicality of characters from video games, absorbing enough to make the show worth its National Museum of , 2 Aug - 5 Sept, stylised cartoon drawings, Terry Saunders intense experience, but the stories we heard plus, the set is beautiful and the staging ticket-price. Affable and cheery as they are, 10.00am-5.00pm, free, fpp 169. [cmc] skilfully interweaves the stories of his love- narrated and watched on film were hard to smart; the audience can never confuse however, they lack the charisma and panache lorn characters, having the name of each follow and (except for the tale of a football tw rating 3/5 cyberspace and reality. Both funny and tragic, which stage magic requires to prevent the character, as he discusses them, projected triumph) not engaging. While we sensed our this play is an interesting reflection on the props from looking like toys and the room like onto his T-shirt. At times funny, at times breathing in the darkness and lay together on presence of the virtual in our lives. a birthday party. Perhaps they just deserve a desperately sad, often both, this was a lovely a bed our bodies may have been ‘interacting’ bigger venue. MUSIC bitter-sweet play about what it means to be with the show, but heads and hearts were Assembly, 9-30 Aug (not 24), 1.15 pm (2.15pm), £8.00-£10.00, fpp. 302. [clm] Gilded Balloon Teviot, 4 - 29 Aug, 3.45pm (4.45pm), utterly heartbroken. The story of Nigel, a man not. The supposedly mysterious narrative £7.50 - £9.50, fpp 100. [kb] In The Pink - Fabulous All-Female A Cappella! who buys a blow up doll to fill the void in his content of the piece was insufficiently tw rating 4/5 tw rating 3/5 Expect some fun from this female a cappella life, is strangely moving, as is the tale of a dramatic or meaningful - poignant only in group who blend genres, mash-ups and character referred to throughout as ‘Thingy’, name. Sex Idiot because the man she loves does not know Bryony Kimmings/Escalator East to Edinburgh Under The Stars Peter Buckley Hill medleys to create engaging unaccompanied The Melting Pot, 6 - 28 Aug (not 8, 15, 22), times vary, music. Moments of their performance her name. A kind of cartoon version of ‘Love, £4.00 - £5.00, fpp 280. [dp] This show is helmed by Peter Buckley Hill, Bryony Kimmings proves to be one of the were exceptional, including a Moulin Rouge Actually’, without the happy endings. the man himself, organiser of the PBH Free tw rating 2/5 most vital young artists at this year’s Fringe, arrangement and a cover of ‘The Feeling’ Pleasance Courtyard, 17 - 30 Aug, 3.15pm (4.15pm), Fringe, and his persona is so affable and with a performance brim-full of character which sent shivers down the spine. Sadly, £6.50 - £8.00, fpp 288. [hw] engaging that it threatens to overshadow It’s Always Right Now, Until It’s Later and with a real zest for life. ‘Sex Idiot’ begins this was let down by the switching of lead his invited performers. His appearance and tw rating 4/5 Daniel Kitson with Kimmings retracing her sexual footsteps vocalists, which, although a nice idea, didn’t upon discovering she had contracted an STI, vernacular make him uncannily resemble a There’s a lot of hype surrounding Daniel work as some of the members sang better and what ensues is a candid exploration of genetic merger between Bill Bailey and Boris John Knox: Turn Again Kitson’s latest project, but his play more than others and while the choreography in modern sexuality and love. Using elaborate Johnson. Whilst there are a few questionable John Shedden than lives up to the buzz. With a minimal but places worked very well and added comedy costumes, dances, imaginative props self-accompanied songs, and one extremely innovative setting consisting of light bulbs to the performance, it sometimes appeared There is not quite enough drama in this (one sequence sees her hitting herself dubious Nazi salute, his material is warming representing tiny moments in the lives of jumbled and disorganised. However, most of dramatisation of the writings of Reformation repeatedly with a bunch of flowers) and and enthralling. The show has a very tender two individuals, Kitson keeps the audience their harmonies were impeccable and their clergyman John Knox, as performed by John brilliantly constructed songs, the show is undertone, as glimpses emerge of a very shy, enthralled for an hour and a half with a choice of songs was diverse, making this a Shedden. This is a dense script with a whole ultimately unique amongst a plethora of bumbling man, wrapped up in an engaging, supremely engaging performance that is a genuinely enjoyable experience. regiment of characters, and at times it’s one-actor shows, with such originality that’s witty, and sometimes salacious coating. His true testament to his skill as a storyteller. C, 15 - 30 Aug, 4.45pm (5.30pm), £5.50 - rather difficult to follow the narrative thread; rarely seen. And despite the frankness of stage presence is amicable, and his comedy Kitson’s play is a compassionate, wry and £10.50, fpp188. [aq] furthermore, the potentially interesting story the show’s themes, Kimmings also seems has an urbane sense of spontaneity. moving glimpse into the moments that make of fellow reformer George Wishart - whom immensely warm-hearted in a showy but tw rating 3/5 up the minutes, hours and eventually years The Canon’s Gait, 7 - 29 Aug (not 11, 18, 25), 6.05pm Knox defended then deserted - is sadly never pretentious performance of real depth (7.00pm), free, fpp 138. [np] of our lives, reminding us that it is not just confused. Shedden is convincing as Knox, and emotion. the big events that count. If you can get your tw rating 4/5 but does not vary his tone or embody the Zoo Roxy, 6 - 30 Aug (not 7), 8.20pm (9.20pm), £7.00, hands on a ticket, do not miss the opportunity MUSICALS and OPERA different characters enough to bring this fpp 287 [ef] complicated story to life. This is a laudable to see this inspiring work. tw rating 4/5 attempt to reanimate a little-known historical , 10 - 29 Aug (not 16, 23), 10.00am EVENTS The Improvised Musical No Shoes Theatre event, but it is perhaps too faithful to Knox’s (11.30am), £10.00 - £12.00, fpp 262. [lw] Almost an antidote to the professional own words, and unfortunately feels too much tw rating 5/5 Graveyards, Mystery and Murder Tour efficiency of the fringe’s other improvised like a sermon to be wholly enjoyable. THREEWEEKS IN EDINBURGH Saints & Sinners Walking Tours musicals, No Shoes Theatre’s version actually Scottish Storytelling Centre, 10 Aug - 4 Sept (even Jack Pratchard feels more energetic, more imaginative, dates only), 5.00pm (5.50pm), £6.00 - £8.00, fpp This themed walking tour meanders Jonathan Storey Publishers Chris Cooke, Caroline Moses and certainly more fun than its heavily 263. [gg] through Edinburgh’s picturesque old town, Masterful, measured and macabre; Jonathan Concept and content © ThreeWeeks re-tracing the deadly steps of the capital’s marketed rivals across town. Tonight’s show tw rating 2/5 - although improvised musicals aren’t easy to Storey’s unusual form of storytelling depicts Publications. most notorious murderers. The content is the somewhat sinister fairytale which centres historical - we’re talking mainly 1600-1800s summarise - was about a gruff sheriff trying Poignant ThreeWeeks Publications is owned by to apprehend a beautiful diamond smuggler around the murdered Jack Pratchard on here, not coverage of any recent unfortunate MT UnLimited Publishing, a division of UnLimited in the quaint town of ‘Sleepy Sleepings,’ and his quest to the City of the Dead. Using an events - and is delivered by an enthusiastic So close to its intended interactivity yet so Media, Unicorn House, 221-222 Shoreditch comprised madcap comedy, inappropriate elaborate wooden puppet theatre filled with and likeable local. Commencing in Greyfriars far; this multi-media installation seemed to do High Street, London, E1 6PJ. Tel: 020 7099 accents and, bizarrely, falconry, all put intriguing nooks and crannies, Storey tells Kirkyard and ending in , the all the right things but missed its mark. The 9050. together by a fantastically talented cast with this peculiar little tale with a hint of sinister event recounts tales of Edinburgh’s seedy audience were led down pitch-black passages knowing, yet, also a bespectacled innocence, Daily printing by Smart Design & Print. past and shady residents in various dark charisma coming out of their ears. If only closes and murky alleyways en route. The it had come together a bit more smoothly format is simple and effective, though certain at the end, this would have been a five-star attempts at humour and the dodgy sing-song show, but still, it had me happily smiling the that marked the end of the tour seemed a tad whole way through. out of place. If you go, get a group together C, 4 - 30 Aug (not 14), 6.30pm (7.30pm), £5.50 - £10.50, fpp 212. [ef] and an informative, enjoyable, experience through Edinburgh’s old town is guaranteed. tw rating 4/5 Outside Greyfriars Bobby Bar, 6 - 7, 9 - 10, 12 - 14, 16 - 17, 19 - 21, 23 - 24, 26 - 28 Aug, 7.00pm (8.30pm), £7.50 - £8.50, fpp 160. [kr] THEATRE tw rating 3/5

Dracula Oneohone Theatre A handsome, uniformly talented cast are EXHIBITIONS wasted in this loud, abrasive adaptation. Set in an insane asylum, the script is far The Lewis Chessmen Unmasked too clever, yet never illuminating; those The National Museum of Scotland without a deep knowledge of Stoker’s text Looking more like medieval Aardman will experience an utterly muddled narrative characters than Viking warriors, these dark that struggles to reconcile itself in the closing age chess pieces challenge our notion of our fifteen minutes. I could count on one hand relationship with Scandinavia. Though there’s the instances of actual dialogue - instead, one a limit to the appeal of such minute figures, actor speaks (or screams) for a bit, while the when set among Viking stonework and other rest ‘insanely’ play with their feet, or fit, or items from the period the well-preserved fight, or hiss tiresomely. Most worrying of all craftsmanship of the chessmen shows. The though, are the moments when performers extent of the mysteries unmasked is perhaps throw themselves into the air, before overstated. However, the exhibition does find crashing artlessly to the ground. This promise a number of stories in the pieces’ features, of broken limbs is the only thing that makes with informative displays linking buck teeth ‘Dracula’ truly terrifying. and bulbous eyes to real life historic figures. C Soco, 15 - 30 Aug, 12.00am (1.05am), £7.50 - Their interest as a part of the history of £10.50, fpp n/a. [tm] gaming is not overlooked either. Opportunities tw rating 1/5 TW RATINGS EXPLAINED: 1/5 BAD | 2/5 MEDIOCRE | 3/5 GOOD | 4/5 VERY GOOD | 5/5 BRILLIANT