YOUR FREE GUIDE TO THE FESTIVAL 2011 MORE AT WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK

ThreeWeeks IN EDINBURGH

Edinburgh for a Penny Penny Dreadfuls , and celebrate their new solo shows by each providing their own unique guide to Edinburgh

PLUS Guest Editor Andrew Maxwell talks to Sammy J and Glenn Wool

ALSO INSIDE THE THREEWEEKS 2011 WEEK TWO/THREE ISSUE: Andrew O’Neill, Piff The Magic Dragon, Idil Sukan, Lucy Perman from Clean Break, Steven Hennessy from Lullabies Of Broadway, Rhum And Clay, and the List Operators, plus Fringe acts explain their musical choices, and lots and lots and lots and lots of brand new reviews “ STARTPOINT

let’s celebrate the fringe survivors…

Welcome this week’s provocative material, the some performing, some the end without strangling ThreeWeeks Guest primary pitfall in an interview working backstage. And, you this fucker? And again here’s CONTENTS would be to immediately leap know, you get to that point half proof positive that it can be Editor Andrew Maxwell into politics, or religion, or way through Week Two, when done. Sammy is a man who 04: Festival sexuality, or some other area the rain hasn’t let up for days has to share the stage with where it’s easy to offend. on end, and you can barely a drunken, lecherous, angry People So, welcome to my issue So I wanted to get through swallow even a banana once puppet, and he’s done it so of ThreeWeeks, I hope an entire interview with him a day, and you’re wondering many times, but he’s yet to 06: Comedy you enjoy everything that without doing that. whether you’ll survive. Well, I strangle the puppet. Although follows. In amongst it all you will point to the great hulking hairy he has fisted it. Damn, that was 11: Cabaret find two interviews I have done In the case of Sammy, as mass of Glenn Wool as proof on the ‘don’t go there’ list. 12: Theatre & “for you, interviews with two of somebody who works with you shall survive. my favourite performers: Glenn puppets, he must be tired of all So, basically, I wanted my two Musicals

Wool and Sammy J. the fisting jokes, or being asked And likewise with Sammy J. interviews to be heart-warming mundane things like ‘where the The Fringe is so intense, you stories of human survival. I 16: Dance &

I picked Glenn and Sammy puppet sleeps’. These were the spend so much time with the think I did that. Or perhaps partly because they are both things I was avoiding there. same small group of people. I didn’t. To be honest I don’t Physical very interesting performers And it becomes a strain. And frankly care any more, because “ 18: Art & Events with interesting stories to tell, I think Glenn is a great person you get to the point where I dropped my iPhone down a and partly because there are to talk to at this stage of the you start to wonder if you can portaloo toilet last night and my 19: Survey some really obvious things Festival. You know, as the make it through the rest of entire world has caved in. But you could ask both of them, nights start drawing on into August with the people you’re I’ll survive. You will too if 20: Music and I wanted to set myself the the dawn. He’s a man that working with, or your venue you read this issue of challenge of getting through has been there and done it staff, or the people in your ThreeWeeks. 20: Photo Page both interviews without all. It’s an uplifting story. Of play, or the people you’re in a resorting to those predictable having partaken in so many sketch troupe with, or maybe 22: Kids’ Shows questions! late night drunken exploits, your agent, or your lover, or and yet he always survives. 23: Meet Team With a like someone else that’s, like, am Andrew’s show ‘The Lights Are On’ is on There will be people here at I going to make it through to at Assembly George Square, 4 - 29 Aug, ThreeWeeks Glenn, who is known for his the Fringe for the first time, 9.00pm (10.00pm).

WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | PAGE THREE “MyMORE show ONLINE: is ‘The Look Cold out Hard for Addy Facts Van Of DeLife’. Bourgh’s Which is a country song about a guy who discovers his wifeFringe is Wordcheating Of The on him,Day, everyand kills day both in the her eDaily and the lover. Though the show’s about facts” LloydSubscribe Langford providesfor free: some www.ThreeWeeks.co.uk/subscribe free facts - www.threeweeks.co.uk/lloydlangford

FRINGE PEOPLE THE CARO HELLO Hey everyone, we’ve passed the interviewing Sammy J and the edinburgh fringe through a lens half-way point! And by the time Randy, as well as Festival this paper is in your hands, we’ll absolute-hardened-veteran Idil Sukan has been knocking have even more passed the Glenn Wool. Also featuring in the around the Festival for the halfway point. By this weekend, comedy area this issue are this last 200 years, and done you’ll be able to see the end in week’s cover stars, Thom Tuck, almost every Fringe job sight. How did that happen, eh? David Reed and Humphrey Ker, There you were, thinking “gosh, who’ve all written nicely amusing known to man; hell, she even a whole month in Edinburgh”, columns for us, and Andrew reviewed for ThreeWeeks and look, it’s zipping past you, O’Neill, who will fill you in on what at one time. These days, like a very fast, um, zipper thing. happens when comedy meets however, you’re more likely to Apologies if you are reading this hard rock. find her producing a Fringe on a weekend trip to Edinburgh; show or two while also this discourse might have very Elsewhere, we’ve got a best taking photos at The little meaning for you. But I bet and worst piece from Piff, your mini-break goes by pretty a Q&A with photographer/ Pleasance. We asked Idil fast too. about her love of the Fringe,

producer/designer Idil Sukan, Photo: Idil Sukan as assisted by Fleur Hardy and recommendations from our and her new glamorous life Anyway, let’s get on, shall we? three art correspondents. On the taking pictures of famous photographer for this you can experiment and create This week’s issue is helmed theatrical side, there’s a Q&A people like Mark Watson, year, for which I’ve taken up residency something very new and unique - by the lovely Andrew Maxwell, with Lucy Perman from Clean Mark Steel and that boy band in their rather warm press office there’s really very little opportunity who has done a great job of Break, an article from Steve The Wanted. under the Dome. I would also like to to do that from scratch beyond the Hennessy, the writer behind the take credit for “designing Dave’s set”, Festival. It’s an incredible feeling to Lullabies Of Broadway quartet, which pretty much consisted of me have a full house of people enjoy a and a piece from physical TW: Idil, you seem to have a pretty bellowing “I want more chairs” from show you’ve been part of making theatre types Rhum And Clay, varied and interesting life. Tell us the back of the auditorium during the happen. Working as part of a team who tell us about their first time about the different things you do. get in. There are a lot of chairs. on one large project that has so many in Edinburgh with ‘Shutterland’. IS: Well, I produce shows at the facets is always hugely satisfying. I Festival, including, this year, David TW: Your photography work seems work with some really brilliant people Plus, we put questions to List Reed’s wonderful solo debut pretty glamorous and exciting. behind the scenes, especially my Operators For Kids, and they ‘Shamblehouse’, and comedy duo What is it like working with all those technical director Neil Hobbs. answered them. Yay. ‘Behemoth’ at the Courtyard, and famous people? ‘Tom Bell Begins’ at the Tron, and IS: Wow. So glamorous. I get TW: You’ve turned your own hand I think that’s about it. Plenty to be ‘Sketchatron’ at the very lovely helicoptered to shoots every morning to stand-up in the past. Do you still going on with. And do remember on Sundays. I also where I’m greeted by a bevy of take to the stage? to read all the reviews. did the design and photography attractive, needy interns offering me IS: I do, but cunningly I perform

Caro Moses, co-Editor, ThreeWeeks for lots of other lovely comedy and breakfast meringues and merlot. comedy at nights that aren’t really on theatre shows around the Festival, They carry me to a leather-lined the regular stand-up circuit so I don’t and am also the official chief pap lounge where my equipment is have to perform in front of my design set up and I writhe around on an and photography clients, which would executive beanbag designed by Stella be a bit terrifying. I also like combining McCartney or something and operate comedy with other things I do, for the lighting using that touch interface example, I’m working on a few web that you see in ‘Minority Report’ while comics which I write and illustrate a parade of famous get that hopefully I’ll develop properly next oiled up and pose naked for me. I year. definitely don’t have back problems from carrying all my equipment round TW: Out of all the things you do, do to comedians’ flats in East all you have a favourite? the goddamn time. Definitely not. IS: I really enjoy everything I work on, but the best parts are always when TW: What makes a good a little idea you have in your head, photographer? however ridiculous, gets realised into IS: A complete lack of interest in your something concrete. Seeing an idea own health and sanity. Willingness to for a show grow into a production eschew financial stability in favour of or a photo-shoot and doing very endlessly buying camera equipment. silly things to make it happen. For Some sort of crippling internal example, convincing five comedians to struggle that makes you feel like the dress up as a ‘Wizard Of Oz’ homage last photo you take is never good first thing in the morning or swinging enough, so continuously taking more objects from my ceiling while buzzing shots, trying to chase that high. It’s a on too much cold medication to make lot like being addicted to an expensive, it seem like things were flying, getting harrowing drug. But at least as a my dad to lie on the floor while holding photographer, you get a press pass. antlers behind a comedian, and I will add: intense and off-putting getting another to stand in a paddling levels of geekery about obscure tech pool while getting showered on with equipment, sociopathic OCD about a hose for an hour; these moments lighting, and excellent upper body all generated sets of photographs strength (photography is mostly about used during the Festival, which is lifting things). very exciting. Those are some of my favourite moments from this year.

TW: Given you do all that glamorous Check Idil’s work at www.idilsukan.com photography work, what still attracts you to the grubby, sweaty work of Fringe comedy production? READ MORE IS: Ah, come on, it is lovely to put on ThreeWeeks.co.uk/ a show. The Fringe is really where idilsukan

PAGE FOUR | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK

TW: Why do you keep coming back to Edinburgh?

IS: This is where the festival happens!

COMEDY

Q&A: WHEN ANDREW MET SAMMY ThreeWeeks guest you remember, you know? So I story, it was a terrible 3 page – how did your work with Heath, editor Andrew Maxwell really wanted to make it back. 11 year-old vomit onto a piece and the puppets come about? of paper. Anyway, that’s where SJ: Heath McIver has been a talks to Sammy J about AM: Now you are a Fringe it starts, and I talk about how puppeteer for about twelve years, working in comedy, the regular, do you theme up your I’m going to try and rewrite that he’s done all sorts of touring and benefits of Edinburgh, shows much? children’s story now, 17 years ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’, and TV SJ: Yeah I do. I’m learning what later. And the show is all about stuff. That’s been his profession. and a foul-mouthed I’m good at and what I’m bad at. opening all the rejection letters. He was also doing some comedy purple puppet. I enjoy telling a story. I wouldn’t spots around Melbourne with call myself whimsical but I enjoy AM: Excruciating! It’s kind of Randy, the purple puppet, who AM: How many times have you having somewhere to start and like the frisson and the tension was his main mouthpiece. been to the Fringe? end, and that’s where my jokes at the Fringe you get with the SJ: This is my fifth time at the come from. I don’t really do a lot review culture here, and how AM: How would you describe Edinburgh Fringe. Well, my fifth of gags as such, I play around these days the punters are all Randy? time as a performer. My first was more with linking through stories reviewers because of Facebook SJ: The short answer is he’s a as a backpacker, checking it out. and situations. My current solo and Twitter. Presumably that’s foul mouthed purple puppet; the Just after school, I travelled back show starts off with a story from the same of Australian festivals? long answer is he’s a fully fledged to the motherland, roamed about when I was 11 years old, and I SJ There is, there’s just as much character, he’s got an ex-wife, with a backpack and a sandwich. wrote a story book, and sent it tension and anxiety and all the he’s got an awesome story, and to publishers to try and get it rest of it. But there’s not quite there’s a quite beautiful piece AM: Were you already published. Fucking ridiculous - a the same the critical mass that about how he became sober. performing by that time? bullshit, story printed on our dot there is in Edinburgh. I think it’s Every time I see Randy, I stop SJ: No, not at all I was a pimply matrix printer and I sent it out to a good thing, that there are so thinking of him as a puppet within 18 year old, and I was hugely into publishers. many publications and blogs 20 seconds because he’s saying comedy and stuff. But I got the and all that going on. It means such interesting stuff. dates wrong, because I didn’t AM: Where did this come that really outstanding stuff can quite understand that the Festival from? Are you from a creative really rise to the top, if you’ve Sammy J and Randy appear in Sammy J and the Fringe were different background? got twenty different publications and Randy: Ricketts Lane, Udderbelly’s Pas- ture, 3 – 29 Aug, 6.00pm (7.00pm), £11.50 things. So I turned up on the last SJ: No, but my mum encouraged all say it’s great: suddenly the - £14.00, fpp146 day of the comedy, and then had me. Well, I think she was just reviews actually mean something, Sammy J appears in Sammy J: Potentially a week of opera left. One night I outsourcing her criticism, really, whereas if you’ve only got one or at Cowgate, 4 – 28 Aug, 8.30pm saw Jeff Green up at Assembly, getting professional publishing two newspapers doing reviews, (9.30pm), £9.00 - £12.50, fpp146 and I saw ‘Late and Live’, hosted houses to kick my ass instead you can’t really trust them at all. by Daniel Kitson, with Adam Hills because I wrote this story and READ MORE performing. That was definitely I was really proud of it. You’re AM : Can we bring up the ThreeWeeks.co.uk/ one of those sort of nights that looking at me like it was a real ‘puppet’ word now? I am curious sammyj Photo: Stuart Armitt

COMEDY REVIEWS

Music Box will blow your mind. Well, okay, not literally. What is particularly charming about the A number of different improv acts at show is the reciprocal affection between the Fringe coming together to produce Daniels and his audience, most of whom a musical is a promising premise. Our are there on a nostalgia trip to relive their musical was set on the moon, with two childhoods. That being said, his comedy female astronauts desperate for some routine is fresh enough to keep even the intergalactic love, a robot with no job most cynical observer entertained. satisfaction and two disco loving aliens; it was joyfully silly with little touches that Assembly George Square, Aug 3 - 28, 5.00pm showed just how clever these improv types (6.00pm), £13.00 - £15.00, fpp131. tw rating 4/5 [sj] are. The acting was solid, and although the plot was confusing at times, I found myself engrossed, and enjoying the hastily drawn, : Destiny’s but endearing characters. The songs, Dickhead however, could have been slicker and more imaginative. Improvised comedy works Avalon Promotions best when the cast seem to be connected Big, blonde and brash Roisin Conaty by an almost psychic link – sadly, this was bounds onstage to tell us all about the fundamental missing ingredient. ‘Destiny’s Dickhead’ – she has, like a lot of other comedians, based her show on C soco, 4 – 29 Aug (not 15), 2.45pm (3.40pm), £7.50 - £9.50, fpp123. tw rating 3/5 [rs] self-reflection. An unrelenting tendency to self-deprecation can get a little tedious,

particularly at the Fringe where stand- Paul Daniels: Hair Today, Gone up in the vein of “look how hilarious my Tomorrow pathetic life is,” is in abundance, but Roisin Norwell Lapley Productions Ltd manages an incredibly unique show and anyone who has fallen victim to the charm Paul Daniels is the consummate showman, of an internet-based lifestyle can relate to blending magic and comedy together its themes. There’s nothing showy to the in a highly polished performance that comedy, and audience banter keeps it all has the audience clapping with delight flowing as there are no boundaries with consistently throughout. While his magic Roisin – it’s a bit like meeting someone tricks may seem like they are anchored likeable in the pub and hitting it off. Game in the 1980s, they still have the power to for a laugh in any case. surprise and entertain and his jokes and crowd patter are second to none – and Pleasance Courtyard, 3 - 28 Aug (not 15), 5.45pm (6.45pm), £7.00 - £9.50, fpp143. tw rating 4/5 [sm] he does this thing with a rubber band that

PAGE SIX | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK DG: “The South gave us three-fifths of the Spice Girls. And Mr Blobby” CT: “But Black Lace are from Leeds. I rest my case” The guys from ‘Battle Of Britain’ battle it out, North versus South - www.threeweeks.co.uk/battleofbritain

Stuart Goldsmith: Another Lovely Crisis COLUMN CKP By Arrangement With Red Comedy And Debi Allen Associates Rarely is a surname so appropriate – an hour in Stuart Goldsmith’s glistening andrew o’neill: making metal-heads laugh company is precious and to be treasured. Nominated for the ‘Best Newcomer’ award last August, and by far the most As well as returning to hosting the Golden Gods with Alice talented contestant on ITV’s ‘Show Me Edinburgh with his show Cooper – or doing stand up at any The Funny’ comedy competition, Goldsmith ‘Alternative’, ThreeWeeks of the metal festivals I’ve played this is packed to the brim with razor-sharp year (Sonisphere was amazing) – is observations and endearing anecdotes. favourite Andrew O’Neill absolutely perfect. I get to tell jokes, His tremendously incisive quip about has recently been doing the hang out with metal bands, meet my tattoos with ornate calligraphy being metal circuit. No, he’s not heroes and get audiences singing owned by men with the least noticeable ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’! So, a happy interest in writing had me reaching for my given up comedy for music, ending! ‘Memorable One-liners’ notebook, while but he is finding an appetite But I know what you’re really his tale about almost crying in a high- for his comedy show among street camping shop was simultaneously interested in. What is Alice Cooper, side-splitting and heart-breaking. music fans. Which is good my co-host for a night in June, really Goldsmith’s debut Fringe show was news for someone who’s like? Well, ‘Wayne’s World’ painted a called ‘A Reasonable Man’; its follow-up always harboured a dream pretty accurate portrait of the man. proved beyond doubt that he is reasonably of being the next Freddie He is a gentleman. He has amazing brilliant. Mercury. This doing-jokes-for- teeth, lifelike hair and the bearing of a Pleasance Courtyard, 3 – 28 Aug (not 17), kind wizard. He doesn’t like swearing, 7.00pm (7.55pm), £7.50 - £10.00, fpp156. tw metalheads strand of O’Neill’s he doesn’t have any booze in his rating: 4/5 [jf] career arguably reached its dressing room, and when I asked if he peak in June when he joined was fed up of people saying “WE’RE The Unexpected Items Are On It, a certain Alice Cooper to NOT WORTHY” he simply said, with In The Zone, Off The Hook And co-host the annual awards of only a hint of weariness, “Well, I hear Down With The Kids it about 40 times a day”. He has a Unexpected Items Metal Hammer magazine. We calmness, which is pretty natural, I Returning to Fringe for the second time asked him to tell us what it’s guess, considering all he’s seen and since their YouTube hit, ‘The Unexpected like doing comedy for metal done in his life. In my experience the sort of environment and he pretended position of rock star for the night. I Items’ continue to deliver fresh and topical fans, how hosting the Golden more extreme a person’s on stage he knew me too. We are now buying a signed some autographs, blew my material. From hipsters with broad- Gods turned out, and what persona is, the more grounded and house together. And one of the really voice out, got drunk for free and rimmed glasses to grandfathers reading safe they are as people. If you make cool things about an event like this is looked in vain for a TV opportunity. I bedtime stories, no audience member exactly was Mr Cooper like? a living from staging executions, you how excited the young bands are to be met some of my heroes, made some is safe from feeling slightly targeted have little to prove off-stage. by these sketches. But the charming involved. In fact, metal now has such friends and convinced Judas Priest I troupe make the audience comfortable Backstage at the Metal Hammer The Gods were brilliant. Although a long history that even middle aged am a dick. Which, of course, I am. laughing at themselves by keeping up an Golden Gods awards show back in not everything went to plan. The band guys like Kirk Windstein from Down June I came to a realisation: I was I was most excited about meeting was extremely fast pace, where the ratio of can get excited about meeting older Andrew’s show ‘Alternative’ is on at set-up to payoff is more than generous. drinking another free beer, exchanging Judas Priest. I’ve listened to them bands like Judas Priest. Assembly George Square from 3-28 Aug A few predictable ejaculation jokes held small talk with Alice Cooper and about since I was 16, and Rob Halford is one So, I found myself elevated to the (not 15, 22) at 10.30pm. the show back, but the group’s musical to go back on stage to shout jokes at of my heroes. Not least because he talent more than compensated. The show 1500 heavy metal loving teenagers. It came out as gay in the 90s. This is is an accurate and contemporary social struck me: “This is my fucking JOB”. a big deal in the testosterone-fuelled commentary, and more importantly, defs Ridiculous. The whole concept of world of metal, although he did give a show for peeps who like abbrevs. being paid to show off for a living us a few clues. Dressed head-to-toe Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3 - 29 Aug, 4.30pm is ridiculous. And I’m increasingly in leather and chains, carrying a whip (5.30pm), £8.00 - £10.00, fpp162. tw rating 4/5 [cld] convinced that sometime soon the and singing songs like ‘Hell Bent For world is going to turn round and say Leather’, ‘Ram It Down’, ‘Delivering “so… you’d do this even if you didn’t get The Goods’ and ‘Eat Me Alive’, he Yorkshire Comedy Cabaret paid?” And me and Russell Brand and was kind of hiding in plain sight. I love James Christopher / PBH’s Free Fringe Lady Gaga will have to get proper jobs the idea that because of him a whole I don’t expect much from comedy and and do the showing off at weekends. generation of metalheads wore the cabaret – just a good time and some It’s a cliché that all stand-ups really uniform of gay men while still being laughs. After seeing ‘Yorkshire Comedy want to be rock stars, but when I massively homophobic. Cabaret’, I felt like crawling out of the grew up I really wanted to be Freddie Now, thing is, I made a massive, gig and putting a gun to my temple – or Mercury. My Dad wasn’t particularly horrible, nausea-inducing faux-pas better yet, pointing it at the cast. The one genuine laugh given by the – rapidly happy about that. “Would you not with Judas Priest. I asked Rob thinning – crowd was when the CD rather be Brian May?” he’d say. to sign my cut-off denim jacket. skipped during the closing burlesque “Nope. It’s all about the tache”, I’d An allowable fanboy moment in a show. James Christopher’s repertoire reply. night of otherwise consummate consisted of tired gags delivered Then, as my musical tastes professionalism. He obliged, and so completely charmlessly. The acts following developed, so did my aspirations. did Ken (KK Downing) their guitarist. I him just dug the show a deeper hole. The Public Enemy made me want to be was excited and skipped off to talk to only glimmer of talent was from the sibling politically active (and black), while the guys from Down about it. Half an duo ‘Jolly Boat’ who briefly made me smile. Metallica made me want to make hour later the two guys from Priest On the way out I considered taking money stadiums full of meatheads headbang. were getting ready to go on stage out of the bucket for time wasted. And that’s pretty much where I’ve to collect their award. I asked Ken Base Nightclub, 6 – 27 Aug (not 10, 17, 24), remained. But the trouble is, I’ve where Glenn was tonight. “Er… I’m 3.45pm (4.45pm), free, fpp166. tw rating 1/5 [cd] always been better at comedy than Glenn,” he replied. I nearly puked with music. I am in a couple of bands, but embarrassment. They do look alike, How about the comedy comes more naturally. honest. And after the first time I saw Eddie Still, I did get to meet Judas Priest. ThreeWeeks Izzard perform, I realised I could do Other highlights included greeting the whole joking thing on a stage and Bobby Hambell, the guitarist from comedy reviews have an audience to play with that Biohazard, like an old friend, cos my in your inbox? way. Which is what I’ve done. But brain told me I knew him (only from then, being a rock star does still look pictures, brain!) Happily, he has Get the eDaily like it might be more fun. the same technique as me when it Which is why something like co- comes to talking to people in that

WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | PAGE SEVEN COMEDY n LAFFOFFSTIGMA COMEDY REVIEWS Dave Callan Presents O+ the North, and black tie clad Charlie representing the South, play up to Gilded Balloon / Dave Callan geographical stereotypes and are fun, full PowerPoint presentations can be tricky. of energy and masters of the so-bad- If everyone can read a joke on screen, they’re-good regional puns. At times a it get the laughs it deserves. little too formulaic and cheesy, ‘Battle of ‘Dave Callan Presents O+’ falls into this Britain’ is nonetheless entertaining and will trap. The show is meant to be the result of have you laughing along, praying not to be 100 questions Callan asked 100 women. picked. Instead, it is a lazy series of pie charts Underbelly Cowgate, 4 – 29 Aug (not 6, 16), and Google stock images. Callan seems 5.00pm (6.00pm), £8.50 - £10.50, fpp64. tw rating afraid to tackle any “serious” ideas: the 3/5 [mp] sexual revolution is mentioned once before quickly moving along to another question – “do women prefer cats or dogs?” His Flyerman Waverley Care, ’s observations, meanwhile, are painfully Steve Davis & David Kurk leading HIV charity, are clichéd. There is nothing clever, new, or The Fringe is ridiculous, isn’t it? Forty-one encouraging Fringe-goers to even funny here. The best jokes in the thousand people - mostly old enough to share a joke via Twitter this show are answers he got to his survey; it know better - dressed in stupid costumes Festival, with the chance to win 5/5 SHOW: The Noise Next Door – Their Finest Hour seems Callan should have outsourced all and acting like idiots for not enough pay £100 of Amazon vouchers if theirs his punch lines. – it’s primed for parody, surely? Sadly, Bound And Gagged Comedy By Arrangement With Comic Voice Management is the best, in the eyes of judge Gilded Balloon Teviot, 3 - 29 Aug (not 15), 6.30pm ‘Flyerman’ tries and completely fails to , comedy programmer The Noise Next Door is a high-energy improv troupe whose talents are (7.30pm), £7.50 - £9.50, fpp63 tw rating 2/5 [ek] exploit this potential. Supposedly about the at The Pleasance. impressively varied; ‘Their Finest Hour’ combines comic songs, sketch and even strange people and stranger situations that make up Edinburgh’s August, it’s just ballet, along with a healthy dose of cheesy puns. Even the methods by which Dave Gibson And Charlie Talbot Waverley Care have a long history an excuse for dull character sketches, they glean audience suggestions are assorted and ingenious; in addition to the – Battle Of Britain: North Vs interspersed with semi-salubrious of teaming up with the comedy usual calling-out of words, the audience is asked to draw pictures and, at one community at the Fringe to both South anecdotes. The jokes - such as they point, donate a text message as inspiration for the next routine. The collective are - are cheap shots, delivered like bad raise funds for and awareness of Corrie McGuire For Objective Talent pantomime. Steve Davis and David Kurk their work. In this latest awareness is witty and sharp throughout, and a delight to watch. Its members clearly EastEnders or Corrie? The Beatles or exude a self-congratulatory smugness that, raising campaign, comedy fans enjoy being on stage and their marvellously self-conscious style, which consists The Stones? Dave Gibson and Charlie rather than poking fun at the weirdest of Talbot return to Edinburgh to sort out are encouraged to show their largely in taking the piss out of each other, has the audience in stitches. A very the Fringe, exemplifies the worst of it. If you the age-old question – which is better, solidarity for those who suffer from fine hour indeed. like subtle, intelligent humour and classy the north of or the south? Low HIV or AIDS by tweeting a short comedy, pick up a flyer for something else Pleasance Courtyard, 3 - 29 Aug (not 10, 17), 4.30pm (5.30pm), £9.50 - £12.00, fpp127. budget and self-consciously shambolic, in (140 characters remember) joke tw rating 5/5 [lm] instead. with the hash-tag #laff11, or this performance, audience participation is mandatory. Warning: don’t wear theSpaces @ Surgeon’s Hall, dates vary, times to do the same via Facebook or vary, £6.00 - £7.00, fpp77. tw rating 1/5 [eb] the #laffoffstigma website – Worbey And Farrell: Tiernan Douieb Vs The World a loud shirt to participatory comedy! Moustachioed Dave representing www.laffoffstigma.com. All Well Strung! Brett Vincent For Get Comedy submitted jokes will then appear Corrie McGuire For Objective Talent By This month I’ll likely see over 30 hours of on said website, before Ryan Arrangement With Michael Vine Associates stand-up. But few, so very few, of them 5/5 SHOW: Dave picks the overall winner. Four hands playing on one piano turned will speak as Tiernan Douieb does. Quickly out to create a massively impressive abandoning the conventional - and frankly, Gorman’s Power Point Taylor told ThreeWeeks: “We’re hour’s entertainment. These smart stale - routine about holidays and getting Presentation delighted to support Waverley showmen exhibited their abundant skill as older, he begins to speak about politics. Avalon Promotions Care with #laffoffstigma. It’s an piano acrobats and masters of the keys, Not like the out-of-date “Fuck Thatcher” Everyone wants to be friends with unusual and exciting way to combined with clever music trivia, a quiz political comedians, or the throwaway one- encourage people to stand up and a touch of audience participation. liner ‘Mock The Week’ style; Douieb jokes Dave Gorman. With an infectious against HIV stigma. Using humour Steven Worbey and Kevin Farrell’s rapport extensively in a developed manner, on the energy, he barely stops to breathe to tackle a serious subject is a was endearing, but the comedy verged previous day’s riots, the referendum, and in this hilarious PowerPoint-assisted great way of raising awareness on being dated and a little obvious, and it the student movement. His set is at times quest to decipher the everyday, didn’t quite compete amidst the throngs touching, and he is able to see past the and I’m hoping that Fringe-goers from 48-hour deodorant to food will be creative, imaginative and of innovative Fringe comedians. That being anger of the moment and articulate an that makes your wee smell funny. prolific in sending in their gags”. said, they had impeccable comic timing on emotional response humorously. With this the piano and achieved something quite fresh style and material he blows so many Gorman has a flair for finding humour unique. Whilst not pulling off that highly other Fringe comedians out of the water. Waverley Care’s David Johnson in places you would never look, and sought after “cool” status, the show was 5/5 SHOW: added: “HIV stigma is the single Assembly Hall, 4 – 28 Aug (not 15), 1.45pm even though there’s seemingly no real wonderful entertainment – and made me biggest issue that impacts on the (2.45pm), £7.00 – £10.00, fpp158. tw rating 4/5 The Fudge Shop point to the PowerPoint beyond his wish I’d never given up on those piano [jfb] Fudge Shop mental health of our service users. lessons. self-confessed love for technology, the The need to keep their condition Chris Coxen’s Space Clone format provides a visual punch to his a secret has a devastating effect Udderbelly’s Pasture, 3 - 28 Aug (not 15), 3.00pm A play about fudge, performed in (4.00pm), £8.50 - £12.00, fpp166. tw rating 4/5 Audition relentless stream of thought. Gorman on self-esteem and many of our a fudge shop, with free fudge? – a [db] Chris Coxen reacts naturally to his audience, service users feel very isolated. winning concept in my book. It’s a During August, we hope people Fringe stand-up comedy can be hit simple story: new boy Patch helps his genuinely relishes their enthusiasm and miss at the best of times, so when will get tweeting to give a big Card Ninja and delivers with such vitality and attending a character comedy show, new Fudge Kitchen colleagues take ‘thumbs down’ to HIV stigma and This is one of the stupidest shows I’ve presence, that it’s as if he’s sharing you have to be all the more sceptical. on the evil Fudge Cottage empire. a big ‘thumbs up’ to Waverley seen – to its credit. It starts with some Chris Coxen’s tidy showcase routine is, The cast of four enjoy themselves light-bulb moments for the first time. pretty humdrum card manipulation before Care”. however, a dynamic and riotous series If you don’t already, you may well leave moving onto ‘The Ninja Trials’: the tasks as much as the audience, as they of American stereotypes and eccentric thinking Gorman’s a genius. you need to complete to become a card gleefully shatter the fourth wall and outcasts, deconstructed and rebuilt ninja. I won’t go into detail as they all boil Assembly George Square, 3 - 28 Aug, 7.40pm TW RATINGS for our amusement. Though the gags adlib their way around an already very down to the same thing: throwing playing (8.40pm), £13.50 - £15.00, fpp64. tw rating 5/5 [jb] occasionally overlap, the failed romantic, funny script. They frequently make cards at things. That said, the Card Ninja is the power bar motivational speaker, and each other laugh as well the punters, a capable and funny performer with some 1/5 Bad the inept weatherman all drift in and out very good patter and keeps everything which in other shows might be of peculiarity to illuminate the space – moving along at a tremendous pace. It’s no irritating, but with the audience firmly a bunker in the basement of Cabaret 2/5 Mediocre small feat to keep the audience in the palm Voltaire. Hosted by the masterful Tom on their side, here it just adds to their of your hand for an hour whilst flinging Webb, and prompted by a series of songs charm. It’s tremendous fun, enhanced cards at them. The show is stupid and 3/5 Good and sound effects, this crackerjack routine further by the setting. It’s stuff like pointless, but it’s also lots of fun and good, is an exquisite example of character clean family entertainment. this that makes the Fringe great. Plus, 4/5 Very Good comedy at its finest. free fudge! Assembly George Square, 3 – 28 Aug (not 15, Cabaret Voltaire, 4 – 25 (not 8, 15, 22), 2.30pm 22), 1.00pm (1.50pm), £8.00, fpp53. tw rating The Fudge Kitchen, 5 - 28 Aug (not 15), 8.45pm (3.20pm), £5.00 - £7.00, fpp57. tw rating 4/5 [ajl] 5/5 Brilliant 3/5 [mc] (9.45pm), £5.00 - £7.00, fpp80. tw rating 5/5 [im]

PAGE EIGHT | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK “It started off as a joke, just a way to have fun and do music together. Then we thought we’d try being full time musicians for a while. And we haven’t steered off that road yet” Meet Fork and find out about their Pink Noise - www.threeweeks.co.uk/fork

Q&A: WHEN ANDREW MET GLENN Guest Editor Andrew well, the first season I was here, I little bit of your consciousness is just was living with Ed Byrne and I only focused on winning that gig. Maxwell interviews – remember eating once. Genuinely, I GW: Yeah, well one of the best gigs I only have a recollection of once when well, more gossips with, ever had I was in Norway and I’d told me and Ed had an eating competition. some tall tales about my stature as a really – Fringe legend Our stomachs had shrunk so much, we comic in – I would have been sat there in the flat daring each other Glenn Wool about 22 at the time. Anyway, long story to each chips just seeing how many we short, I booked a tour of Norway and I could hold down. It is an incredible act was out of my depth. I was booked to do of stamina to get through the Fringe AM: Hello Glenn Wool. My name’s an hour at these shows and I started anyway. Andrew Maxwell and I’m the guest having panic attacks, really bad panic editor of ThreeWeeks, and that’s why GW: Well, that’s what I found. It’s like, attacks and the last night was the worst I’m interviewing you. But you might the first time you come up you can’t one. I was sitting in a cooler, like a walk know me better as your long term afford drugs, and then you’re coming up in cooler, and I was really convinced friend, Andrew Maxwell. I think that for a while and now you’re buying drugs, that I was going to die. I’ve never had introduction made our relationship but they’re bad drugs; you’re paying for as good a show since, because I just sound more gay than it actually is. a scam, it’s generally glucose and some thought: “Well, the heart’s still beating, GW: Yes, it did a little. Thanks a lot for vitamins, then you get to a point we’re maybe I have an hour of laughter, let’s having me down. you can afford good drugs but by that go up there”. point you’re just a little old and over AM: That’s all right. So, how long have AM: Yeah, I think it should be it. Then you get to the point this year we known each other? emphasised that this is the sort of where you realise you can add things thing that can happen. I mean, over GW: Ten or twelve years? It’s always to your system but it’s just electrolytes, the space of the month of the Fringe, hard on the international circuit just drink Gatorade because you’re because of the intensity and pressure, because you can’t place where you’ve sweating so much, and take glucose you will have one of those moments in met people a lot of the time. You’re in tablets, ironically, which cost about 70p, your 25 day run. Everyone does. There different places, so you might have met two or three of those right before the is always just one moment when you someone in Australia, but if you’re not show and bang, there you go. are ready to crack. always in Australia that could be one of AM: Absolutely. The other day, I was seven times. The weather this year has been just about to go on stage and was raining and grey and cold and I say AM: But largely, I would have said that muttering to myself: “Ah, I’d love a cup to people in my show the reason the our friendship, at the level of depth of tea”. I felt genuine shame. God, this riots haven’t spread north is that that it is now – this is all coming is a new love. Scotland is too damp to burn. I mean, out now Glenn - would have been GW: See, I don’t feel shame anymore you literally couldn’t light this place. cemented here at the Fringe. You’ve because I don’t feel like there’s anything You could have a selection of hoodies been a regular contributor to my late I haven’t done. There’s nothing that I just blowing on kindle, trying to burn night howling called ‘Full Mooners’. I’d haven’t taken right to the where down Currys for a couple of days, and say you, you and Craig [Campbell] and you might die if you keep doing this. So, afterwards you’ll have to just air out

Ed [Byrne] would probably be the most Photo: Richard Dyson at that point, there’s no shame in a cup Currys to dry it. regular stand up performers at it. of tea. Maybe try to take that to the The other day I was doing that bit and GW: I think that’s how you make your edge. there was a snotty, pissed Canadian friends in Edinburgh, it’s just who’s on AM: Have you found that substances, tourist in the front row who told me the same sleep patterns. It’s like there including alcohol, have informed your to fuck off and I just lost it. You know, are two Fringes going on; there are the comedy? completely lost it. I was just like: “You afternoon people who do their shows in have no idea, I’ve sacrificed my fucking the afternoon, and they almost have a GW: Yeah, I think so. August for this!” I was just ranting: “I day job really and you never see them. AM: Do you find that with their could be in London getting myself a AM: You’ll bump into them once in absence, that would change you act in new plasma in the sunshine, and I’m the month, and say: “I didn’t know you any way? here dealing with you”. Some days I were here”, and the reply will simply GW: You can do it with, you can do it find the weather, the dreadful Scottish be “kids show at eleven o’clock”, and without, it’s one of those things that weather, almost inspiring. then they’re gone. And I think it’d be when you think about it, in retrospect, GW: I’m not a big sunshine guy so the fair to say that most of your actual when you get people moaning about the weather never really bothers me up socialising happens between and two years that one or other addiction took here. It bothers me when the crowds and six in the morning. What would be from them, I don’t think you can look at stay in because of it but I’d be more the latest you’ve ever gigged here at it that way. I think you’re a product of all likely to stay home because it was the Fringe? I would say that you, and your decisions and, if you’re in a good sunny. Ed, there’s a select group of people place now then you can’t regret those AM: Looking back, I think basically that are power houses late at night things that you did in the past. Definitely. both of our careers have been an that can really knock it out of the park When I was married, my ex-wife made extended, slowly opening flowering and late at night. a very strong point to me after I said merely coming out of the weird closet. GW: Well, here’s the thing, I was just I found I did my best writing with a Hi, my name’s Andrew, this is my talking to a friend about how were hangover. She said: “Of course you do, friend Glenn and we’re weird. all getting older and I was lamenting because you can’t do anything else”. I about how I was ever able to keep up find when you’re in that state, your mind GW: Strange men. can’t do a hundred things at once, you the stamina that it took and I said: “You AM: We’re strange… know, I’m having a fairly sedate Festival just have to lie there. GW: And we grab each other’s bellies right now and I’m certainly not using AM: There is an odd thing when you and cartwheel around. drugs”. And that’s when he went: “Oh come back to the Fringe and years yeah, that’s how we did it. We were on build up and you think: “Christ, that’s AM: OK, that’s more than I wanted to drugs!” It’s like Berry Bonds going “80 seventeen years I’ve performed here”. admit to. Well, thank you very much homers, in one season, how did I… oh They layer on top of each other and Glenn Wool. yes!” you feel like the memories all mesh Glenn Wool: No Lands Man, Assembly AM: There is undoubtedly the potential into one and you can walk into a room George Square, 3 - 29 Aug (not 15), 9.30pm for a drug culture here, but you are and remember being in dire straits, (10.30pm), £10.50 - £14.00, fpp83. just running on fumes. I mean, even just being really really hungover, if you take drugs out of the equation. thinking “I cannot get through this READ LOTS MORE When I first came to the Fringe we gig”, and often that actual gig is ThreeWeeks.co.uk/ fantastic because you’ve got nowhere were too poor to be doing that sort glennwool of thing but you look back and think... else to go. You’re boxed in and every

WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | PAGE NINE COMEDY

FEATURE a dreadful guide to edinburgh This August each of the three members of the Humphry Ker: A smashing ThreeWeeks Editors’ Award winning sketch When ThreeWeeks first approached of Middle Earth, when Arthur’s Seat comedy group The Penny Dreadfuls have brought me to write an article for them I was known as Weathertop, the place a solo show to the Fringe. Now operating apart, said, “What? Tomorrow? Bloody where Elijah Wood got stabbed by the hell”. But then I remembered that Dementors. but with a combined knowledge of the Festival this is Edinburgh and realistic City that could fill, well, at least one page of deadlines are for jerks and cowards. A series of invaders: Picts, Scots and Romans, shaped the burgeoning a newspaper, we asked them each to submit In casting around for inspiration, I city opening their colourful and a mini-guide to Edinburgh. turned back to that oft visited well varied takeaways across the city. of inspiration for poets and artists The construction of Hadrian’s wall of my calibre, Mother History. My almost destroyed the city as the stag show, an account of my Grandfather, and hen parties that keep the local David Reed : The spectres that Dymock Watson, and his attempts economy afloat were turned back and troupe of performance academics. to end the war by blowing up the forced to go to Carlisle and Morpeth “The Mindly Mummers”, as they haunt the Festival City industrial framework of Eastern instead. were known would tour the courts European countries is rooted in the of Europe wowing heads of state by arm, but he just kept doing it! He even rich narrative history of whatever he Scotland’s fractious relationship with writing theses and demanding that offered to carry my bag like eight told my mother about it that one time her southern neighbour is nowhere all references must be clearly cited times. Sort of ruined our anniversary.” at Christmas. more obvious than in the nation’s before their very eyes. In 2001 the capital. The famous castle was built next great academic chapter of 2. Mary The Bell-end History is my great passion. So much in 1540 to stop Henry VIII of England Edinburgh’s history was written when I Spotted only twice in the last 400 so that I spent four years of my life from coming up and having sex with arrived as a freshman History student years, accounts of Mary The Bell- studying it right here in Edinburgh. At all of the Scottish nobility’s daughters, and promptly failed my first year when end are hard to come by. But, some the . Rather and the one o’clock gun that is still I was forced, due to an administrative say if you travel by train between than one of the crap ones. BA-ZING! fired from the castle walls to this day error, to take Gaelic 1A. I got back Haymarket and Waverley at the So, it seems only appropriate that I was a signal of reassurance to the on track by dropping all my outside stroke of midnight, and listen very use this space to give you, the reader, cityfolk that ‘Auld Gingernuts’ was still courses and the rest was, as they say, very carefully, you can still hear her a brief guide to the vibrant and in London. history. leeching all your wi-fi bandwidth by exciting history of Auld Reekie (the Edinburgh is a city steeped in Humphrey appears in Humphrey Ker watching BBC iPlayer. city, not the ghost tours company). Edinburgh’s history, however, is not history. One cannot walk her streets is Dymock Watson: Nazi Smasher! at The earliest evidence of settlement in all antagonistic. The University was without sensing the presence of Pleasance Courtyard, 3 – 29 Aug, 7.15pm 3. The Creaky Poo of Auld Caledonia the area dates back to the third age founded in 1583 by a travelling (8.10pm), £10.00 - £12.50, fpp89 persons long gone. A chill in the air. Also known as the ‘The Dread An almost tangible sadness. And Campbell Jobbie’; a discarded flyer for “Improvised has been plagued by this spirit since Sing-along-a-Chekhov, C Venues, records began. Manifesting in the Thom Tuck: A lovelorn guide to Edinburgh 4.13am”. mess halls and barracks at the height Perhaps, like me, you are a hopeless take in the grandeur before your lover course just beyond the Meadows to of Hogmanay celebrations, the Creaky The air is thick with such stories. romantic. Perhaps you can see the crushes your dreams. It will hopefully force all the tension to the surface. Poo crawls across the floors, ceilings Many still told by the denizens of breakup coming, like a train hurtling start raining. The rain washes away Then, when the inevitable occurs, the and walls like a caterpillar, leaving a minstrels who wander her highways ever nearer to the point of the any memory you have of being loved. golf clubs double as handy weapons vile trail of excrement as it goes; all and byways, spitting at their tiny track to which you are lashed. And, to destroy nearby flora in your pitiful the while, creaking like a rusty gate. dogs as they ask for change. And perhaps, you want that moment to Also try The Highland Wildlife Park, love rage. When you and the putter The experience of ‘The Poo’ dropping this thriving metropolis we know be just right. where a polar bear recently died. are broken, sit on one of the handy unsuspectingly onto your shoulder is today bears little resemblance to benches dedicated to people who said to be as terrifying as it is puerile. the humble settlement from which Well you’re in luck at the most joyful 2. Cloisters Bar actually cared for each other and swig it sprang: A simple tartan mill and time of year in this fair city, for I can Alcohol and heartache are as some Buckfast. You’ll fit right in. 4. The Shrieking Borough Councillor tiny cluster of kebab shops opened exclusively reveal the top five spots in intertwined as alcohol and violence, A terrifying and persistent ghoul, this for a bet by King Edin himself over a Edinburgh to get that heart of yours or alcohol and regurgitation. There Also try bowling, which is never creature has been known to sprint million years ago. What memories well and truly broken; five places to are a million places to get a pint and romantic. Or, you could try sitting in heedlessly around town screaming, have lingered on in that time? Which have that pumping organ wrenched a dram while you’re in Edinburgh, the Jack Dome at ten past eight every “A tram system! We must have a tragic souls have not yet departed her out of your pathetic chest and but nestled at the west end of the day of the Fringe. tram system!!!!” before cutting off her hallowed walls? Who are Edinburgh’s trampled upon. meadows, in Tollcross, is the peerless own legs with a well worded letter of most infamous ghosts? Cloisters bar. With a dizzying array of complaint. Thom Tuck appears in Goes Straight To 1. Costorphine Hill alcohol, you can ply your dearest with DVD, at Pleasance Dome, 3 - 29 Aug,

1. The Phantom Dennis Standing beside the towering enough honesty serum (I recommend 8.10pm (9.10pm) £8.00 - £10.00, fpp158 5. The Ghost of Jarred Christmas A peculiar and off-putting spirit, The monuments of Calton Hill, up high a Dalwhinnie) to extract that little Past Phantom Dennis (or ‘TPD’s Free on Arthur’s Seat, or by the Royal fantasy about slitting your throat so Since 2008, this apparition of the Fringe’ for short), has been sighted Observatory on Blackford Hill, there you cannot possibly speak any more past performances of stand-up and fairly regularly in the Grass Market are many beautiful and dizzying drivel... this is probably a bad sign. Jarred Christmas has dogged area since the death of disco in 1984. spots that afford a panoramic view You’ll be left, crushed and alone, the Kiwi’s Edinburgh appearances: His fluorescent glow, over familiarity of majestic Edinburgh. Whichever crying into your drink while all around compering gigs using slightly out of and insistence on calling everyone hill you choose will be lovely, if the you is revelry and real ale. date material and interacting with ‘chief’ has been a constant burden on thunder doesn’t roll in before you get audience members long since dead. local businesses and tourists alike, to the top... But Costorphine Hill is my Also try The Penny Black, which opens The real Christmas is said to be sick prompting one irate visitor to declare favourite, mainly because there is a at six in the morning. Depressing. of it and “seriously considering taking “At first it was a shock! This figure just zoo on it. Most hills don’t have many matters into his own hands”. He has floated through the wall, you know? tigers on them in this country, and 3. The Bruntsfield Links bought a boiler-suit and a Dyson. But, then he started hanging around more’s the pity. Take your beloved to There is nothing like a bit of healthy us and things got awkward. I couldn’t the walk-through lemur enclosure, competition to lay bare the cracks in READ MORE David appears in Shamblehouse at ThreeWeeks.co.uk/ have made it much clearer that I was Pleasance Courtyard, 3 – 29 Aug, 8.30pm salute the penguin parade and then the façade of your failing relationship. pennydreadfuls uncomfortable with him touching my (9.25pm), £8.50 - £12.00, fpp65 make it to the summit. When there, Swing by the 36-hole pitch and putt

PAGE TEN | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK CABARET

best bits, bad bits: PIFF THE MAGIC DRAGON ThreeWeeks They spend the next hour with Amazing on a steak tour. Every The Honing: I do about 60 shows see how material plays at 3pm arms folded, hopes dashed, day a different restaurant, a in a month when I’m up here, and 3am in the same day? favourite Piff The glaring death at your face, different steak. This year I’m and by the time I’ve finished itching to leave but determined missing my food buddy, so I’m I return with whole chunks of Piff The Magic Dragon: Last Of The Magic Dragon to get their money’s worth. Who having to sneak Mr Piffles in to new material that has been Magic Dragons, Just The Tonic at The knows how or why they go so far keep me company. worked under the most testing Store, 4 – 28 Aug, 6.40pm (7.40pm), on his worst £8.00 - £10.00, fpp134 out of their way to come along conditions. Where else can you – and best – and have a bad time.

Edinburgh Fringe The paranoia: What’s that experiences. show? How many stars? Who’s in tonight? What television deal? Who’s casting a new sitcom? What did that flyerer call me? Etc etc etc. Snore. Snore. Snore. THE BAD BITS: Compare and despair my friend.

The weather: Piff doesn’t like the rain. It puts him out. Mr Piffles THE BEST BITS: hates it even more. When you’re that small, Edinburgh is like a The freedom: Solo shows are very hilly Venice. I’ve found him a great place to experiment a discarded takeaway tray and expand on what you do. which he now uses to punt his Everything in the show is there way around town using a straw because I want it to be. Having as leverage. He’ll serenade you worked in the corporate magic for a biscuit if you’re lucky. scene for ten years previously, I love that freedom. I’m the boss The tough crowd: There will be of my own show and that keeps one night when, for no apparent me warm at night. That and Mr reason, a whole room of people Piffles obviously. will turn up to see the show with seemingly no idea of who or The food: Last year I spent the what they’ve bought tickets to. whole month with Marawa the Photo: Richard Dyson

CABARET REVIEWS

Cabaret Whore: and she clearly loves the songs she’s More! More! More! performing, which include well-known classics by Cole Porter and Irving Berlin, Sarah-Louise Young – Festival Highlights plus some more obscure numbers. I am warmly greeted with “Well hellloooo Though the show would benefit from more beautiful lady” by a glamorous American direct engagement with the audience, it’s woman in a costume that, I have to exquisitely sung, and full of squeaky-clean admit, I am very jealous of; it’s a dress fun, delivered with a knowingly raised that would put Liza Minnelli to shame! eyebrow, a sly smile, and a suggestive wink. We are introduced to four very different cabaret divas in this one woman show, Assembly George Square, 3 - 28 Aug (not 8, 15, 22), 5.00pm (6.00pm), £7.50 - £10.50, fpp12. tw each character with their own hilarious rating 4/5 [hw] idiosyncrasies, each engaging with the audience in their own special way – there’s an Eastern European neo-cabaret star Tricity Vogue’s Ukulele Cabaret and a furious French woman to name two. – Free The costume changes are impressive as Tricity Vogue / Laughing Horse Free Festival they are fast, and the singing is faultless. If you’re looking for fun at the Fringe as Kazoos, ukuleles and a drunken guest well as some top quality entertainment, go comic - who substitutes the obligatory check out this show. instrument for a dart board which he then proceeds to hang over his torso and Underbelly Cowgate, 4 - 28 Aug (not 17), 4:55pm encourages people to aim at - make this (5:55pm), £8.00 - £10.00, fpp9. tw rating 4/5 [efs] evening of cabaret a surreal experience. However, with the ‘Uke of Edinburgh’ Lili La Scala: Songs To Make challenge which sees ukulele players from You Smile across the fringe pitted against each other and judged by the audience, this showcase Lee Martin For Gag Reflex Management of talent is what the free festival is all “Straight-edge all the way” is how Lili La about. From the absurd songs on these Scala describes herself, when jokingly instruments that lend themselves so well accused by her pianist Stewart of sipping to comedy, performed by the likes of Elliot gin onstage. Dressed like a retro Barbie Mason and Helen Arney, to the sing-along princess, she exudes doll-like glamour as songs that see audience members join in she coos to the audience – so ladylike with ukuleles, kazoos or their voice, this that when she remarks about the cold, an show is straightforward fun. audience member automatically offers his Laughing Horse @ The Three Sisters, 4 - 28 Aug jacket. The overpoweringly sweet rapport (not 5, 12, 13, 19, 26) 9.00pm (9.50pm), free, between Lili and Stewart is infectious, fpp15.

WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | PAGE ELEVEN Want to know about the hot shows first? Want to know quickly? Get mini-reviews via Twitter by following www.twitter.com/twittique

Q&A: CLEAN BREAK’S LUCY PERMAN Clean Break are a theatre company, also now highly particularly interesting respected for its education and training work with women offenders. theatre and education At the heart of the company’s work company, and this August is a continued commitment to they return to the Fringe commission and produce plays by leading female playwrights which after a break of many dramatise women’s experience years with their show of, and relationship to, crime and ‘Dream Pill’. ThreeWeeks punishment. Spoke to the group’s TW: How does your education Executive Director Lucy programme work? Perman to find out about LP: Our education programme is for their work and their women offenders and women at risk Edinburgh 2011 show. of offending both in the community and in prisons. In London, we deliver

year-round theatre education TW: Tell us a bit more about Clean courses for around 100 women a Break, what you do and how you year which enable them to break were created. the cycle of offending and move LP: Clean Break is a theatre and onto education, employment or education company. We use volunteering. Around the country, we theatre for personal and political work with around 500 women change by delivering theatrical and in prisons annually through educational projects for women playwriting residencies, and theatre in the criminal justice system. The education workshops. For example, company was founded in 1979 we’ve just finished a three-day by two women prisoners at HMP playwriting residency with Lucy Askham Grange. The women used Morrison, our Head of Artistic theatre and new writing to tell the Programme, and Katie Hims, stories of women in the criminal playwright, at HMP Askham Grange justice system. When they left prison which culminated in a professional they took the company with them reading in the prison of the work the and today it has grown to become women had created with the support a critically-acclaimed new writing of our artists.

THEATRE REVIEWS

Jawbone Of An Ass just a good friend. The two give

Mortimer Olive Productions a delightful performance of charming ‘Jawbone of an Ass’ veers dangerously scenes and quaint snippets from their close to being God-awful. Designed to moments together. No matter if they be an ironic exposition of the hypocrisy meet at the station, go fishing or dancing of Christian America, the play focuses – their mimic and body language put the on two women who, despite being audience in the right place, sunshine or preoccupied with Jesus and baking, rain, as do their voices, imitating waves are embroiled in a series of affairs and and ships and birds. A sweet routine with the mysterious disappearance of the a delicately French flair. protagonist’s husband. Although the Hill Street Theatre, 8 – 29 Aug, 4.00pm (5.00pm), £8.00 - £6.00, fpp273. tw rating 4/5 [vk] introduction of a Christian psychologist adds another level to this comic Kitty Litter exploration, the jokes are often banal When I Say Jump and predictable or, in the case of subtler The sun is coming up on the morning attempts at humour, repeated to excess. after the night before. Don Pope has Revelatory scenes towards the play’s done something he shouldn’t have and climax come close to redeeming it, and the cat is yowling again. So begins ‘Kitty are reminiscent of those used to great Litter’, a play which flickers between the effect at the end of farces, but once surreal and the everyday as it brilliantly again, the writing and performances fall portrays the drug-fuelled adventures short. of a gang of Bristolian teen fantasists. Hill Street Theatre, 5 - 29 Aug (not 10, 17, 24), 8.00pm (9.10pm), £7.50 - £10.00, fpp274. tw rating 2/5 [kc] Thomas Butler puts in a superb performance as the confused Don, his Just Good Friends mind slowly unravelling throughout the show. Unfortunately, it’s ten minutes Le Voyageur Debout too long, and, more irritatingly, the The door to the theatre opens and the programme gives away a major plot audience enters. A character already is twist; these niggles aside, however, this on stage, applying make-up to his face. is a well-scripted and excellently acted Is he acting or preparing? Once the piece of theatre: the kind of comedy- lights dim, he explains his transformation drama ‘Skins’ only wishes it could be. from man to clown. This is Felix. He theSpaces on the Mile, 5 – 27 Aug (not 7, 14, 21), introduces Filomena, his all-time good times vary, £6.00 - £8.00, fpp274. tw rating 4/5 [eb] friend and counterpart. To his sorrow,

PAGE TWELVE | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK THEATRE

THEATRE REVIEWS Q&A: CLEAN BREAK’S LUCY PERMAN The Firebird her descent into hysteria and near-insanity Purves Puppets is marred only by the odd confusing line From the moment the curtains draw and plot hole. Though imperfect in places, theatre company, also now highly TW: How do you go about child’s perspective. It sounds heavy internationally and Dream Pill itself back to reveal the beautiful set, Phillippi’s excellent performance means respected for its education and commissioning scripts? and, of course, it is very dark but it’s was researched with specialist that this production shines. the audience of ‘The Firebird’ are training work with women offenders. LP: We commission plays from beautifully told also with humour and NGOs, the Metropolitan Police’s entranced. Wicked wizard Koschei, Princes Mall, 6 – 27 Aug (not 16, 17, 18), 1.00pm At the heart of the company’s work women playwrights – but only lightness that draws in the audience Human Trafficking Teams and (2.00pm), free, fpp308. tw rating 4/5 [eb] all serpentine movements and is a continued commitment to a small handful at any one time and keeps them spellbound. The other specialists. We’ve been pantomime evil, provides a brilliant commission and produce plays by because of budgetary constraints. Charged plays are short and flexible invited to perform extracts of it at introduction to the skills of the Purves Body Of Water leading female playwrights which The upside of this is that most of which means that many of them UK and international conferences Puppeteers. As the adventures of Made From Scratch dramatise women’s experience the plays we commission we also have gone onto have a further life. to highlight the issues around Prince Ivan unfold, we are treated of, and relationship to, crime and produce - which is a great incentive For example, we recently took Fatal trafficking and specifically sex- Have I walked into a nightclub by mistake? to humorous animals and precisely punishment. for the writers, even if it is a bit Light (Chloe Moss) and Dancing trafficking. No, we are actually at a squat party in timed and special effects which make a central London mansion. The bass is pressurised at times! We go out Bears (Sam Holcroft) to Latitude the audience of children and adults pounding through my body, with lasers TW: How does your education and find the writers and we look Festival. A powerful 30 minute play, TW: Where will the show go from gasp in wonder. Although the younger spinning and party-goers dancing with programme work? for original voices, a commitment Dream Pill works exceptionally well in here? audience members lose a little focus ecstasy (both kinds). In the middle of this LP: Our education programme is for to our ethos and the world we are the Underbelly’s Dancer space. LP: The production’s been brilliantly during the set changes - the show chaos is a boat and two rather serious- women offenders and women at risk interested in interrogating. received and we’re thrilled with looking people who are not partaking in could do with something to keep us of offending both in the community TW: Why did you bring it to audience and critics’ responses. the dancing. This is a funny and thoroughly amused while the curtain is drawn and in prisons. In London, we deliver TW: What is your Edinburgh 2011 Edinburgh? Have you brought We know that the important topic of modern play exploring the world of youth, - ‘The Firebird’ holds them in rapt year-round theatre education show about? Who’s involved? shows to Edinburgh before? sex-trafficking has been a “popular” illegal parties, drug culture, friendship, attention the rest of the time. An hour courses for around 100 women a LP: Our Edinburgh 2011 show is LP: We wanted to re-stage Dream theme both this year and last for ideals and mental health. The large cast and a half of delightful puppet theatre. year which enable them to break Dream Pill by Rebecca Prichard and Pill as it received such an amazing theatre at the Fringe. Unfortunately are young with heaps of energy, which Fairmilehead Parish Church, 8 – 20 Aug (not 14), is brought to the fore by some strong the cycle of offending and move directed by Tessa Walker. It’s being response from London audiences the problem of sex-trafficking isn’t 2.00pm (3.30pm), £5.50 - £7.50, fpp262. tw rating performances. A clever overlapping of onto education, employment or staged at Underbelly until 28 August and critics alike. We brought it going away and, of course, there 4/5 [ab] scenes adds to the fast pace, keeping volunteering. Around the country, we with two amazing actors Danielle to Edinburgh because we’ve long are a million stories to be told – audience enthralled throughout. work with around 500 women Vitalis and Samantha Pearl. Dream wished to play the Fringe and not just one – about this issue. The Translator’s Dilemma Recommended. in prisons annually through Pill was originally produced as one of to open up our work to national We’re heartened that audiences Scandal Theatre/PBH’s Free Fringe Pleasance Courtyard, 3 - 29 Aug, 3.25pm playwriting residencies, and theatre six plays in a season called Charged, and international audiences. We have responded so strongly to the Entering the venue at a breathless dash (4.25pm), £8.00 - £10.00, fpp245. tw rating 4/5 education workshops. For example, which played to critical and popular haven’t toured to Edinburgh for production and to the girls’ story. and apologising for her lateness, Jessica [efs] we’ve just finished a three-day acclaim at Soho Theatre in Autumn several years and haven’t played the We hope the show will go onto tour Phillippi immediately plunges the audience playwriting residency with Lucy 2010. The plays told different Festival since the company’s early – nationally and internationally. In the into ‘The Translator’s Dilemma’. It’s only Morrison, our Head of Artistic stories of women caught up in the days back in the early 80s. Dream meantime, we’ve been really busy as she begins welcoming us to “class” that Programme, and Katie Hims, criminal justice system and were Pill felt absolutely like the right seeing lots of other shows and really we realise she is already acting. This stark For the latest playwright, at HMP Askham Grange staged in different spaces around production to bring to the Festival enjoying our time in Edinburgh. naturalism makes the play as difficult to watch as it is compelling. Covering a class ThreeWeeks which culminated in a professional the theatre. Dream Pill tells the story and we hope to gain international for a friend, the eponymous translator interest because of the relevance theatre reviews reading in the prison of the work the of two young Nigerian girls trafficked Dream Pill is on at Underbelly, Cowgate, realises that the prepared lesson is on women had created with the support to London for sexual exploitation. It’s of the story: human trafficking and 4 – 28 Aug, 4.05pm (4.35pm), £7.00 - a subject too close to home: a greedy in your inbox of our artists. a powerful two-hander told from the enforced slavery is widespread £9.00, fpp257 corporation whose crimes resulted in her get the eDaily parents’ deaths. A harrowing portrayal of

THEATRE REVIEWS

5/5 SHOW: The Games

Spike Theatre A fable of triumph and redemption; we find ourselves cast back to Ancient Greek on the road to the Olympics in this hilarious three-hander from Spike Theatre. This fusion of puppetry, clowning, dance and singing, with its skilfully crafted melting-pot of gags and quips, manages to captivate without ever letting up. Watched over by the Gods, our glorious heroes Stanzas, Darius and Hermaphrodite each compete for fame and glory, satirising epic quest and adventure narratives with a tight and enviable agility. It’s a farce which makes fun of itself; and, in an age of forgettable comedy showcases and over-produced national theatre, it’s a refreshing and mas- terful piece of original storytelling. Definitely worthy of a gold medal. Zoo Roxy, 5 – 29 Aug (not 16, 23), 12.30pm (1.40pm), £8.00 - £10.00, fpp265. tw rating 5/5 [ajl]

WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | PAGE THIRTEEN THEATRE n FRINGE FIRSTS THEATRE REVIEWS own ‘Futureproof’, a collaboration with the Dundee Rep Ensemble, and ‘The with Danny kidnapping, torturing and Of Sound Mind Wheel’, the latest production from the murdering a teenager. No logic for Ronnie Dorsey Productions And Scamp Theatre always dependable National Theatre Of the act is in view: the play is muddled, “It was about getting rid, not Scotland. hinting at the brutality of training and counting.” This haunting and But other venues do get a look in. war – “I’ve seen men with their skin disturbing recurrent theme is Two Pleasance shows appear, Analogue all melted” – but failing to cement it. evident throughout this one-woman The Scotsman last week dished out Theatre’s ’2401 Objects’ and Blind Danny’s descent from aggression monologue. Abused at the hands of their first set of Fringe First prizes for Summit Theatre’s ‘The Table’. The other into outright ultra-violent bigotry is men, both sexually and emotionally, the year, and it was a bumper bundle, winners were Fishamble’s ‘Silent’ at incomprehensible and doesn’t ring our protagonist takes matters into with seven shows being awarded Dance Base, and ‘Somewhere Beneath true. Sparse but worthy. her own hands, deciding upon a the honour at the end of Week One. It All, A Small Fire Burns Still’, which Zoo Roxy, 5 – 29 Aug (not 15, 22), 2.30pm gruesome fate for all men, including Fringe Firsts are presented to what stars ThreeWeeks favourite Phil Nichol (3.45pm), £6.50 - £7.50, fpp282. tw rating: 3/5 [gl] those who hurt her. A wonderfully The Scotsman review team consider and is a JV between the Gilded Balloon Kafka And Son constructed dialogue delves into the are the best productions of brand new themselves, Nichol’s Comedians Richard Jordan Productions Ltd / Theaturtle / Teddy And Topsy – Isadora depths of this pained and disillusioned plays at the festival. Theatre Company and Festival Threshold in Association with Assembly Duncan’s Love Letters To psyche. Appearing paradoxically As is customary, The Traverse Highlights. Alon Nashman’s powerful Gordon Craig confident and nervous from the dominates the first list, taking three of There will be more Fringe Firsts performance as Kafka, and at times Inside Intelligence moment you enter the theatre to the first Fringe Firsts, for The TEAM’s presented on Friday, look out for an his much-feared father, cannot be Isadora Duncan’s often tragic life is ‘Mission Drift’ (pictured), the Traverse’s update at www.ThreeWeeks.co.uk. the final words of the performance, faulted. Moving around the stage with laid bare in this one-woman character Ronnie Dorsey’s performance grace, he has most of his audience study. Duncan’s letters to the man channels a triumphant combination of totally enraptured. Indeed, it’s the she had to leave at home while Maggie Smith’s aloofness and Helen n HERALD ANGELS human physicality of this piece, vile she toured Europe are narrated by Mirren’s serenity. I left feeling truly Strange Undoing Of Prudencia Hart’ at and beautiful, that is truly impressive. actor and dancer Nellie McQuinn. uncomfortable with a queasy knot the Ghillie Dhu. Nashman manipulates his clever Duncan’s letters show her to be an in my stomach. Horribly enthralling, Other winners in the first round of set so that it both moves fluidly with engaging character, full of warmth, shockingly harrowing. Angels include -based Junction his body, and ferociously against it, charm and vitality, and McQuinn Udderbelly’s Pasture, 3 – 29 Aug (not 15), 25 for their show ‘I Hope My Heart Goes entrapping him in clear metaphor for is excellent throughout, bringing 3.40pm (4.40pm), £6.00 - £12.00, fpp285. tw rating 4/5 [ck] First’ at St George’s West and cabaret Kafka’s feelings towards his father. man Mat Ricardo for his show ‘Three The combination of wire and black More Festival awards for you Balls And A New Suit’ at the Voodoo feathers, used in various ways, lends The Table right now, because The Herald has Rooms. Meanwhile the uber-prize – the the set a sense of no man’s land. Blind Summit Theatre presented its first batch of Angels for Archangel – went to poet and playwright Clearly, Kafka feels like no man by his Blind Summit Theatre’s episodic 2011. Heathcote Williams, whose work is father’s standards. The script lost me four-hander has a bleak, visual charm The Glasgow broadsheet presents its being performed by Roy Hutchins at the at times and the pace occasionally which warms the imaginations of awards each year to what it considers Gilded Balloon. dropped, but largely a dauntingly good its audience. Crafted largely out of to be the best shows, without any And finally, The Herald also presented production. cotton, our puppet protagonist finds constraints regarding genres or, one of its Little Devil awards, for Assembly George Square, 3 – 28 Aug (not 17), himself stuck on a tabletop, unable to even, festivals. And first up, two Fringe performers who demonstrate the 5.05pm (6.05pm), £9.00 - £11.00, fpp273. leave, all the while teased and tested companies already getting mentions in ‘show must go on’ mentality. And this tw rating 4/5 [ls] by a silent puppeteer who remains the story above. Yes, Fishamble and The went to Lorne Campbell (pictured) for frustratingly liminal throughout. TEAM both add Angel Awards to the continuing with his show ‘Tonight Sandy Lullabies of Broadmoor - The a real depth to her performance, Controlled by three orchestrators, the Fringe Firsts they picked up on Friday, Greirson Will Lecture, Dance And Box’ Murder Club ably handling the rather simple puppet dances, chats and yearns in for their respective shows ‘Silent’ and at Assembly despite being involved in a Stepping Out Theatre and Chrysalis Theatre yet elegant choreography. It could front of us, hogging the limelight while ‘Mission Drift’. cycling accident. Set in the midst of Britain’s genocidal stand to be a little shorter, but it’s searching for some form of emotional The National Theatre Of Scotland also As we head into Week Three there war in Iraq, Steve Hennessy’s acceptance. This is based on Kabuki will be awards galore being presented an altogether beautiful piece. It also adds an Angel to its Fringe First win, chilling story of murder, madness mask work, and the doll performs though this time for a different show right across the Festival. Look out serves as a fascinating window into and redemption is a powerful piece impromptu Matrix-style somersaults, than its Scotsman prize. The Angel was for updates on them all at the past, highlighting the difficulties of theatre. Exploring morality and demonstrating the discipline and for its production of David Greig’s ‘The www.ThreeWeeks.co.uk/news of connecting and being human when mentality through strong acting the written word was the only means skilful control of a Kabuki performer. performances and a well-written of communicating. Also featuring some shadow mask script, it follows the lives of two men art and slideshow paper puppetry, Hill Street Theatre, 5 - 29 Aug (not 17, 24), 2.00pm committed to Broadmoor psychiatric (3.15am), £9.00 - £11.00, fpp302. tw rating 4/5 this performance is as infectiously MORE THREEWEEKS hospital after engaging in acts of [im] energetic as it is ingenious. murder. A twisted tale of deceit and Pleasance Dome, 3 – 28 Aug (not 15), 10:00pm The Daily Edition come outs daily, so that’s seven days deception unfolds as the men plan The Observatory (11:00pm), £11.00 - £14.00, fpp301. tw rating 4/5 a week, from Friday 5 Aug, available to pick up each [ajl] an evening of entertainment. With Snuff Box Theatre Company evening from ten central Edinburgh locations with all a combination of live-action and ‘The Observatory’ is a tense play the very latest ThreeWeeks reviews. flashbacks, we learn of the men’s about a soldier who shoots an past and actions which led them to innocent civilian and about the The eDaily will land into inboxes every day from Friday the hospital, allowing us to explore military’s subsequent response. The 5 Aug, with news, interviews and all the latest reviews. their characters in considerable first scene is powerful and carries Join 25,000 other festival fans and sign up to the eDaily detail. With impeccable acting and a us into a complex plot in which for free a www.ThreeWeeks.co.uk/eDaily strong plot, this is a truly enjoyable multiple strands are drawn deftly production. together in order to paint a picture A new edition of the iDaily podcast will go live every C, 4 - 20 Aug (Alternate Dates) 24 26 27, times of an organisation in crisis. Although week day of the festival from Monday 8 Aug. Each thirty vary, £6.50 - £10.50, fpp277. tw rating 4/5 [aq] masterfully acted throughout, the minute show will have the latest news, gossip and chat. play fails to maintain the calibre of Stream or subscribe at www.ThreeWeeks.co.uk/iDaily Motortown its opening. In particular, the comic Exeter University Theatre Company relief it attempts to offer via the TW RATINGS Danny, a British soldier, returns relationship between the two military www.ThreeWeeks.co.uk is one of the most read home after a tour and spirals Edinburgh Festival websites in the world, and will be policemen feels over-done. The psychotically downwards. James 1/5 Bad overflowing with content throughout August. Follow us conclusion, which degenerates into Dartford in the leading role is tense on Twitter or Facebook for regular updates. farce, also disappoints, highlighting 2/5 Mediocre but not quite intense, terrible but not the improbability of the conspiracy on quite terrorising. The remainder of which the play is premised. Overall, 3/5 Good And talking of Twitter, don’t forget the ThreeWeeks the cast form a tribunal of scowling though, this is a daring production Twittique service, mini-critiques of four and five star sexy things, facing him throughout. that manages to be atmospheric, sad reviews at twitter.com/twittique. This is the very first 4/5 Very Good A depraved ‘philosophical’ gunsmith and thought-provoking. place you’ll get to hear about the shows we love. offers Danny a sick ideology: second- Underbelly, 4 – 28 Aug, 12.40pm (1.40pm), £7.50 - 5/5 Brilliant hand solipsism. The play climaxes £10.00, fpp284. tw rating 3/5 [lm]

PAGE FOURTEEN | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK Want the very latest ThreeWeeks reviews on your smartphone? Well, you can have them, with iFringe Don’t forget all ThreeWeeks reviews appear in iFringe, the free Edinburgh Festival app – info at www.iFringe.co.uk

MUSICAL REVIEWS

Hitler! The Musical of war, regardless of race, gender or time TL Musical Theatre period. The stories of different characters are intertwined with songs proclaiming the The name of Adolf Hitler isn’t exactly a devastation of war; the staging was slick, byword for musical comedy gold. Still, and the cast were vocally outstanding. TL Musical Theatre have managed to However, the line of sensitivity is very thin produce an entire show about the life and at times, this production finds itself on and times of the world’s most famous the wrong side of it – the concentration Führer – and, impressively, it mainly hits camp dialogue is utterly implausible and the mark. It’s horrifically offensive, of images of gas chambers and the 9/11 course, but that goes without saying. High bombings are unnecessary. Provocative, points include a wonderful retelling of the but not always for the right reasons. Beer Hall Putsch in the style of the ‘Fresh Prince’, and a gospel-choir rendition of the Paradise in Augustine’s, 6 - 28 Aug (not 7, 15, Night of the Long Knives, though there are 22), 8.45pm (10.00pm), £8.00 - £10.00, fpp225. tw rating 3/5 [am] a few too many tired jokes about modern technology. Not for those of a delicate nature; but if the concept doesn’t put you Little Shop Of Homos! off, you’ll probably love it. Far From Kansas – The London Gay Man’s Chorus Gryphon Venues At The Point Hotel, 8 – 20 Aug Hardy Dick’s Department Store is in (not 14), 3.00pm (4.00pm), £6.00 - £7.00, fpp226. tw rating 3/5 [eb] trouble. Catering only to the discerning gay, they have turned their backs on an emerging section of the market: the Absolutely Amazing Adventures metrosexual. This is the premise on which Of The Singing Acupuncturist the boys of Far From Kansas have created their highly enjoyable romp, where homo Diamond Wave Productions/Laughing Horse Free Festival humour is the norm, and men of all shapes and sizes delight in silliness and frippery. It’s hard to summarise this show Behind this, there is real heart to the as anything other than the visceral group, and indeed, the show provides one desperation of a woman extolling the of the sweetest love stories I have seen so virtues of following your dreams to an far on the Fringe. While the singing was empty room. The strange patchwork good but not outstanding in the opening of cabaret songs and characters is numbers, with each song the choruses intended to depict an acupuncturist’s improved – halfway through, and their ascent to fame; however, the storyline harmonies were hair-raising. Joyous. murder and madness on the fringe often teeters way too close to the actual, which is not a successful picture. At C, 14 - 20 Aug, 6.00pm (7.00pm), £7.50 - £11.50, Writer Steve Hennessy talks about his Lullabies Of Broadmoor quartet: one point, disparaging voices boom fpp227. tw rating 4/5 [ls] over the loudspeaker shrieking, “You four plays telling true stories of murder and madness from 19th century don’t have a beautiful voice! You’ll never amount to anything!” And rather than feel 5/5 SHOW: Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum. solidarity with her ruthless determination Homemade Fusion to succeed, I felt horribly inclined to In Short Productions I love the Fringe Festival back in 2002, I had no idea I was The very existence of Broadmoor agree with them. At times she seemed and come up every year to about to embark on a project that goes to the heart of the debate to be a charismatic actress, but the A benevolent stalker, a woman watch great theatre, but have never would stretch across almost a about murder and personal irony was hauntingly horrible. Distinctly with a penchant for handcuffs and brought a show here before. This is decade. ‘Wilderness’ grew from responsibility. Chester Minor, a uncomfortable. another with serious vending machine our first trip to the greatest theatre my fascination with the story of Dr. man completely insane for much Laughing Horse @ The Newsroom, 4 - 28 Aug issues: these are just some of the (not 8, 15, 22), 18.30 (19.30), free, fpp224. tw festival in the world, and we are William Chester Minor. A surgeon of his life, expressed deep remorse rating 1/5 [ld] eclectic characters that combine “all incredibly excited about it! It is during the American Civil War, for the murder he committed. But to create ‘Homemade Fusion’, a something we have been working he had settled in London before Ronald True, another inmate, was contemporary song cycle exploring towards for many years. All of the being sent to Broadmoor after the complete opposite. The play FRESHER The Musical the nature of relationships. With a Paulden Productions plays in the ‘Lullabies of Broadmoor’ killing a complete stranger while he features in, ‘The Murder Club’, very Jason Robert Brown feel, it’s a quartet have been produced before, under the influence of his delusions. is set against the background of Exceedingly well-framed characters perfect mixture of aching emotion but this is the first time we have Minor was famously involved in the the 1922 British campaign in forge a great and surprisingly believable and light-hearted humour. It may produced all four together with research for the Oxford English Iraq where British airmen and dynamic here. The music is rousing when the same cast. After Edinburgh, Dictionary. politicians, in the grip of a different needed, but the range of styles on display say “homemade” in the title, but this we have a 5 week run at the kind of collective insanity, cheerfully lead to an incredibly varied and versatile show feels anything but. The cast are performance. The premise is strong, and Finborough Theatre in London. As a writer, I quickly found myself bombed and gassed their way outstanding – each has the ability the overall themes of self-discovery and to take on any character and make gripped and fascinated by the across a whole country without insecurity are universal enough that you I have a background of over twenty challenge of writing a sequence of apology, murdering thousands in don’t need to be a fresher to understand it totally believable through fantastic

five years working in mental health, plays for the same group of four their pursuit of the British imperial it. The well-orchestrated incorporation storytelling and even better singing. and the subject is very close to actors, all linked by theme and project. of recitative-like moments is particularly The group harmonies are exquisite,

my heart. For the last 15 of these setting, with some characters striking, forming a contrapuntal cocktail the comical numbers are incredibly with more melodic lines. Memorable years, I have been running Stepping appearing in more than one play. Each of the four plays can be seen witty and the romantic ones will melt Out Theatre, the country’s leading Once the idea of a linked sequence alone, and works perfectly well songs, endearing characters, scenarios your heart – an absolute pleasure to mental health theatre group. Every had taken root, the project would that way, but seeing two will enrich “ you can relate to – this was truly watch. year we produce three or four not go away. Two plays eventually the journey for the audience, and energising to watch. Whether university is a recent memory, distant nostalgia, small scale studio productions led to a third, and finally a fourth. seeing all four will provide a special C soco, 3 - 25 Aug (not 15), 8.30pm (9.25pm), or something to look forward to, this £8.50 - £10.50, fpp226. tw rating 5/5 [am] on mental health themes using theatrical experience where each captures all kinds of exuberance in one theatre professionals as well as a The older archives of Broadmoor play enhances the audience’s thrilling musical snapshot. large scale community play with are now open to the public and understanding and experience of Pleasance Dome, 3 – 29 Aug (not 15), 3.50pm 30 or 40 mental health service the archivist offered me access seeing other plays in the (5.00pm), £8.50 - £12.00, fpp225. tw rating 4/5 users. The power of creativity – to original medical records and sequence. [jlb] and in particular theatre – to heal other material to help in writing the those recovering from trauma and plays. The creative team for this 11 distress is at the heart of all that production were also given a tour of Cutting Edge Theatre Productions we do. Broadmoor by the present Director The Lullabies Of Broadmoor Quartet of the Hospital, looking at the old It must be said, I was apprehensive about – The Demon Box, The Murder Club, this show even before setting foot in the When I wrote a play about a well theatre there and other places Venus At Broadmoor and Wilderness – theatre, worried I would be witnessing is on at C until 27 Aug. Dates and times known 19th century resident of where our plays are set. It was an an updated ‘Springtime for Hitler’. vary, see fpp277/278 for details. Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum incredible experience. Fortunately, this didn’t happen; ‘11’ is a moving exploration of the timeless effects

WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | PAGE FIFTEEN PHYSICAL

DANCE & PHYSICAL THEATRE REVIEWS

Cycle One (60°) Social media is used as a platform to In-Transit Dance explore the various pathways in her life. The central character is played by Less is more – or such is the case with four different dancers, and the role ‘Cycle One (60°)’. Taking the mundane - the offers a diversity that showcases each hastening thud of a washing machine - as individual’s talents. Supported by a decent their inspiration and soundtrack, In-Transit soundtrack and interesting narrative, Dance tumble, whirl and leap in little more this is a commendable piece of physical than their underwear. The highlighted theatre that offers something refreshingly moments are those of slow simplicity alternative. – the sensuality of rubbing hands, the tense, gradually lolling head. As the cycle C aquila, 14 - 20 Aug, 2.00pm (2.45pm), £4.50 - quickens, the frenzy is disorientating and £8.50, fpp169. tw rating 3/5 [aq] most successful when the dancers mirror and play themselves off each other’s Slender Threads exuberant energy. Much like the whirling Chickenshed machine they’re emulating, however, a vibrant blur: our first Fringe constant vaults and floor sweeps become This multi-faceted piece eschews repetitive and somewhat monotonous. By melodrama, engaging the audience around ‘Shutterland’. This helped The show is in a highly physical, no means squeaky clean, they are evidently through its intimate portrayal of the The Lecoq-trained members everyday struggles and ruminations with audiences and then, when our cinematic style and inevitably, this a vibrant young independent group, of Rhum And Clay Theatre bubbling with energy and good humour. of a woman with breast cancer. The first reviews came in, our audience takes its toll on our bodies. Aching lead actress has a colloquial, every- Company headed Fringe- Greenside, 5 – 27 Aug (not 14, 21), 7.00pm numbers increased even more. muscles, bruised knees and copious woman quality, and remains refreshingly ward for the very first (7.50pm), £5.00 - £7.00, fpp169. tw rating 3/5 [ru] What has pleased us the most has perspiration are all part and parcel undefined by her disease; in one scene, time this year with their been the positive response from of the theatre Rhum and Clay she explosively rejects her husband’s intriguing-sounding both young and old; only today we makes, but it’s all worth it. We’re The Prophecy instinctive attempts to fuss over her like production ‘Shutterland’. had a giggling six year old girl on the having an amazing time and our Siamsoir Celtic Dance Company an invalid. The piece is deceptively simple, demonstrating the impact of diagnosis front row. audience seem to be too. Irish and contemporary choreography It sounded so intriguing, on relationships, and covering the are fused together in this exciting in fact, that we tipped it in dehumanising side-effects of treatment. Certainly one of the most We believe in a progressive production from Leith based company, Whilst the multimedia element feels our preview issue. Now we challenging elements of the fringe is independent theatre, opportunities Siamsoir. The fantastical tale, which superfluous at times, the dialogue is combines dance and theatrical storytelling, have seen it too, and rather convincing strangers that your show that are there to be made and complemented by inventive, expressive provides an innovative portrayal of the liked it. So we thought is worthy of their attention and hard- taken. Through participation in the movement sequences performed by a art form, and doesn’t disappoint. With earned money. This is especially Edinburgh Fringe Festival we wish strong, poised supporting cast. The piece we’d ask the group to tell impressive performances from the leading difficult when your company is to develop and grow both within is informative without being patronising, us something about their dancers - Aaron Jeffrey in particular, only four guys doing everything the company and as practitioners. gentle yet darkly comic, and tells an whose suppleness and fluidity allows for Festival journey. important story about pragmatism and from publicity to production and, Preparation for the Fringe has been a somewhat hypnotic experience - it is hope. of course, performing. However, tough and at times relentless, but clear that its choreography has been From empty conference a constant diet of coffee, bacon we wouldn’t have it any other way. well thought out. It isn’t without its faults Zoo Roxy, 5 - 28 Aug (not 10, 17, 24), 5.15pm rooms in Paris to vacant bars rolls and Vitamin C is keeping us on though, as less confident performers (6.15pm), £7.00 - £10.00, fpp176. tw rating 4/5 [tfw] and garages in Oxford: such unlikely course. Waking up in the morning to whose lack of conviction in their places have been the breeding receive news of not a single sale for movements doesn’t allow for the seamless

ground for Rhum And Clay Theatre We have all been consistently and your show but then working hard transition from one step to the next, Company’s first Edinburgh Fringe pleasantly surprised at the warmth to fill your venue is a satisfying, if creates a static atmosphere; but this is a

show, ‘Shutterland’. Ever since we and receptiveness of the public, not exhausting experience. The small price to pay for what is otherwise a “ highly magical and enjoyable show. got here, it’s been a vibrant blur of who have listened generously to us pressure of performing for an faces and colours, a heady mixture on the Mile and at various places expectant public is what drives us, C, 13 - 29 Aug, 12.05pm (12.55pm), £4.50 - £9.50, fpp175. tw rating 3/5 [aq] of flyering, performing and stapling. around the city. We always aim and the positive response of the “ to be accessible and open and audience is humbling and makes After arriving in Edinburgh it was this extends to what we do on it all worthwhile. After all, of the Echoes a case of last minute rehearsals, stage. ‘Shutterland’ appears to be 2,500 shows at the fringe, we are Acting Thru Dance For even more a hurried tech in the venue, connecting with people in a way that all artists who want to entertain, Despite the relatively cloying metaphors, and before we knew it we were has exceeded our expectations, and and it’s that shared connection that Acting Thru Dance create an innovative ThreeWeeks performing our first preview show. this is tremendously encouraging to makes the festival such a production that interweaves the disciplines After a quiet first night, word of a young company like us. We trust great place to be. of dance, physical theatre and acting. It dance reviews in mouth spread and by the end of in the goodwill of the audiences at follows a woman who reminisces on the your inbox get the first week we were picking up Edinburgh and so far, they haven’t Shutterland is on at Zoo until 29 Aug, highs and lows of her life, and her various steam and a buzz started to build disappointed us. 4.15pm (5.15pm), £7.00 - £9.00, fpp176. actions and decisions are portrayed through compelling choreography that the eDaily covers a variety of different dance styles.

PAGE SIXTEEN | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK

ART & EVENTS

try something visual…

In amongst the comedy and theatre that takes over Edinburgh each Jennifer Bayne recommends: August is an unrivalled programme of visual art split between the Ingrid Calame International Festival , Fringe and Edinburgh Art Festival. We have Head to the Fruitmarket Gallery for three correspondents specifically covering that programme, and Ingrid Calame’s beautifully abstract after two weeks spent in art galleries, we asked for their top tips. drawings and paintings. Making art out of the ground we walk on, Marcus Pibworth recommends: Rohanne Udall recommends: she traces the markings of urban Robert Rauschenberg: Richard Wright: The Stairwell locations and layers these into intricate constellations. Fascinating Botanical Vaudeville Project to analyse and deconstruct, and It’s rare to get an exhibition in the Unveiled last year, Richard Wright’s with beautiful colour palettes, it’s UK of Rauschenberg’s work, and for stairwell fresco (wall painting) is a hard not to lose yourself in these this reason alone it is a must see. marvel to behold. The 2009 Turner wild landscapes of lines, shapes and Although focusing on his later works, Prize winner’s work is delicate and colour. which aren’t as innovative as his meticulous, intricately designed specifically for the gallery’s grand Fruitmarket Gallery, 5 Aug – 9 Oct, 11.00am – earlier ones, there are some great 6.00pm pieces and overall the exhibition is stairwell. The effect is spectacular visually strong. and well worth the trip away from the David Mach: Precious Light Inverleith House, 2 Aug – 4 Sep, 10.00am – hustle and bustle of the Mile. Probably one of most intriguing 5.30pm Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, perma- and audacious shows in Edinburgh nent, 10.00am - 6.00pm at the moment is that of David Left To My Own Devices Heirlooms (pictured) Mach at the City Art Centre, filled This exhibition is really entertaining, Rich, rare and beautiful. A part of the with coat-hanger crucifixes, a incorporating new media to Edinburgh International Festival, this matchstick Jesus bust and kitsch create art for a new era. Some of cross-cultural exhibition celebrates collages of biblical scenes. Evoking the exhibits are overwhelmingly Indian and Javanese textile traditions. the excess, hedonism and chaos innovative, such as Sachiko Historically fascinating, it investigates of contemporary society, his Kodama’s magnetic liquid sculpture, trade and cultural exchange, and explosive works have been subject to and many of the works use social exhibits batik and printed pieces controversy, and his London studio networking to make the works dating from the late sixteenth century has even been relocated to the interactive. Ellie Harrison’s piece to the early twentieth century. The gallery to prepare a new monumental is great as it provides a history of craft-work is breathtakingly exquisite, collage. privatisation, through the medium of an exceptional display. City Art Centre, 1 Aug – 4 Sep, 10.00am – 5.00pm massage. Dovecot Studios, 4 Aug - 4 Sep, 10:30 – 5:30pm InSpace Gallery, 4 Aug – 4 Sep (Wed - Sun), 12.00pm – 8.00pm For more ThreeWeeks art reviews: www.ThreeWeeks.co.uk/art

EVENT REVIEWS

The Magic Drawabout - Free don’t know why. Providing samples of five Council Chambers, a beautiful room Lancelot Adam’s Walkabout Troubadour Squad dishes, including a good strip of steak, to haunted by the aura of stuffy old dignitaries taste with the wine was a lovely touch. All in slurping soup in silence. Margaret the ‘The Magic Drawabout’ will have you all, great fun and brilliant value. wine expert, introducing us to six South walking around with your eccentric American wines, was a great mix of school guides, doodling all the characters in Howies Cellar, dates and times vary, £22.50, teacher and chatty aunt, making her vast the Grassmarket, and being bizarrely fpp187. tw rating 4/5 [ls] knowledge on the subject less daunting. serenaded by a guitarist all the while. They The group were quiet at first, but as we provide pens and paper – all you need to Auld Reekie Tours: gulped the fourth glass of gorgeous wine, do is turn up. On my tour, we sketched two Underground Tour we became noticeably more gregarious. An American tourists holding a plastic camel In the 1700s, ninety-six women and educating - and inebriating - hour indeed! and a beer stein, a Finnish beat boxer, and children committed suicide in the vaults a fortieth birthday party. The children on Edinburgh City Chambers, dates and times vary, underneath South Bridge, and few the tour had an absolute blast, and the £20.00, fpp187. tw rating 4/5 [ls] people in Edinburgh have any idea that it host took particular care in making sure happened. Granted, there wasn’t a whole their works of art were praised by all. So, 5/5 SHOW: Neal’s Yard lot to see other than three almost identical if you have any budding young artists in vaults that look like any wine cellar, but the Remedies Chill Out Zone the family, or you just want to draw with stories attached to them are horrifying. Walking down the in August other artists for an hour, head for the I’m a sceptic and didn’t see or feel any is enough to make your head explode. ‘drawabout’. thing unusual, yet, one American girl For the stressed performer, or the run Laughing Horse @ The Beehive Inn, 8 - 27 Aug claimed her camera battery charged while down tourist, there is no better way to (not 14, 21), 5.00pm (6.00pm) free, fpp185. tw underground. We finished with a nip and relax than by checking out some of Neal’s rating 4/5 [tw] a biscuit at one of my favourite pubs in the Yard Remedies. With reasonable prices city, Banshee Labyrinth – another place on everything from beauty therapies to Wine School At The Fringe filled with caverns and a bloody history. hot stone massages and aroma therapy Settled in the romantic lighting of Howie’s Although slightly touristy, this tour was a it’s worth skipping your morning coffee Cellar, I relaxed into my seat, sipped a great way to learn about the city’s past. and getting some treatment. I showed glass of fizz and chatted happily to Claire The , 5 - 27 Aug, every half hour from up wet, sick, and hung-over and my Blackler, who runs the Wine School. Any 11.30am - 5.30pm (6.16pm), £7.00 - £8.00, fpp180. therapist Lucy prepared me for the day, illusions of a mellow, sophisticated tasting, tw rating 3/5 [tw] with an aromatherapy massage and free however, were scuppered when a stag herbal tea – better than a fry up any day. party of 16 walked in, dragging their Wine In The City Wine School Seriously, go here when you’re feeling like hangovers with them; thankfully, these you just can’t take the chaos any more. I like my glass of wine, but I don’t know were nice friendly stags, and Claire took You’ll leave rejuvenated and ready for more much about what a good one should them admirably in her stride, remaining nonsense. taste like. ‘Wine In The City’ was a perfect informative throughout. This wasn’t a wine introduction to wine appreciation on a Neal’s Yard Remedies, 5 - 31 Aug (not 20), tasting for experts; it was very much for 10.00am (7.00pm), £15.00, fpp185. tw rating 5/5 level above “Ooh this is nice, glug, glug, people who know what wines they like, but [tw] glug”. The tasting took place in the Old

PAGE EIGHTEEN | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK SURVEY you have the words, what about the music?

So, you’ve thought of ‘Business As Usual’, and we wanted Deborah Howard Read it because it sets the other-worldly feeling something along the working theme. We that’s in ‘Emergence’. At the end of our Frances White “I actually come on are dressed, well almost, in suits so it show we blare out Abba’s ‘Chiquitita’ – a a theme, you’ve written stage to no music at seemed to fit in nicely. We close with the “‘You Can Leave special song in many ways! We use it in all, accompanied, of Sylvester Disco classic ‘You Make Me Your Hat On’ by Joe Emergence as part of a childhood memory the script, you’ve course, by deafening Feel (Mighty Real)’, it’s a nod to thank our Cocker because of a mum and daughter’s living room dance applause. Instead I tested the jokes, you’ve audience and say, we want to be nowhere my show is called routines. It leaves the audience hopeful and draw the audience else than right here right now”. ‘How to Get Almost probably a bit embarrassed if they enjoy it shot the publicity on the projection screen as they come in Anyone To Want To Sleep With You’ and too much!” 4 Poofs And A Piano – Business As Usual, one of the things I recommend is to wear a to the theatre. It’s a great way of warming Pleasance Courtyard, fpp77. pictures, but one big hat. I walk down the street in a bowler and them up and working out what sort of Emergence, Underbelly, fpp259. decision remains. What at least five times a day a man will say to crowd they are”. Matt Forde me “Nice hat” for which I read “Nice tits” Little Howard’s Big Show, Assembly George music do you walk on which is something he can’t say, unless I’m Square, fpp109. Don’t forget to check “D:Ream ‘Things Can wearing the hat”. to? We asked a stack Only Get Better’. I out our two previous still get goosebumps Deborah Frances White – How To Get Almost Lloyd Langford Anyone You Want To Sleep With You, Assembly of Fringe performers when I hear the Hall. “I come on to ‘The ThreeWeeks surveys – opening bars and Theme From Truck what tracks open or remember Labour which see performers Turner’ by Isaac sweeping to power in 1997. My show Pistol & Jack close their shows this Hayes. Possibly recommend places charts my love of politics, sport and drink “We’re a mash- the most bad-ass from that era until now”. year, and why they up act and open piece of music of all to get away from the with our biggest chose them. Matt Forde – Dishonourable Member, Under- time. Also, I like to misdirect the audience belly’s Pasture, fpp115. number. It’s got into thinking I’m really a black pimp-killing busy-ness of the Fringe bits from about 34 bounty hunter rather than a pale and to read some reviews, songs in it featuring slightly awkward Welshman”. Steve Pretty Iain Stirling anthems from Dolly Parton to The Smiths and others offering to Chumbawumba. It’s an introduction Lloyd Langford: The Cold Hard Facts Of Life, The “I have a track called “Hundred Reasons Stand Comedy Club V, fpp109. to what we do: Rock vs Pop. It’s also a ‘Monkey’s Dance’ - ‘Silver’. Because secret cures for Fringe call to arms for the audience to say let’s by the virtuoso I came second smash it up and have some fun for an hour Lorraine Flu – both are online Norwegian folk-jazz in every new act (‘let’s get retarded’), but also features an accordionist Stian competition I Sutherland, ominous warning of the dark side of the at www.ThreeWeeks. Carstensen as my entered!” director of show to come with the Radiohead lyrics: play-on music. It’s from a mixtape that I Iain Stirling And Sean McLoughlin, Just The Tonic ‘Emergence’ co.uk/surveys. And ‘This is what you’ll get if you mess with us’”. made when I was a teenager and it helps at The Store, fpp90. “Unbelievably, we look out for the final me get in the mood for the show as I jump Pistol & Jack – Smash.Glam.Sex., Assembly use the sounds that around backstage giving myself a pep talk. George Square, fpp134. Steve Hall ‘Jupiter’, the actual survey of 2011 in next It’s got a really weird mix of instruments, planet, makes. The sounds are recorded melodic non-sequiturs and frenzied energy, “‘Boogie Woogie in space – I’m not sure what with! We love week’s issue. all bound together by a shared love of Bugle Boy’ by The nordic free improvisation. Which, come to Andrews Sisters. It’s think of it, is a pretty accurate description an old walk-in music of my show”. favourite going back to the Klang days. Steve Pretty’s Perfect Mixtape, Underbelly, ffp155. Hearing the same tune every single day of a festival usually makes me want to track down the songwriters and devastate their Laurence Clark faces. This is one of the few songs not to “I come on stage elicit that psychotic Pavlovian response”. to the song ‘Dem Steve Hall’s Very Still Life, Pleasance Courtyard, Bones’ as my show fpp155. is about healthcare reform in the UK and USA, although Ahir Shah I worry audiences may get the wrong end “My entrance music of the stick and think they’re at some sort is a section of the of evangelical religious meeting. However ‘Raag Ahir Bhairav’, they’ll soon discover otherwise!“ the piece of music after which I was Laurence Clark: Health Hazard!, Underbelly’s Pasture, fpp108. named, played by Ravi Shankar. My exit music is the same piece played from the beginning (usefully, it Jim Smallman is 13 minutes long)”.

“I walk on to ‘This Ahir Shah: Astrology, Udderbelly’s Pasture, fpp35. Fire Burns’ by Killswitch Engage. I chose it as it’s Delete the the music WWE Banjax wrestler CM Punk walks out to, and I like to pretend that I’m “‘Janglin’ by Edward oiled up and ready to grapple”. Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. Jim Smallman: Tattooligan, Gilded Balloon Teviot, It’s surreal without fpp98. being weird and it’s positive and upbeat without being annoying 4 Poofs And A –everything we want our show to be … Piano hopefully! Some of the lyrics are pretty hard to make out but there’s definitely “We open our set something about castles, jesters and kings with the Dolly Parton – well that’s just Edinburgh Fringe isn’t it?!” Classic ‘Nine To Five’ . Not surprising as Delete the Banjax: Pigs & Ponies, Pleasance Courtyard, fpp66. our show is called

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MUSIC REVIEWS 1

and slightly jazzy air. Performing Bach, Warzycki’s hand sweeps and trembles, maintaining a natural yet precise manner throughout the smooth yet powerful piece. And to add to his talents, Warzycki is also an animated performer, pulling faces and smiling to himself to show he’s enjoying every moment.

St Andrew’s And St George’s West, George St, 13, 25 Aug, 12.30pm (1.30pm), £7.00 - £9.00, fpp221. tw rating 4/5 [ng] 5/5 SHOW: Truly Medley Deeply One word: awesome. Laughing, singing Classics At Greyfriars and dancing guaranteed. As soon as Llyr Williams (Piano) And The Heath Quartet Truly Medley Deeply broke into their Welsh pianist Llyr Williams has set ‘2010 Number Ones’ opening medley, himself the rather ambitious challenge of the audience were singing gleefully along, performing all of Beethoven’s sonatas over as they delivered their take on the likes the course of 22 concerts – with the help of Katy Perry’s ‘California Gurls’ and Cee of the Heath Quartet, of course. For this Lo Green’s ‘Forget You’, blending a whole opening show, however, he is on his own mixture of chart songs together with the but, nevertheless, he beautifully delivers help of an acoustic guitar, a mandolin, a three sonatas, taking ownership over each tiny keyboard and an even tinier bongo. piece as if he had composed them himself. Later, an assortment of ‘seduction songs’ He catches the audience off-guard with an led to a hilarious medley of famous pop unpredictable style, making them literally punk songs performed in a country style. jump out of their seats at times. As he Ever wondered what Blink 182’s ‘All The stabs, tickles and caresses the ivories, I Small Things’ would sound like if performed soon realise that he has no sheet music, at a hoedown? Wonder no more. which is a pretty incredible feat in itself and SpaceCabaret @ 54, 5 – 20 Aug, 6.00pm shows Williams’ outstanding talent and (6.45pm), £5.50 - £9.50, fpp222.tw rating 5/5 [ng] passion for music.

Greyfriars Kirk, 12 – 26 Aug (not 14, 20, 21), times vary, £17.50, fpp201. tw rating 4/5 [ng] Metropolitan Cathedral Latin Choral Vespers St Mary’s Metropolitan Cathedral John Hunt Four O’Clock Nothing but a small swell from an unseen Afternoon Blues And Swing orchestra serves as introduction to the John Hunt/21st Century Blues Legends traditional ‘Vespers’. First led by the John Hunt has a DIY philosophy which priests, and without any accompaniment, shows in the insane but ingenious home hymns of praise in celebration of the made guitars he’s constructed from Assumption of the Virgin Mary are coupled papier-mâché, broken instruments and with ritual and fill the beautiful hall of St an old shelf. On a rickety stage made of Mary’s. The grandeur and mystery of the trestle tables, he rambles and fumbles Catholic church is moving, but the lack with his cannibalised equipment, seeming of introduction or commentary leaves like he’s just woken up. His eloquence is the uninitiated utterly stumped. Once the in his music, however, and in the 21st choir joins, the Latin songs are filled with century blues he’s made his own. It’s harmonies echoed by the strings of the an enjoyable set full of cheeky lyrics and orchestra and the tone lightens. With this electronic distortion, catchy riffs and pitch-perfect rendition, the prayers wind feedback; a powerful juke-joint sound built their way upwards and evoke our minds to on up-tempo slide-guitar, and a singing do the same. voice so gritty it could have been trawled St Mary’s Metropolitan Cathedral, 6, 13, 20 Aug, from the Mississippi. Though it’s put 4.00pm (4.50pm), free, fpp212. tw rating 3/5 [ja] together from spare parts, Hunt’s style undoubtedly works.

The Jazz Bar, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28 Aug, 4.00 pm Stefan Warzycki Piano Recital (5.00 pm), £7.00 - £9.00, fpp208. tw rating 4/5 [df] Stefan Warzycki If watching a Stefan Warzycki performance is going to teach you anything, it will be that Scottish Folk Roots and playing piano with two hands is overrated. Offshoots 2 His left hand sweeps across the keys David Ferrard smoothly and confidently, covering so many The downstairs room at The Royal Oak is notes that he may as well be playing with a haven far removed from the mayhem two hands. Debuting a piece from English of the rest of the Fringe. With David composer Andrew Wilson, Warzycki Ferrard’s soothing voice and enchanting creates a very tranquil atmosphere in the guitar-plucking, this hour of music small church with the sonatina’s dreamy provides a perfect escape for wearier or overwhelmed festival visitors, and true fans of folk for whom there is a diverse TW RATINGS offering including Jacobite songs, freedom songs from the slave trade in America and samples of Ferrard’s own music. However, 1/5 Bad in this intimate setting, the group sing- along that is encouraged in every chorus 2/5 Mediocre creates an atmosphere that some may find corny. Parents, perhaps one to avoid 3/5 Good bringing your children to, unless you enjoy seeing them squirm in embarrassment as 4/5 Very Good you sing-along to songs about wee bonnie lassies. 5/5 Brilliant The Royal Oak, 5 - 26 Aug, 6.30pm (7.30pm), £5.00 - £7.00, fpp219. tw rating 3/5 [kc]

PAGE TWENTY | WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK MORE ONLINE: Look out for Addy Van De Bourgh’s Fringe Word Of The Day, every day in the eDaily THESubscribe PHOTO for free: www.ThreeWeeks.co.uk/subscribe PAGE

3 5

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1. EIF show ‘The Peony Pavilion’ from the National Ballet Of China at the Festival Theatre [Paul Collins]

2. ‘Nobody’s Home: A Modern Odyssey’ at Gilded Balloon Teviot [Paul Collins]

3. The Two Wrongies at Assembly George Square [Mark Conway]

4. ‘Sailing On’ at the New Town Theatre [Mark Conway]

5. plays the Edge Festival [Paul Collins]

6. ‘Africa, Heart And Soul’ at Paradise In Augustines [Richard Dyson]

7. ‘Pinocchio: A Fantasy of Pleasures’ at new Town Theatre [Paul Collins]

8. EIF show ‘The Tempest’ by Mokwha Repertory Company at the Kings Theatre [Paul Collins]

This week’s cover shot by Idil Sukan

Guest Editor photographed by Mark Conway

WWW.THREEWEEKS.CO.UK | PAGE TWENTY-ONE CHILDREN’S SHOWS

CHILDREN’S SHOWS REVIEWS

Q&A: THE LIST OPERATORS Charming! illustration of said word, music and sounds. Act II Theatre Company There is also a distinct Scottishness in Tania’s show: her French is intermittently get tickets to see the Tattoo but parts. We always find good ways to “Yes,” announced the woman in the Matt Kelly and Richard touched by Scots. Smaller children and always miss out. This year we just combine the last two. goggles. “I am a frog.” It’s a pity she had Higgins are also known as babies may become a little impatient, but to explain. Despite having worse sets decided to get tattoos of the tattoo this is a wonderful show for pre-school The List Operators, and and costumes than a primary school’s instead. TW: What is this year’s show children. took the kids’ section by about? Christmas play, this production of Scottish Storytelling Centre, 5 - 23 Aug (not 6, 7, storm last year with their TW: How do you go about creating MK & RH: Our show this year is ‘Charming!’ - a backwards fairy-tale - was not without its good points. These were 17, 18), 11.00am – 11.40pm, £5.00 - £7.00, fpp24. your children’s shows? about Compooters. Apparently tw rating 3/5 [lc] debut Edinburgh show. primarily to be found in the writing; there They’re back for another MK & RH: We wrote a list of kids know a lot about them. were several very good jokes hidden in year, they’re entertaining, things that are in most kids the somewhat formulaic storyline: Prince, The Dream Of The Travelling shows e.g. loads of good moral TW: What do you like about and they found favour with frog… you get the idea. Unfortunately, Actor lessons, education, pirates and Edinburgh? Will you be seeing the songs were dreadful, with much of Georgi Spassov of Theater Atelie 313 our reviewer. So why not fairy princesses - threw it out the other shows? the singing flat, the lyrics unimaginative ask them a few questions window and stuffed our show full MK & RH: Richard enjoys the and the tunes irritating. The acting was Have you ever seen a bicycle tyre of vomit, poo, farts, rude words, vibrancy of a city that opens its entertaining, however, and there were converted into a parachute? No? I hadn’t on behalf of our readers? either until today. With the help of several blood and guts. You know, stuff kids doors to the best artists in the attempts to get the young audience Here are their succinct multi-coloured tyres and a bicycle wheel actually laugh at. world and gives them a forum to involved, which, with a little development answers… could be very effective. ‘Charming!’ was Georgi Spassov, a quaint and eccentric create, explore, and evolve ideas. charming only at times. narrator, tells the tale of ‘The Princess And TW: What do you think makes a Matt enjoys being flyered and The Pea’. On occasion the tyre-puppets TW: Was last year the first time theSpaces @ Surgeon’s Hall, dates vary, times good children’s show? eating at Baguette Express. As for (for want of a better description) worked you ever came to the Festival? vary, £6.00 - £7.00, fpp20. tw rating 2/5 [rs] MK & RH: Something that is seeing other shows - Yes! Suitcase very well – it was certainly an inventive MK & RH: Actually no it wasn’t. constantly changing, has heaps of Royal, Slow Clap, New Art Club, idea. However, try as Spassov might, not We did our first ever gig as The audience involvement sooo many amazing shows! Cloud Man everything in the world looks like a bicycle List Operators at the Bongo Club and severed body Ailie Cohen Puppet Maker tyre and sometimes the story lost focus as at 1.50am in 2008. It was a 10 the narrator grappled with the tyres, trying Matt and Richard appear in List ‘Cloud Man’ is a cute show: the puppets minute spot. Scariest 10 minutes to use them in new and interesting ways Operators For Kids Do Comput- are cute, the set is cute, the twinkly ers at Pleasance Courtyard, 3 that sometimes didn’t work. The humour of our lives. ethereal music composed by Niroshini – 21 Aug, 11.30am (12.15pm), was aimed at children and was gentle, if Tambar is cute. The children sit on cute £9.00, fpp24 occasionally a little puerile. TW: What made you cloud cushions in front of the stage. Jen come back? Edgar’s acting is quirky and engaging, Zoo, 5 – 29 Aug (not 7, 14, 21, 28), 11.15 (12.10), MK & RH: Every year we despite the clumsiness of the script and £8.00, fpp21. tw rating 2/5 [rs] come back to try and its bizarre changes of tense which confuse the cute children. The story is a little thin Tales From The Shed and doesn’t make all that much sense; Chickenshed at one point a child was heard to cutely shout, “But what is she doing?!” generating As the audience take their seats, the nervous adult laughter and shushing performers are already on stage with a from parents. However, it feels magical, selection of puppets that the children are it doesn’t patronise, and I grew up on the encouraged to go and play with.This kind Clangers – so I’m all for it. of interaction plays a big part in the show, which comprises of songs with actions, Hill Street Theatre, 5 - 24 Aug (not 8, 15), 11.00 am (11.45 am), £5.00 - £7.50, fpp20. tw rating 3/5 [ld] games and stories: it’s a lot like watching a stage show of CBeebies, and although the songs are fairly forgettable, the children Lapin Wants Breakfast have a lot of fun joining in with the dances. Le Petit Monde The show’s at its best when being silly - a puppet called ‘Bleeeehhh’ is the definite A wander down the historic Royal Mile, highlight - but unfortunately the silliness Edinburgh’s charming old street, brings us doesn’t happen too often. Young children to the Scottish Storytelling Centre. Tania will be entertained, but mums and dads Czajka’s Le Petit Monde puppet show is on should be warned that they’ll probably be here through the Festival, telling the tale quite bored. of Lapin the hungry rabbit. This interactive puppet show is a mix of French and English Zoo Roxy, 6 - 28 Aug (not 10, 17, 24), 10.30am dialogue, and therefore also a 40 minute (11.15am), £6.00, fpp29. tw rating 2/5 [im] lesson in language - unbeknown to the children, who participate throughout. Get lots of ThreeWeeks Keywords and phrases are spoken in reviews direct to your inbox French and then English, along with with the eDaily

The 2 Sides of Eddie Ramone A new play by Chris Sullivan

At the Royal College of Surgeons Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DW

“a gripping All Seats look at the both the humour £5 and pain of the tragic comic... Box Office Chris Sullivan’s 0845 508 8515 performance is his most memorable to date.”

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