Category: Edinburgh Fringe 2019

London Hughes: To Catch A D*ck

By Ron Bingham

This show is filthy. If you’re at all offended by frank conversations about sex or upset by swearing, then you had better steer clear. It is definitely NOT for children.

Right, now that’s out of the way, this is one of the funniest shows I have seen in a long time. London takes us through the past decade of her life: learning some specialist skills in the car parks of Brighton as a teenager, being sacked from her presenter role on TV sex line BabeStation, turning 30 and questioning why she is still single. We hear about her family, why she has so many names and learn some new words and phrases (I loved her reference to Brian Blessed – it’s too filthy to explain here but I’m sure Brian would take it as a huge compliment).  I even learnt one or two fascinating new facts about the human body.

Anyone seeing her on TV or listening to her radio will only be getting a watered down version of this dynamic, confident and audacious lady. You must see her live to get the full impact of this force of nature. If we had more room in the tiny venue, there would certainly have been a standing ovation.

To Catch A D*ck is on at Pleasance Courtyard until August 25
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/london-hughes-to-catch-a-d-ck

Demi Lardner: Ditch Witch 800

By Ron Bingham

Demi Lardener is a unique voice in the comedy world and more importantly she is genuinely gut-bustingly hilarious. The opening of the show was one of the funniest things I have seen in a long while, and the closing was nearly as whacky.

Unlike previous shows from Demi, we are not confronted with a stage full of props, which are then used throughout her show. This year, Demi has decided to go a little high tech, using a PC and projector, plus some audio, combined with stories from her youth such as a visit to Kangaroo Island, fascinating tidbits and snatches of craziness. There are also some very disturbing drawings by Demi.

My favourite thing about Demi’s shows are the total unpredictability, and the shattering of any boundary with the audience. If you’re of a nervous disposition or don’t like audience participation, you may want to give this one a miss. There is also a bit of swearing, but it is a late night show after all. Demi will get up close and personal, as she crawls into your minds and bends them out of shape. Highly recommended.

Ditch Witch 800 is on at Gilded Balloon Teviot until August 26
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/demi-lardner-ditch-witch-800

Children of the Quorn™

By Ron Bingham

The venue for Children of the Quorn™ is huge. It’s a nightclub floor with seating for around 200 people. There is also a functioning bar at the back of the room. I was impressed at how full it was when the show started, as I thought they may have been a little ambitious for a relatively unknown duo in an afternoon show. Fortunately, Andrew and Ambika rewarded our confidence in them.

Ambika Mod and Andrew Shires perform a series of sketches, in which they play with time and reality, often tricking the audience in subtle and unusual ways. The premise of the show is that they are performing the sketches while waiting for a bell to ring at the side of the stage, which means they have made contact with the spirit world and can start the seance. Some of the sketches deliberately stretch the joke almost to breaking point and they regularly get away with it. I, being a big Tolkien fan, enjoyed the Gollum sketches most of all. The audience were loud and boisterous, both in their enjoyment of the show and partly through their use of the bar.

Smartly written, superbly performed and very entertaining, this surreal, crazy and hilarious show delighted the crowd. I expect they probably will be filling out that massive venue once word gets out about the show.

Children of the Quorn™ is on at Just the Tonic at La Belle Angele until August 25
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/children-of-the-quorn

Anna Nicholson: Get Happy

By Ron Bingham

Get Happy is Anna’s sophomore show at the Fringe. It’s a sort of sequel to last year’s Woman Of The Year, revisiting a number of the characters including the beauty blogger (or is it vlogger now?) from Newcastle, the overly chirpy vicar desperate to beat the rival church down the road, a lovely elderly lady looking for a lover who’s not about to pop his clogs, and a wellness guru who wants us all to be happy.

Anna is a very accomplished character sketch comedy performer. She also indulges in a bit of audience participation (you can’t hide) and luckily for Anna, the audience I was with were very enthusiastic in joining in. She’s very charming and good at making her audience feel positive about taking part. A friendly pianist is also on stage throughout, filling in while she is changing characters and providing accompaniment to Anna’s songs.

Get Happy flows nicely with barely a gap, the jokes are well delivered and they work well with each character.You don’t have to see the previous show (many in today’s audience hadn’t) but you might want to after seeing this (she is performing an encore season of Woman Of The Year at Gilded Balloon at Old Tolbooth Market (https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/anna-nicholson-woman-of-the-year ) until August 18). Well delivered and well received, it garnered a rapturous applause from an almost full house at the end of the hour.

Get Happy is on at Just the Tonic at The Caves until August 25
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/anna-nicholson-get-happy

It Takes Three To Tango

By Ron Bingham

Amaya, Lottie and Will have all come to audition for the part of TV presenter and they haven’t seen each other since “The Big Fight”. Using a series of sketches, montages and dream sequences, they share their sad and sordid backstories, broken romances, unusual obsessions and freakish desires. The big question in the show is whether they can overcome their differences and the horror of “The Big Fight”, and work together.

It Takes Three To Tango is the Fringe debut of talented trio; Lottie Elton (of Perth, Western Australia),Will Owen and Amaya Holman, who all hail from Cambridge Footlights and are sure to make their hallowed society proud. This tightly scripted show sees the enthusiastic cast playing their parts admirably, with many amusing scenes and lots of quality humour.

There is no audience participation required, so you’re safe to sit in the front row. The room is lovely and cool, with comfortable seating.  It Takes Three To Tango should appeal to most people who want to relax with some talented funny performers and enjoy a themed sketch comedy show in the afternoon at the Fringe.

It Takes Three to Tango is on at 2pm at Underbelly, Bristo Square until August 25

Vikki Stone: Songbird

By Ron Bingham

Multi-talented Vikki Stone sings well, plays piano brilliantly and exuberantly, has an excellent stage presence, and is very funny. Songbird is an excellent showcase of her talents and perfect for lovers of music, comedy (especially novelty songs) and pets.

The stage has a tiny (mock) grand piano, concealing Vikki’s keyboard and a few surprise props. Vikki arrives on stage wearing a bright colourful jumpsuit, to sing us songs about her partner, her gran, her best friend in the world, and a couple of wonderfully hilarious novelty songs. Introductions, explanations and stories around each song give context and plenty of laughs. There is a delightful surprise at the end of the show, one that all dog lovers won’t want to miss.

Unfortunately it started nearly 20 minutes late on the day I was there (not Vikki’s fault), which caused a bit of tension in the audience with a number of people hovering near the exit so we could sprint to the next show of the evening. This may have affected the ambiance somewhat, but no one wanted to leave, because she was so entertaining. The good news is that I loved Songbird and got to see all of it. She finished just in time for me to sprint to my next show. Excellent all round.

Song Bird is on at Pleasance Courtyard until August 25
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/vikki-stone-song-bird