Colin – Page 2 – Squirrel Comedy

The Chaos Queens of Reykjavik

By Ron Bingham

This is two 30ish minute sets from Icelandic comics Louisa Lara and Mekkin Roff, which takes place in a small basement room (about 20 seats – get there early for the comfy benches along the wall rather that the hideous wooden benches on the floor). Both comics have changed their appearance drastically since the flyers were printed.

Lousia was first, talking about living in Iceland and being shocked at the smallness of her home country when visiting other countries (apparently it has a population smaller than the NYPD). She also spoke of her recent divorce and having to start using dating apps.

Mekkin moved from Iceland to the USA when young, and talks about the cultural differences, living in London with friends and the joys of having a boyfriend. Tonight, it appeared most of Mekkin’s family was in the audience, which made her stories about her dad doing a runner from a restaurant and Grandad’s interesting style of racism extra funny.

This was a fun entertaining hour of stand-up from two confident women, and it deserves a larger audience. Hopefully they will get some extra exposure during the Fringe. Highly recommended.

The Chaos Queens of Reykjavik is on at Laughing Horse @ City Cafe until August 25

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/chaos-queens-of-reykjavik

Andrew Maxwell: The Bare Maximum

By Ron Bingham

Irish comedy legend Andrew Maxwell isn’t being as political as usual this year, possibly because of the chaotic nature of the UK’s politics making it impossible to have material that last more than a week. This year’s show looks at culture, especially Irish and Australian (Perth), with mentions of that art installation where people in New York and Dublin could interact in real time, which went so disastrously wrong, and the short shart Prime Ministership of Liz Truss as compared to the long reign of Queen Elizabeth.

We also had a poignant story about Andrew’s father and rugby, which got very emotional, and a tale of his nephew in rural Ireland’s bravery and dress sense. I liked how Andrew told us that his father always came to Edinburgh with him, and sat at the back of his shows, so often that he became a second father to all the Irish comics in Edinburgh. Pity dad thought his son’s comedy wasn’t as good as another performer, but that’s parents for you.

As usual, Andrew is well versed in the art of storytelling, knows when to break the tension of a story with a joke, and surprisingly good at kicking the set. The large audience (probably around 200) were enjoying the show, once they’d all dragged themselves out of the bar next door, and it was a thoroughly good hour of stand-up…. though Andrew’s dad would probably have said “not as good as Jason Byrne”.

The Bare Maximum is on at Just the Tonic Nucleus until August 25

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/andrew-maxwell-the-bare-maximum

The Umbilical Brothers: The Distraction

By Ron Bingham

Australian comedy legends The Umbilical Brothers are back in Edinburgh with a second run of their sold out 2023 show The Distraction. With a mix of technical wizardry, loads of cameras, props, tablet sized screens and two large green panels festooning the stage, Shane and David treat the audience to an hour of mayhem and surreal visual effects, all in real time on the stage. They are ably assisted by Bob the techie (apparently Bob has a show at 1am with Shane doing the tech job, but I can’t find it in the programme).

They claimed, at about the ten minute mark, that they have never experienced so many technical problems. This could be true, as many of the high-tech items were playing up tonight. Still, while the problems were being sorted, Shane and Dave kept the audience entertained with a running commentary or silly visual jokes on the big screen. Members of the audience helped in the show, mostly by having cameras pointed at us and allowing the Umbilicals to do terrible things to our images on the screen. Including me, but I still don’t think Shane got my voice quite right and at least they didn’t explode my head. There are also some scenes of giant rampaging babies.

The room, which seats around 200, was full of happy punters who all appeared to thoroughly enjoy the show. Even though I was there on a Monday (traditionally a day of rest for most shows), I recommend booking a ticket, as it’s a good fun family friendly show that’ll have you chuckling for days over some of the antics.

The Distraction is on at Assembly Roxy until August 25

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/umbilical-brothers-the-distraction

Lauren Pattison: Big Girl Pants

By Ron Bingham

This year’s show from Lauren, Big Girl’s Pants, is all about her turning 30 and attempting to be more courageous in her life. The examples of courage include learning to drive (after over 180 hours of lessons), standing up to some rowdy hecklers at a comedy gig, and going in for an intimate check-up. There is also the story of her best friend’s courageous decision to seek help for a medical condition.

The stories are told in, as always, her delightful Newcastle accent, at a fast pace and peppered liberally with jokes and wry observations on life. The check-up story may be considered a little too gruesome for some gentlemen, but that’s par for the course. As someone who once had a biopsy on their neck, I can only feel a wave of sympathy after hearing where Lauren had hers done! The show is packed full of stories, side-stories and comic vignettes, and these are interlaced with moments of sadness and poignancy.

The room was full and is probably selling out, but if you’re quick, you can always hope to be one of the lucky punters getting one of the five or so “walk up” seats available each day. Every time I see Lauren perform, I am impressed with her growth as a storyteller and comedian.

Big Girl Pants is on at Monkey Barrel Comedy until August 25

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/lauren-pattison-big-girl-pants

Arthur Smith and Phil Nice in OOF!

By Ron Bingham

Forty years ago, Arthur and Phil were a double act. Then Arthur went solo and Phil raised a family. Now, they are back together reminiscing about the old days, working through old wounds, playing with words and contemplating the ageing process and their lives together and apart.

The show starts with Arthur sitting on a park bench (on stage) reading the newspaper, and Phil joining him. From here, we are led on a journey through the minds and memories of two old stagers looking back on their lives and trying to decide if it was all worth the effort (yes, it was). Lots of wordplay, some physical humour and a little bit of a language lesson, this was a delightful hour playing to a full house of, mostly, people who had been carried along on part of Phil and Arthur’s journeys from their seats.

The explosive rift in the middle of the show was rather abrupt and painful, but possibly also cathartic for the performers. A well written and performed hour long reminiscence from two old hands, geared towards people who know who they are. Loved the music playing over the end – Simon and Garfunkel’s Old Friends.

Arthur Smith and Phil Nice in OOF! is on at Pleasance Courtyard
until August 18

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/arthur-smith-and-phil-nice-in-oof

Rat Mass

By Colin Flaherty

Welcome to The Church of Ratology. Pastors Perry and Joseph are here to guide and instruct in our devotion to the rat. With enough prayer and devotion, you too can evolve like our rattus brothers.

We are each handed a running order booklet upon entry. The performance is structured like a church service with sermon, hymn (yes, singular. you’ll be humming it for days), communion (we down “rat juice”), a collection and even baptism for the lucky converts (“rat juice” again).

Some sacraments are given a fun interactive twist. Rosary becomes an eating contest, confession is a game of bingo and the collection gathers items appealing to rats rather than cash.

This isn’t a parody of religion, instead it’s a bizarro world version of a religion. Even though it is mentioned that some terms in the script are carefully worded so as not to offend Christians in the US, there is nothing making fun of churches or their congregations. The service has a kind of silly spiritual euphoria… it’s just focused on rats rather than any deity.

Audience participation is encouraged but you are free to opt out and simply observe. The show certainly works best when everyone is on board but the more challenging acts of devotion are best left to the true believers.

There are some moments that veer into solemnity, explanation or just weird performance art – the complete opposite of a high energy Baptist service. Although we aren’t laughing at every line uttered, the ridiculousness of the situation ensures that we are smiling throughout.

This a unique comedy experience. It’s a silly fun show that fully embodies the spirit of the Fringe.

Rat Mass is on at C ARTS | C venues | C aquila until August 18

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/rat-mass