Pottervision

By Lisa Clark
Pottervision

PotterVision is pretty much what a fan wants from this sort of Festival show, a crowd pleasing comic enactment of several key scenes from Harry Potter & the Sorcerers Stone with gentle digs and silly hi-jinx.

The conceit of the show is not wildly original but cute and it works; that this performance was created by a quartet of players but 2 of them have buggered off with all the props and costumes leaving Lukas Kirkby & Tom Lawrinson to cope. They’ve popped out to the shops for some silly wigs & turned some sticks into wands and are doing the best they can. The packed audience is fully on-side and raring to go with them, just as well they are able to deliver.

Lukas and Tom make a good double act with Lukas is more of the organised straight guy trying to keep Tom from heading off the tracks onto his own loopy ideas of how to do the show. Tom is relaxed but also naughtily cunning in getting to do his own thing which gets some big laughs. They both have a lot of energy and commit fully to the show. They also clearly know The Sorcerer’s Stone novel backwards.
There is some gentle audience participation – I was invited on state to be sorted into Hufflepuff – some rude innuendo that never goes too far and a fabulous finale.

Yes it pokes fun at some of J K Rowing’s ideas but this does not denigrate the work or sneer at the fans in any way. It is pretty funny and you can take your teen Potterhead kids for a laugh.

Pottervision is on at Laughing Horse @ Espionage until August 27

This show is free (donation)

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/pottervision

Lucy Pearman – Maid of Cabbage

By Ron Bingham Maid of Cabbage

Maid of Cabbage is an entertaining and funny one-woman romp by Lucy Pearman. Unsurprisingly it is about the first day on the job for our country maid(en), who is set the task of locating the perfect cabbage. Sadly Lucy is not really competent to judge what a perfect cabbage looks like, and she has a dark side that keeps trying to break out and cause (comedy) chaos. Along the way, we meet the Lord of the manor, get shown a number of interesting vegetables, learn what happened to out maiden’s lost love and find out whether she can keep her job for a whole day.

There are a lot of props, a little puppetry, quite a bit of (non-threatening) audience participation, an excellent costume change and a lot of laughs. Lucy is engaging and entertaining, the story flows well, and there are very few breaks in the mayhem and jokes.

If you feel like seeing an excellently acted and very funny show, and aren’t afraid of the possibility of wearing a silly hat or holding a cabbage in your hand, then I can thoroughly recommend Maid of Cabbage.

Maid Of Cabbage is on at Heroes @ The Monkey Barrel until August 27.
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/lucy-pearman-maid-of-cabbage
This show is free (donation)

Rik Carranza presents Star Trek Vs Star Wars

By Lisa Clark Rik TrekVWars pic

Well yes this is a show for people who love Star Trek and Star Wars. And fans, you won’t be let down. Especially enjoyable if you have a preference, as the audience is encouraged to barrack for their favourite.

Rik Carranza shows his comedy chops up front with some excellent stand up about his relationship with the franchises and a great story about putting the show on, before introducing and explaining the proceedings. He has invited two nerdy comedians to take a side and fight for the honour of their creed. An audience member, in this case a small child, keeps the score and the audience votes. There are several rounds of; storytelling, issues debated and quiz questions answered. Crucially the audience gets to show off their knowledge with some particularly tricky trivia questions. There is nothing that geeks love more than showing off how much they know about their beloved passions.

The two comedians battling on this occasion were London comedian Ria Lina for Star Trek & David Bratchpiece from the well-known Scottish comedy clan was on the side of Star Wars. Ria has a thing for Mr Spock & David (unsurprisingly for men of a certain age) is keen on Boba Fett. Both showed their quick wit and got a lot of laughs from the audience. David got some sympathy for having to justify Jar Jar Binks and George Lucas. I was particularly impressed that most of this was pre-written and well prepared but did not feel that way, just like a really good TV game show.

Rik is a delightful, knowledgeable host who has put together perfectly balanced, relaxed live quiz show. This is a sweet, lunchtime, nerdy get together that’s fun for all ages.

Rik Carranza presents Star Trek Vs Star Wars at Heroes at Monkeybarrel

This show is free (donation) or book a seat for 5 pounds

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/rik-carranza-presents-star-trek-vs-star-wars

 

Doug Anthony All Stars – Near Death Experience

By Colin Flaherty
DAAS

It’s taken a couple of years and a trip to the other side of the globe but I have finally witnessed the majesty and debauchery of the latest incarnation of the Doug Anthony All Stars. Time may not have been kind to them (as they repeatedly inform us) and their youthful energy may have waned, but Paul McDermott, Tim Ferguson and Paul Livingston still put on a show with plenty of colour, movement and filth.

The character dynamics have been tweaked a little to suit the new format. McDermott still plays the ravenous sex machine but adds some weariness to his Silver Fox. He still has the other two to boss around but regularly lets their antics slide while bemoaning all the things he must put up with. Ferguson takes on Richard Fidler’s naivety with his medication-addled persona. This allows him to undermine McDermott with some innocent yet wicked lines and spout plenty of amusing out of context comments. Livingston largely plays his role as “The Guitarist” as a poe-faced mute. This makes him the perfect whipping boy for McDermott with a few wonderful moments of rebellion creeping in to expand his contribution to this madhouse. With a brief spirited introduction by alter-ego Flacco, it’s almost like the old gang are back.

With a title like Near Death Experience, the theme of mortality naturally looms large over this performance. They have jokes to make you squirm with their graphic imagery, blunt social satire and un-PC turns of phrase – plenty to upset sensitive souls. It was interesting to see how some Australian specific references remained intact with short explanations up front to get everyone up to speed. Repeated lame “impressions” and a ditheringly long monologue play up the geriatric angle.

The songs are as brilliant as always even though the subject matter has changed from anarchy to world weariness. McDermott still has the voice of an angel and Ferguson harmonises perfectly with the odd dodgy note thrown in for laughs. Livingston’s guitar work holds it all together beautifully.

Even though they no longer jump all over the stage, the visual spectacle is wonderful. We get some brilliant shadow work and hilariously wonky “wheelchair dancing”. The background visuals of MRI scans combined with star constellations are gorgeous enough to cause distraction. Long time fans are also treated to a trip down memory lane with a pre-performance slide show.

Near Death Experience is clearly geared towards an audience of a certain age as the material alienates the youngsters while having a go at old age. Fans from back in the day will enjoy the catch up but DAAS virgins are sure to have a whale of a time with these hilariously subversive gents.

Near Death Experience is on at Pleasance Courtyard until August 27
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/doug-anthony-all-stars-near-death-experience

Squirrel Guide to the Huge Australian Presence At Edinburgh Fringe 2017

It’s almost August and that means the Edinburgh Fringe Festival starts soon…the 70th Anniversary no less!

Once again there is a large contingent of Australian acts and expats heading north to the world’s largest arts festival. Here we present a list of all those that we could identify (if we’ve missed anyone, please get in touch).

If we’ve reviewed the show before, there is a link to the article describing what we thought (note that there is always the disclaimer that Festival shows are ever evolving beasts that change over time, so there’s always the likelihood that a previously underwhelming performance has been whipped into a lean mean Fringe machine!). We can’t review everything but we have seen more than we have reviewed and there are a lot of exciting shows going to Edinburgh Fringe! We’ve added a *Squirrel Recommended* to shows we’ve loved but somehow failed to review.

Four Squirrels are heading over to the Festival this year. We will be attempting to cover shows that we missed on the Australian runs, catch up with Aussies who haven’t performed on our shores in a while and see all sorts of international acts we hope will make the trek south.

On to the huge list:

Adam Vincent – How Not to Kill Yourself When Living in the Suburbs
Laughing Horse @ Espionage
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/adam-vincent-how-not-to-kill-yourself-when-living-in-the-suburbs

Aidan ‘Taco’ Jones – The Abersham Flat
Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/abersham-flat

Alex White – What in Tarnation?!
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/alex-white-what-in-tarnation

Alex Williamson – Make the World a Banter Place
Gilded Balloon Teviot
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/alex-williamson-make-the-world-a-banter-place

Andrew Roper’s Superhero Secret Origins: The Movies
Laughing Horse @ Bar 50
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/andrew-roper-s-superhero-secret-origins-the-movies

Anne Edmonds: No Offence, None Taken
Here’s our review from MICF 2017: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=11188
Underbelly Med Quad
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/anne-edmonds-no-offence-none-taken

Aunty Donna – Big Boys
Here’s our review from MICF 2017 : https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=11224
Gilded Balloon Teviot
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aunty-donna-big-boys

The Bear Pack (Steen Raskopoulos and Carlo Ritchie)
Underbelly, Cowgate
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/bear-pack

Bec Hill – Out of Order
Gilded Balloon Teviot
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/bec-hill-out-of-order

Becky Lucas – Little Bitch
Assembly George Square Theatre
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/becky-lucas-little-bitch

Brendon Burns and Craig Quartermaine in Race Off
Gilded Balloon Teviot
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/brendon-burns-and-craig-quartermaine-in-race-off

Brendon Burns and Colt Cabana Do Comedy and Commentary to Bad Wrestling Matches
Heroes @ Monkey Barrel
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/brendon-burns-and-colt-cabana-do-comedy-and-commentary-to-bad-wrestling-matches

Brett Blake – An Aussie Abroad
Laughing Horse @ The Cellar Monkey
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aussie-abroad

Bruce
*Squirrel Recommended*
Underbelly, Cowgate
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/bruce

Comedy Boxing: The Rematch (Sam Kissajukian, Kyle Legacy & Ruven Govender)
Laughing Horse @ Espionage
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy-boxing-the-rematch

Damien Power – Utopia: Now in 3D!
*Squirrel Recommended*
Assembly George Square Theatre
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/damien-power-utopia-now-in-3d

Daniel Muggleton – Let’s Never Hang Out
Laughing Horse @ The Counting House
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/daniel-muggleton-let-s-never-hang-out

David Quirk – Cowboy Mouth
Heroes @ Bob’s BlundaBus
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/david-quirk-cowboy-mouth

Demi Lardner – Look What You Made Me Do
*Squirrel Recommended*
Underbelly, Cowgate
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/demi-lardner-look-what-you-made-me-do

Diana Nguyen – Naked
Laughing Horse @ Espionage (NOTE VENUE CHANGE FROM Vic St Coffee Co)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/naked

Die Roten Punkte – Eurosmash
Here’s our review from MICF 2014 : https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=7001
Underbelly, Cowgate
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/otto-astrid-eurosmash-die-roten-punkte

Double Denim (Michelle Brasier and Laura Frew)
Gilded Balloon Teviot
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/double-denim

Doug Anthony All Stars: Near Death Experience
*Squirrel Recommended*
Pleasance Courtyard
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/doug-anthony-all-stars-near-death-experience

Dylan Cole – Blank Tiles
Assembly George Square Studios
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/blank-tiles

Frehd Southern Starr – Frehd The Clown AKA Clownie – Stripped Bare
Here’s our review from MICF 2017 :  https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=11386
Gilded Balloon Teviot
http://gildedballoon.co.uk/tickets/performances.php?eventId=14%3A1625

Frenchy Unleashed
Gilded Balloon Teviot
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/frenchy-unleashed

Gavin Lind – Mediocre as F*ck
Sweet Grassmarket
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/mediocre-as-f-ck

George Dimarelos – Self Sabotage
Laughing Horse @ Southside Social
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/self-sabotage

Gillian Cosgriff – To the Moon and Back
Gilded Balloon Teviot
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/gillian-cosgriff-to-the-moon-and-back

The Great Comedy Cooking Challenge (Jay Sodagar and Andrew Roper)
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/great-comedy-cooking-challenge

Hannah Gadsby – Nanette
Here’s our review from MICF 2017 : https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=11198
Assembly George Square Studios
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/hannah-gadsby-nanette

Isobel Marmion – It’s My Funeral and I’ll Throw Glitter If I Want to
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/it-s-my-funeral-and-i-ll-throw-glitter-if-i-want-to

Jez Watts – Sex, Lies & Videogames
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/jez-watts-sex-lies-videogames

Jimeoin: Ridiculous
Venue150 at EICC
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/jimeoin-ridiculous

Jimeoin: Even More Ridiculous!
Venue150 at EICC
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/jimeoin-even-more-ridiculous

John Robertson – Dominant
The Stand Comedy Club 5 & 6
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/john-robertson-dominant

John Robertson: The Dark Room
Underbelly, Cowgate
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/john-robertson-the-dark-room

Josh Glanc – Manfül
Gilded Balloon Teviot
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/josh-glanc-manful

Kaitlyn Rogers – Can I Get an Amen?!
Gilded Balloon Teviot
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/kaitlyn-rogers-can-i-get-an-amen

Khaled Khalafalla – Loose
Gilded Balloon Teviot
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/khaled-khalafalla-loose

Kyle Legacy – Fresh Prince of Comedy
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/fresh-prince-of-comedy

Laura Davis – Cake in the Rain
Here’s our review from MICF 2017 : https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=11076
Underbelly Med Quad
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/laura-davis-cake-in-the-rain

Lauren Bok – Is That a Burrito in Your Pocket or Are You Just Happy You Have a Burrito
Here’s our review from Melbourne Fringe 2015 : https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=9270
Gilded Balloon Teviot
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/lauren-bok-is-that-a-burrito-in-your-pocket-or-are-you-just-happy-you-have-a-burrito

Luke Nowell – Being Hueman Being
Just the Tonic at The Caves
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/being-hueman-being

Marina Margarita – Odette!
Laughing Horse @ 48 Below
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/odette

Mark McConnell – Battered
Laughing Horse @ 48 Below
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/battered

Nath Valvo – Not In This House
Assembly George Square Studios
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/nath-valvo-not-in-this-house

Nazeem Hussain – Hussain In The Membrane
Assembly George Square Studios
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/nazeem-hussain-hussain-in-the-membrane

Neal Portenza
Underbelly, Cowgate
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/neal-portenza

Nick Cody – On Fire
Underbelly Med Quad
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/nick-cody-on-fire

Once Were Pirates – by Emilie Colyer and presented by GOBSMACKED
Pleasance Dome
https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/once-were-pirates

Peter & Bambi Heaven – When Love Becomes Magic (Asher Treleaven and Gypsy Wood)
*Squirrel Recommended*
Assembly George Square Gardens
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/peter-bambi-heaven-when-love-becomes-magic

Phi and Me (Diana Nguyen, Steve Mcphail)
*Squirrel Recommended*
Laughing Horse @ The Counting House
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/phi-and-me

Pussy Play Masterclass
Gilded Balloon Teviot
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/pussy-play-masterclass

Rhys Nicholson – I’m Fine
*Squirrel Recommended*
Underbelly Med Quad
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/rhys-nicholson-i-m-fine

Rob Lloyd – Who, Me
*Squirrel Recommended*
No review but here’s an interview about Who, Me from 2012 https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=408 
Gilded Balloon at Rose Theatre
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/who-me

Ruven Govender – Ethnic Cleansing
Laughing Horse @ The Golf Tavern
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ethnic-cleansing

Sarah Bennetto – All My Life’s Mistakes, Catalogued (Volume One)
Laughing Horse @ Espionage (NOTE VENUE CHANGE FROM Vic St Coffee Co)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/sarah-bennetto-all-my-life-s-mistakes-catalogued-volume-one

Sam Garlepp – Well, There You Go
Just the Tonic at The Caves
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/sam-garlepp-well-there-you-go

Sam Kissajukian – Alcohol is Good for You Too
Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/alcohol-is-good-for-you-too

Sam Simmons – A-K
Here’s our review from MICF 2017: https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=11192
Assembly George Square Studios
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/sam-simmons-a-k

Sarah Kendall – One-Seventeen
Assembly George Square Studios
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/sarah-kendall-one-seventeen

Scientology : The Musical
Just the Tonic at The Mash House
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/scientology-the-musical

Shehan Wanigasekera – Wa Niga Wit Attitude
Laughing Horse @ Cabaret Voltaire
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/shehan-wanigasekera-wa-niga-wit-attitude

Simon Morley – Naked Ambition
Heroes @ Monkey Barrel
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/simon-morley-naked-ambition

Steen Raskopoulos – The Coolest Kid in Competitive Chess
Underbelly, Cowgate
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/steen-raskopoulos-the-coolest-kid-in-competitive-chess

The Stevenson Experience – Identical as Anything
Assembly George Square Studios
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/stevenson-experience-identical-as-anything

Tom Ballard – Problematic
*Squirrel Recommended*
Pleasance Courtyard
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tom-ballard-problematic

Tom Walker – Bee Boo
Here’s our review from MICF 2017 : https://www.squirrelcomedy.com/?p=11264
Underbelly, George Square
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tom-walker-bee-boo

Tomás Ford – Craptacular
Gilded Balloon Teviot
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tomas-ford-craptacular

Trash Test Dummies
Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/trash-test-dummies

Wank Bank Masterclass
Gilded Balloon Teviot
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/wank-bank-masterclass

Yianni Agisilaou – Pockets of Equality
Banshee Labyrinth
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/yianni-agisilaou-pockets-of-equality