Tag: Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Ashley Storrie – Adulting

By Ron Bingham

The venue is the ballroom of the Counting House, a lovely elegant venue with large teardrop chandeliers and a skylight dome above the centre of the room, and seats around 120 people. The performer is Ashley Storrie, a vivaciously hilarious Glaswegian lass who looks much younger than her actual age, and who swears like an, ummm  Glaswegian.

Ashley,the daughter of Scottish comedy goddess Janey Godley, was the creator of the If Harry Potter was Scottish video, which has over 30 million views on YouTube. This might be why at least one couple brought their 12 year old son along. Ashley spent a while trying to find the rudest word he knew, as the rest of the capacity audience were being seated. I learned a number of new Scottish swear words which is always fun.

The show itself saw Ashley talking at length about the frustrations of trying to buy cigarettes, a tad about her notorious family and performing her first gig to an English audience (in Milton Keynes).  She got somewhat serious for a bit about smear tests which would have been useful information for the younger audience members. Ashley really knows how to tell a story and the audience were riotous in their appreciation of all of her material.

Adulting was brilliant from start to finish and, as long as you don’t turn up late or heckle, you will be safe. You will definitely learn something from the show, even if it’s just a couple of new swear words (what she called Dame Cleo Laine… is still a complete mystery!).

The room was full on day two of the Fringe so get there early.

Adulting is on at Laughing Horse @ The Counting House until August 26
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ashley-storrie-adulting

Roisin & Chiara – Back to Back

By Ron Bingham

As the audience enters they are greeted by the hosts and offered sweeties. Roisin O’Mahony and Chiara Goldsmith then perform a show which I can only describe as crazy, silly and ridiculously funny. The bribery is unnecessary, because this is an awesome show.

There is an underlying intelligence to the sketch show, which added to the enjoyment. What I did miss were many of the musical call and response shout-outs from modern mainstream culture, but then I’m a grumpy old curmudgeon, and everyone else enjoyed them (knowing something about Bo Selecta would have been handy). They did do a version of Roxanne, and I know that one.

Roisin acted slightly more crazy than Chiara (a fine line) and wore some cool masks in a couple of sketches. They did interact with a couple of audience members as part of their act, so be careful where you sit. There is a bit of swearing, but nothing too extreme and it should be fine for teenagers and older. It can get a bit wild, but if you’re up for an inspired hour of silly sketches from a pair of energetic and frantic comedians, while witnessing some really gross marshmallow eating, then add this to your list.

Note: It’s free but this is filling up fast, so pre-book to ensure a seat.

Back To Back is on at Heroes @ Boteco until August 26
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/roisin-and-chiara-back-to-back

Big Shop

By Ron Bingham

This is an hour of sketches loosely connected by the very thin thread of customers at a supermarket as seen by two security guards. The show starts with our hosts offering biscuits, crisps, tampons and pads to the audience on plates, as the crowd start filing in to the room. Once their trays of treats are empty, John Tothill and Eve Delaney introduce us to our main protagonists who discuss the strange, warped characters they encounter on a daily basis. These include a couple of hitmen, two blokes who are a little too obsessed about their teenage daughter’s level of maturity and a mother seriously embarrassed by her daughter.

The sketches are funny, well acted and well written with a little bit of swearing and some sexual references. The finale of the show is a somewhat jarring in its bloody violence but overall this is a fun hour of entertainment. This is going to sell out (from the number of people jammed in the room, I’d say it probably IS selling out) so book a ticket for a very enjoyable show. This is a pair of comedians who you are sure to be seeing on TV sometime in the near future.

Big Shop is on at Underbelly, Cowgate until August 26
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/big-shop

Luke Rollason’s Planet Earth

By Ron Bingham

My first random pick of the Fringe and I’m glad I had the gap in my schedule as it was a hilarious hour of goofiness about nature (with a serious message hidden inside the chocolatey comedy coating). The room seats about 60 people (very cosily) and was jammed full on day two of the Fringe.

The show opens with a rather scary scene (well, it terrified one little boy down the back of the room), where Luke plays an angler fish. From there we are led into the world of David Attenborough (or a close approximation) and the world of animals both tiny and huge. The audience is asked before the show to write the name of their favourite animal on a Post-It Note, which Luke may use during the show in a sketch. There is also a little audience interaction, but nothing too scary or demanding.

If you’re a fan of nature documentaries or cute fluffy animals (like an eight legged friend that appears at one point – a warning for the arachnophobes out there), or you just love comedy with lots of energy, props, jokes and a message, then you will love this show. The packed audience at the show I saw certainly had a great time. See it and save the world.

Luke Rollason’s Planet Earth is on at Monkey Barrel until August 26
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/luke-rollason-s-planet-earth-1

Anya Anastasia – The Executioners

By Ron Bingham

After wowing everyone at this year’s Adelaide Fringe, South Australian cabaret artiste Anya Anastasia is here to conquor Edinburgh. I can best describe Anya’s character as a mix of Kate Miller-Heidke and Tim Minchin. Her excellent yet quirky vocals combined with cutting, satirical lyrics punctures the arrogance and self-obsession of the modern world. Aided by musician Gareth Chin, Anya arrives dressed in a shining white outfit with glowing headgear to teach us how to save the world with your social media platform of choice.

The audience is taken on a journey through politics and global warming to reach the inevitable conclusion that we’re all doomed unless we put down the phone, get out there and protest, vote and actually engage with the real world. There’s more to this show than just her wonderful songs with sword fights and kung fu incorporated into this physical performance.

If your idea of a good night out is witnessing some impressive action choreography combined with witty, pertinant and catchy songs about the state of the world, sung by a very talented and engaging performer, then you must see this show.

The Executioners is on at Gilded Balloon Teviot until August 26
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/anya-anastasia-the-executioners

Alice Fraser – Ethos

By Ron Bingham

Alice Fraser is performing in one of the new rooms under George Square; comfortable chairs, clean, good line of sight to the stage. Very nice venue. Not really what one usually expects in an Edinburgh Fringe show but it is a room that suits this exceptional performer.

Ethos explores the modern world and the nature of humanity, through the use of the comedian interacting with an artificial intelligence called “Ethos”. So this is not about the big laughs, more an amusing deeply thoughtful reflection on existence. It’s still funny and engrossing, but don’t come expecting an hour of one liners and a laugh a minute.

Alice’s AI alter-ego works something like a virtual assistant such as Alexa, asking questions of our host, searching the ‘net for answers when Alice is unable to explain concepts such as love or sarcasm, even trying out a few jokes of its own on the audience. We also hear a little about Alice, her family and friends and some entertaining stories, as she tackles racism, sexism and human nature.

Fans of The Bugle (with Andy Zaltzman) podcast (or indeed her own Tea with Alice podcast) will be familiar with her style of comedy. I enjoyed Ethos immensely (as did most of the full house), but this style may not be to everyone’s tastes. If you’re after puns, slapstick or scatological humour, you’re probably going to be better served elsewhere. If, however you’re after an hour of thought provoking comedy from a very smart and engaging comedian, which will still have you pondering deep thoughts days later, then this is definitely the show for you. Oh, there IS a dick joke, but I’ll let you discover it’s relevance to Alice’s Ethos.

Ethos is on at Underbelly, Bristo Square until August 27
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/alice-fraser-ethos