Fringe Benefits

One of the fringe benefits of going to the Edinburgh Fringe in August is that there are a plethora of jokes doing the rounds. I noted a few of the shorter ones being passed around in a few of the pubs (where else? ... well the newspapers as well), and here they are:

• My dad suggested that I register for a donor card ..... He's a man after my own heart.

• I've been happily married for four years ..... out of a total of ten.

• I went to a pub quiz in Liverpool but as I had drunk a few too many pints, I wasn't going to be much good in the quiz. So just for a laugh, I wrote 'The Beatles' or 'Steven Gerrard' for every answer ...... I came second.

• Why is Henry the eights wife covered in tooth marks? ...... Because he's Tudor.

• Is it possible to mistake Schizophrenia for Telepathy I hear you ask.

• Hilary Clinton is about to show that any woman can be the President .... as long as their husband did it first.

• I'll tell you what's unnatural in the eyes of god ...... Contact lens.   

Masai Graham - Winner Best One Liner Edinburgh Fringe 2016 ... Guessed Which One?

..... have a good day!

If Its August, It Must Be Edinburgh

Yes, there will be no other posts this week, as we at PC towers are off on our annual jaunt to Edinburgh to take in the sights and sounds of the festival and fringe.

A chance to catch up with old friends, get a few beers inside me, and dodge rain ..... yes as per usual, the forecast is for cold and rain in August, so I will be wrapped up for a Winter in Summer. The festival acts may change, but the weather never seems to from one festival to the next .... my mate Kenny will no doubt describe the weather (i.e. non stop rain), in that typical Edinburgh manner, as 'Mixed'.

Edinburgh Has 'Mixed' Weather

Ah well, despite all this, I am looking forward to my week tremendously, and will not be in any fit state to post again until next Friday.

Edinburgh Fringe 2011

Yes, its that time again, when all at PC Towers head north of Hadrian's Wall to attend the "Edinburgh Fringe Festival". Regular followers of this thread will be aware that this annual visit to the City of Edinburgh, always results in one blog on the acts seen, and the general feel of the event.

So without further ado, here are the acts seen by us, listed under our stars of recommendation:

• Steve Pretty's Perfect Mixtape - resurrecting the art of the 'mixtape' (ask your dad kids): See review below

• Edinburgh Bloody Edinburgh - Davytheghost (comedian, storyteller, historian and published author): Suffered from having only four people in the crowd on the night. Only 35 mins material and a guided walk which wasn't an attractive option on a rainy night.   

• The Axis of Awesome -  Australia's kings of comedy rock: Very professional, but act too similar to a few years ago, and they could do with a re-invention of jokes and material to go back to five stars.  
• Matt Forde: Dishonourable Member - ex New Labour political intern, does comedy: Funny and not too PC Labourish (he even "hugged his inner Tory" after the riots), but may be a one trick pony.
• Mythbunking - Dr Glen Eusebius and Professor John Porcupig, from the ancient society known as The MythMasons: Good act, but like Matt Forde may be an act that stays the same each year. 
• Tom Bell Begins - A spoof Hollywood-style life story: Very good, got a lot of laughs, and looks to have a real chance to become a star of the festivals, although we assume he wants TV to take a look.  
• Olver: Portrait of a Serial Killer - Mark Olver kills clowns "Actual violence guaranteed": Old style comic pro, who gives off an aura of jaded been there, seen it, done it .... 16+ show which some numpty took his three children to! Was warned what was to come, refused to take the hint and then sat there grim faced at adult content. Olver added a fake telephone call from social services to the end of the show, in which he said he had no idea why someone would take their young children to an adult themed show ... cue cheers from crowd. 

• Frisky and Mannish - Pop Centre Plus - Wanna be a pop star? Think you got what it takes? Let our pop picker impresarios show you just how easy (or hard) it is - Audience participation included.   

Worst show (in our opinion):

 "Steve Pretty's Perfect Mixtape" - possibly about twenty minutes worth of humorous material, forcibly stretched to last one hour - could do with watching 'Tom Bell Begins' to see how to create a comic narrative thread.  

Best Show (in our opinion):

"Frisky and Mannish" - Pop Centre Plus: Superb comedy musical duo: Very polished act who got a standing ovation from the crowd. 

 
You can see video performances of what makes the Fringe Buzz on their website here:

Comedy EdFest Fringe 2010

Well I am back from the Festival ....... slowly detoxing, after a few beers catching up with friends such as Mr Dixon.

We ('Big Kenny' and I), saw a number of shows which I have listed and linked below:

• Betrayal of Penguins - Don't run with scissors 
• Circus Burlesque
• Rainer Hersch's 'Victor Borge'
• Fitzrovia Radio Hour
• One Man Lord Of The Rings
• Ballad Of Backbone Joe
• Vladimir Mctavish in Whiskey, An Idiots Guide
• Henning Wehn "My Struggle"

They were a mixed bunch of shows ....... with one standout, Henning Wehn "My Struggle"..... performing stand-up in a second language is 'a right old struggle' according to Henning Wehn ...

His show was a sell out (along with the One Man Lord Of The Rings) and was very funny. I had seen him last year as part of a double act, but he was far funnier on his own and there are a number of videos of his previous shows on YouTube

Here I have extracted one of the "German Comedy Ambassador's" tourism guides to Germany ..... he dishes it out to them as well as us.



Oh and the worst show ....... without a doubt "Betrayal of Penguins - Don't run with scissors" which was absolute 'Merde' .... if you will pardon my French. The review in the fringe magazine suggested that they had been a roaring success last year with essentially the same show .... only if it was the casts friends and family in the audience for a fortnight.

They also found it a "right old struggle" ...... to raise a laugh in an audiance.

Gone Fishin .... sorry Festivalling

Yep, its that time again, when all good Blogger's head to the Edinburgh festival, mainly for the comedy fringe, but also a few beers, catching up with old mates (and enemies LOL) .... so no Blog posts for this week and its end.

http://www.edfringe.com/

This kinda announcement is probably how I will bow out, when I get fed up of being a prophet of doom without a following .... but not this week.

Edinburgh Fringe Pilgrimage

Once again, me and my mate 'Big Kenny' embarked on a tour of the Edinburgh Comedy Fringe. We do this most years and usually take in eight or so, comedy shows.

This year we saw the following shows in the venues listed.

1. Abracadabra - German Humour Goes Global @ Underbelly's Hullabaloo in The Bosco at Hullabaloo
2. Monsieur Montpellier: Entertainer Extraordinaire! @ Pleasance Dome in Joker Dome
3. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) @ Just the Tonic @ The Caves in Caves 1
4. Bamboozlement! @ Gilded Balloon Teviot in Balcony
5. Puppet Grinder Cabaret @ Assembly @ George Street in West Drawing Room
6. Russell Kane's Fakespeare: The Tragickal Saveings of King Nigel @ Pleasance Courtyard in Cellar
7. Randy's Postcards from Purgatory @ Underbelly in Iron Belly
8. Bourgeois & Maurice - Social Work @ Pleasance Courtyard in Over The Road 2

They ranged from the mildly amusing or bland .... Monsieur Montpellier and Bamboozlement! Through to the strange ..... Abracadabra. \To the energetic ..... The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (which was a version of the very long running Reduced Shakespeare Company production)and then to the  genuinely funny.....Puppet Grinder Cabaret, and Randy's Postcards from Purgatory.
But the two star selections were

• Russell Kane's Fakespeare: The Tragickal Saveings of King Nigel which was clever, funny and well performed by two talented comedians Russell Kane and Sadie Hasler.

and the winner

• Bourgeois & Maurice - Social Work. Who almost defy description, but I guess Rocky Horror meets Cabaret (kinda) is the best I can describe it. They were Fabulous! Real Stars and talents ....

And if you want to know what they are like then go to their site and look at some photo's, or better still listen to some tracks .... go on, you know your curious!