Fringe review – The Big Breakfast (rating: 5/5) Piano Music of Erik Satie (rating : 5/5) A day off and an opportunity to grab a few quick shows, especially early in the day which is an added pleasure for those who may have other commitments later on. The Big Breakfast offers three "menus" of ten-minute comedies and mini-dramas and, having enjoyed last year's offering, it was high on the list of must-see shows this time. I chose Menu 1 which featured five short plays, and it was an hour of … [Read more...] about Bite-size delights and a recital to savour
Festival
Recreating Cloughie is a damn good thing
Fringe Review - The Damned United (rating: 5/5) An inescapable intrigue about this production is how it compares to David Peace's book and the subsequent big screen film but also to the main man himself. For those with first hand memories of the Cloughie years the story in all its formats is a familiar one of a man who believed not only in himself but in his own image of himself. Brian Clough was, of course, loved by the ordinary football supporters and mistrusted by the game's rulers in … [Read more...] about Recreating Cloughie is a damn good thing
Vlad’s weekend tips to the top comedy shows
Double Scottish comedy award winner Vladimir McTavish gives his tips for the best shows to see over the final weekend of the Fringe JO-JO SUTHERLAND & SUSAN MORRISON: FANNIES AHOY! Stand 2, Stand Comedy Club. North St David Street, 5.10pm One of the surprise hit shows of this year’s festival, as Ms Morrison and Ms Sutherland only decided to do the Fringe at the last minute. Two of the best comperes in Scotland, they … [Read more...] about Vlad’s weekend tips to the top comedy shows
Mockumentary is a funny take on history
Fringe review - Great British Mysteries (rating: 4/5) Think QI meets the Fortean Times and a smattering of the X Files then you may grasp what this comedy twosome are trying to achieve. Great British Mysteries runs the gamut from B movies to a search for the Loch Ness Monster and is written and performed by Rose Robinson and Joseph Hancock, both of whom should be a star in the ascendant. The audience seated on benches – aach – I need a proper seat, are welcomed with a montage of said B … [Read more...] about Mockumentary is a funny take on history
A show suspiciously not quite as expected
Fringe review - Suspicious Minds (rating: 3/5) As a full on Elvis fan I was expecting Suspicious Minds to deliver big time – it didn’t deliver Elvis, although it pretty much teased the crowd with a few snippets before the drama began. At the Fringe in Edinburgh often things are not what they seem to be. This was essentially a Radio 4 play performed in an old-fashioned way, and perhaps Elvis would be in the building sometime soon. But when? This performance involved a couple trying to … [Read more...] about A show suspiciously not quite as expected