after their last appearance in 1999. This is a sketch show for grow n-ups which is more than jUst a series of pastiches and piss-takes. OSean Cullen’s Erotic Laser Show 0... (iildcd Balloon Theatre. until 27 Aug. 9pm. See review. Cyderdelic Pleasance. until 27 Aug. 9.55pm. 'l‘ear-jerkingly funny anarcho- satirists of the eco-warrior generation. Damage And De Lacy Rare Birds Productions. llolyrood Tavern. until 26 Aug. it). itlpm. Laconic Damage and effervescent de Lacy couple for varied sketches. songs and laughs.

Dark Side 0’ The Toon The Stand Comedy Club ll. tiiitil 26 Atig. lilpm. Three self-confessed lidmburgh ‘gadgies‘ take you on a seedin alternative tourist trail the number to bits route.

Alan Davies 0.. Assembly Rooms. until 16 Aug. lilpm. It's a good job Alan Davies is such an affable. loveablc chap. Any other comedian who used five-year— old material. practically word-for-word. would undoubtedly he pelted with rotten tomatoes and the like. There are segments of the show which are more tip-to-date. and he is exceptionally good at turning licckles to his advantage. but for someone who has seeti him several times. it is a little disappointing to hear the same old thing. That aside. an hour and a half in the curly one's company is a jovial experience indeed. He has a fantastic rapport with the audience and manages to make performing to hundreds of people seem like an intimate chat down the local pub. tKirsty Knaggs)

Dead People Laughing (iilded Balloon at Teviot Row llotise. until 37 Aug. 9pm. Family man Mark Little directs two of his sons (and two bonla matesl in a show based on their passive generation.

Bob Doolally’s Balls eeo the Stand Comedy Club I. until 26 Aug. 7.45pm. The grubby old gobshite of Scottish football is back. and this time Bob [)oolally ex- player. ex-manager. ex-pundit and recovering alcoholic has brought along a half-arsed gameshow with him. People familiar with the Scottish comedy stalwart will know what to expect from this show. as Bob l)oolal|y's Balls contains all the usual abuse. filth and footy-based ramblings. while also having a couple of booze-based prizes on offer. Paul Sneddon's bullshitting. washed-up character is excellently observed and precisely executed. and while some of the material is hit and miss. Sneddon's ad- libbing and quick thinking during a hilarious question and answer session show he has real comic talent and a taste for the comedy stage. (Doug Johnstone)

Doreen (iilded Balloon Theatre. until 27 Atig. 3.45pm. Postmodern comedy writers responsible for The Leisure Virus who want to take performance off the stage and onto the streets.

Driscoll And Message (iilded Balloon at Peppermint Lounge. until 27 Aug. 6pm. Subversive. camp character comedy from female/male double act. Alcoholism. transexuals. drugs and missing A-list celebrities; it‘s all here.

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Dublin Improv (iilded Balloon Theatre. until 27 Aug. 10.30pm. A showcase of Irish comedy hosted by Tara Flynn and Brendan Dempsey. Mike Dugan - Men Fake Foreplay Assembly Rooms. until 27 Aug. midnight. The Emmy Award winner is on the lookout for love. But can he find it in today 's dispose-able society"? Durham Revue: Virgin Incapable (iilded Balloon Theatre. until 27 Aug. 4.45pm. Colourful Fringe regulars indulge in more sketchy comedy complemented by live mUsic. Earl Stevens - Puh Leez! Pleasance. until 27 Atig. 8.45pm. Paul Putner takes Us on a journey through the life of American stand-up Iiarl Stevens. Jenny Eclair: Middle Aged Bimbo Pleasance Dome. until 27 Aug. 8.40pm. Razor-sharp wit and a tongue to match. this straight-talking. all conquering. Perrier- winning comedy diva is on the prowl. Edinburgh Comedy BBC Television. The Ark. l3— l5 Aug. llpm. Showcase of the best Fringe comedy recorded for BBCZ's Edinburgh Comedy. Edinburgh Unfringed (iilded Balloon Theatre. until 27 Aug. 3.30pm. A full-scale attack on the Fringe launched by eccentric female duo. Iixpect an hour of improv. cabaret. theatre and a generoUs dose of satire. Emma And Beth Kllcoyne: Live! Girls! Sketch Show! Pleasance. until 27 Aug. 3.l5pm. Return of the energetic ladies responsible for The (iliosi ()f Auntie Pat. 0 Europe: We’ve Created a Monster!! 0.... Boom Chicago. Pleasance. l'ntil 27 Aug. 10.15pm. if any of our politicians would still admit to being in favour of further European integration. their cause will not be helped by Boom Chicago's new show. The skilled live-strong team uses their cUstomary blend of improvised song and sketches to lampoon those European customs that we Brits love to pour scorn on while secretly longing to step in and run the whole damn show. Particularly sharp are their pastiches of The Iiumvision Song Contest and The Weakest Link. with countries like the Czech Republic. Iistonia and Texas (1’) competing for entry into the EC. If all this sounds a bit Euro-phobic. the cast is. as always. willing to send up American culture. with George W. Bush being unsurprisingly the target of much well deserved derision. (Allan Radcliffe) Evolution HMS Comedy. C Venue. until 26 Aug. 4.20pm. Sketch anists strip down the peculiarities of life. love and the human body. F“king Our Fathers: Scott Capurro And John Cardone 0... Assembly Rooms. until 27 Aug. midnight. See review Far Too Happy Cambridge Footlights‘. Pleasance. until 27 Aug. 4.25pm. Cambridge Footlights are a mixed bag in terms of content and quality. This year. on the 20th anniversary of their Perrier- bestowed show. they go in search of

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A THE LIST FESTIVAL GUIDE 27