Jason Byrne 0... I’leusmu‘e. until 27 Aug. 9.40pm. lt's unnerving how much Jason Byrne sounds like Brian frotn Big Brother. But unlike his camp counterpart. Byme is no flash in the pan cashing in on fleeting popularity. He's been playing this game for years. tirelessly plugging his effervescent brand of manic itnprov escapades to hoards of mertneriscd punters. Surely we've seen this all before'.’ Another likeable cotnedian milking audience interaction. throwing ideas to the wind and waiting to see where and how they land. But add to that the hindrance of showy Yanks. obnoxious reviewers. giggling teenagers and a leaking roof and Byrne manages to tie everything together effortlessly. visibly revelling in the experience and building up momentum to forge the least obvious of conclusions. What material does get included pales slightly in comparison to his spontaneous ramblings. but then it is this impromptu magic which assures his consistent pulling power. (Maureen lillisi Cabaret Whores I’leusunt‘t' Home. until [8 Aug. 6.20pm. Howard Santuels is Bowie. Clary and anything else that tickles your fancy in this late-night cabaret. Rhona Cameron I’leusuni‘e. until 1‘) Aug. 7.15pm. The l-‘ringe veteran. So You Think You‘re Funny winner and muscles from .Vlusselburgh returns home for a few rounds of golf and a blether with her parents. and even plans to squeeze some sizzling new stand-up into her fraught schedule. Pat Candaras: Grandmothertucker 00.. Assembly Rooms. until 37 Aug. 8pm. See panel review. Jo Caulfleld: It’s Not That Important I’leusuni‘e Dome. until 27 Aug, 9pm. (‘auliield is the thinking man's woman. peddling perfectly honed intelligent musings on life and love. In her new show, she’ll be divulging secrets on achieving maximum happiness through minimum effort. Live to loaf. as it were.
Otis Lee Crenshaw Assembly Rooms. 18-27 Aug. 10.15pm. (‘ontrary cttstomer Rich Hall is breaking the unwritten rules of the Festival Fringe by bringing his avuncular creation. ()tis l.ee Crenshaw. back to the festival the year after he romped home in the l’erricr Award nominations. He does. however. have a good reason for doing so. ‘When you win that dumb award everyone expects you to never come back. so l’m doing it just to piss everyone off.‘
While this is a laudable motivation. the return of the bourbon-pickled redneck jailbird is more likely to be greeted with joy bordering on hysteria. As it turns out. hilarity could well be a pre-requisite written into the audience contract as Hall is pretty much dependent on as finding the show funny. ‘Wc have a new song called ‘l.et's (iet Together And Kill (ieorge Btish’ and not surprisingly. I had to go through all kinds of legal problems to do this.’ he explains. ‘l'm allowed to say ‘l.et's Kill (icorge Bush' as long as it's done in the interests of satire. So what this means that is that the audience has to laugh at this song. if they don‘t then it becomes a threat and I could end tip in Federal Prison. ()r ()tis could.‘
(‘aught between comedy and good old fashioned schizophrenia. Hall's keen to continue with ()tis although he's well aware that all good things tnust conic to an end. ‘Anything could happen.‘ he says. ‘He could fall into an open grave. he could get hit by a plane. It’ll probably be something ironic like he's at Buddy Holly's grave and then he gets hit by a plane.’ l'ntil then. let's kick back and enjoy. ((‘atherine Bromlcy)
The Celebrity Barn Dance (if/(h?! Bill/nun u! li’t'iul Row lluusi'. until 37xlug. lunt. Barn dancing celebrities. It‘s a wonder no one's thought of it before.
Chambers And Nettleton: Doubled Up (ii/ili'il [fill/min. until 37Aug. ("Hill/int. Racy female double act toying with music. hearts and minds.
0 VIC!
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1 '26 (except 14th)
22: 1 5 (finishes 23:10) tickets £7.50/concs £5.50
advance bookings from Edinburgh Fringe Box Office on 0131226 0000
22 THE LIST FESTIVAL GUIDE it) 72‘ Anti ’z‘UUi
The Chanclettes - Gone With The Wig .. George Square 'Ilu'utre. until 26 Aug. Ill-JF/mi. liour (‘atalan drag queens begin this show labtilotisly. with illuminated wigs and a Spanish version of ABBA on the soundtrack. But the show is completely pre-recordcd. so there's no opportunity for applause. spontaneity or banter. and it only works on the lip-synching level. Chapertons - BOOM! George Square Theatre. I!) JOAug. 6.30pm. Surreal comic show from the Boom team. Margaret Cho: The Notorious C.H.O. l’li'usuni‘i’. until 27Aug. ll/mi. A one-woman feminist powet'liouse. ('ho has overcome drink. drugs. rejection and near- death. and unlike other therapy-obsesscd Americans. does her group sharing on stage. She's ballsy. a big talker. sassy and now sorted. ()h. and these are her first gigs in liurope.
Clive James And Pete Atkin: Together At Last Again l’lt'tlxlllu‘t’. In l7Aug. 4.45pm. The Attstralian chat show host teams up with Atkin to perform songs flavoured by their caustic wit. Andrew Clover: Puppy Love
0.. l’lemuiu‘i'. until .37Aug. 8.2llltln. As soon as Andrew ('lovcr takes to the stage. you know that you're either going to love him or hate him. Fortunately for him. the majority of the audience fell into the former category unfortunately for me. I was in the latter. Like a small child. he has an insane amount of energy. and is overly enthusiastic about everything. gleefully bounding about the stage and getting up close and personal with his audience. He also has a penchant for getting bttck naked. so be warned. The show is ostensibly a ‘love w orkshop'. focusing on his relationship with the love of his life. bttt (’lover is easily distracted and frequently goes offott wild tangents. But at least his puppy is cute. (Kirsty Knaggs)
Jackie Clune ls Bitchin’ 0... Assembly Rooms. until 27Aug. 7.30pm. Jackie (‘lune is bitching she‘s gonna be nasty. offensive. argumentative. provocative yet at the same little. she gonna tnake its like her. And we do, lots.
A strong. ra/or-sharp. charismatic performer. dressed in a red (‘hinesc dress to match her hair. Jackie never lets up for a moment. Dealing with her return to singledom after the break—up of her long- term lesbian partnership. Bin/tin ‘ is a glorious rumination on all that‘s wrong with compartmentalising yourself. llilarious incidents along the way include shagging a gay man and a patronising (ilaswegian teenager w ho can't believe Jackie only has a dog as family. Imagining how the rest (if her life would play out if she decided to be ‘nice' rather than bitchin‘ is both touching and guffaw - inducing.
(‘lune is a born entertainer. and her eclectic medley of songs from dy ke icons. to boys bands. to her ow n material
is delightful. (iiyc this woman her own television show. (John Binniei Comedy Cinema Classics l’li’usitni‘i'. until 37.\ug. //nn. A natty selection of comedy figures immortalised on the big screen. lirom laurel and Hardy to the Toy Story ‘toons. each film is introduced by a l‘ringe comedian. Comedy Clone l’lt'tlytlltt‘t' I)(II)I¢'. (III/ll 37Aug. INNS/mi. l‘cstiyal newcomers Jttstin .‘yloorhouse. Luke l’ontc and .losic Long club together for shared laughter and mirth.
The Comedy Zone 00. l’li'usuni‘i'. until .37Aug. ll/mt. Avalon's new recruits Rob Deering. l‘rancesca MartineI. John Oliver and Karl ’l‘lieobold sery e up a fair helping of gags in a civilised late night cabaret.
Comic Fringes ltm ' Rut/in J. I’li'usmu‘e. 3t) 34Aug. lithium. \ear l‘ringe institution involving free coffee and amusing story.
Lucinda Cowden’s Bland Ambition (illi/t'i/ [iii/lint”. until 37Aug. Ain't/pin. (’ow den (aka .\'i'iglt/uiur's Melanie) reflects on our state iii the year 2001 in a semi sct‘ious conspiracy theory. llct‘ cotnic \ct'ye arid infectious charm handle this material deftly. l'nfortunatcly. the shift into political diatribe. althouin admirable in sentiment. is a little labottrcd.
0 Otis Lee Crenshaw ."\\('Hl/’/\' Rooms. IN 37.-\ug. Ill/5pm. Last year‘s l’crricr Award Winner. Rich llall. returns in the guise of(’rcnsliaw. the bourbon swallowing redneck iailbird with a surprisingly refined taste in rock ‘n' roll. Sec preview panel.