FRINGE FOR (AROUND) A FIVER Edinburgh Fringe previews start from 3 Aug. Catch some great shows on the cheap
FRINGE FOR (AROUND) A FIVER COMEDY
he want to play the clown forever? Underbelly, Bristo Square, 0844 545 8252, 1–3 Aug, 9.40pm, £6.
The Imaginary Radio Programme Arriving with the Pajama Men seal of approval, Drennon Davis gives us songs, sketches and special guests. Assembly Roxy, 623 3030, 2 & 3 Aug, 10.30pm, £5.
Jen Brister Last year we heaped praise on Brister by dubbing her four-star show about identity as ‘l amboyant’ and ‘madcap’, and we don’t expect her to let us down with Now and Then, this year’s offering concerning her inability to take responsibility. The Caves, 556 5375, 2 & 3 Aug, 7.35pm, £5. Jim Smallman The former Tattooligan says Let’s Be Friends. He’s lost some down the years and wants new ones. You lot, actually. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 1 & 2 Aug, 4.30pm, £5.
Josh Widdicombe No relation (we think) but his irritation at the world’s small things has to come from somewhere deep inside. A solid comedy hour is virtually on the cards. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 1–3 Aug, 7pm, £5. Katherine Ryan If enthusiasm alone were given a star rating, her posters would be crammed with i ves all the way. After last year’s mixed-bag debut, the stroppy college inspector from C4’s Campus has Nature’s Candy dripping all over the place. Gilded Balloon at Third Door, 622 6552, 1–3 Aug, 3.15pm, £5.
Kumail Nanjiani This star of the alternative New York stand-up scene shoots some comedy breeze all over us. Assembly Roxy, 623 3030, 2 & 3 Aug, 8pm, £5.
Late Night Gimp Fight Dark stuff assured with a new set of taste-testing sketches from the acclaimed group. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 1–3 Aug, 10pm, £6.
Laurence Clark How do you feel when people tell you that you should follow your dreams: Inspired? Less so? Come and get Clark’s view. Underbelly, Bristo Square, 0844 545 8252, 1–3 Aug, 5.20pm, £6.
Matthew Crosby Must have loved striking out on his own from the Pappy’s boys last year as Matthew Crosby is back with Matthew Crosby is Matthew Crosby in Matthew Crosby (The Show). Wonder if Matthew Crosby will go on so much about Nando’s again? Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 1–3 Aug, 4pm, £5.
Munfred Bernstein’s Cabinet of Wonder A musical adventure from an unhinged man? It’s what the Fringe was made for, no? Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 1–3 Aug, 3.45pm, £5. Nick Beaton This sounds fun: ‘An unapologetic onslaught of both anger and humility’ where ‘no one and nothing is sacred’. The new Patrick Monahan anyone? The Shack, 226 0000, 1 & 2 Aug, 6.15pm, £5.
Nina Conti Probably the i nest half- Scottish vent in the business sticks her paws into some more mad puppet-like creations. Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, 1–3 Aug, 8.30pm, £6. Oyster Eyes The opinion-dividing sketch lot kept the captain warm last year, and now they’re hoping you’ll bring some rice. If you want to know what the hell that might be about, get on down. Underbelly, Cowgate, 0844 545 8252, 2 & 3 Aug, 10.25pm, £6.
EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE 4 – 28 AUGUST Rachel Stubbings The online agony aunt phenomenon reaches Edinburgh. Underbelly, Bristo Square, 0844 545 8252, 1–3 Aug, 3pm, £6.
Rory Scovel Illuminati Only might be one of the more serious bits of social commentary on the Fringe or just a bit of l uffball silliness. Assembly Roxy, 623 3030, 2 & 3 Aug, 9.15pm, £5. Sam Simmons The oddball Aussie aims to consolidate after a successful 2011, which led to a Comedy Award nomination. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 1–3 Aug, 9.15pm, £5.
Sara Pascoe Two Fringes down and another former Campus star gets set to storm our barricades once more. Assembly George Square, 623 3030, 1–3 Aug, 9.15pm, £6.
Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre They’re also doing a kids show, but this is their i lth-infused adult gig. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 1–3 Aug, 10.40pm, £5.
Shappi Khorsandi Britain’s no 1 Iranian comic (unless you count Omid) takes a trip into her embarrassing past. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 1–3 Aug, 8.30pm, £5.
Sound & Fury The US vaudeville gang take on the Faust legend. Good luck. Underbelly, Cowgate, 0844 545 8252, 2 & 3 Aug, 8pm, £6. Stuart Goldsmith Pre-Fringe publicity has gone through the roof with censorship of his show title, Prick. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 1–3 Aug, 7.30pm, £5.
Superbard One of a gaggle of comedic spoken word types this Fringe, Mr Superbard is apparently ‘Douglas Adams meets Sigur Ros’. The Merchants’ Hall, 220 5911, 2–4 Aug, 9.10pm, £5. Thea-Skot’s Miss Adventures We dubbed her character-i lled 2011 show as ‘delightfully batty’ and there’s no reason to expect it will be any different this time around. The Caves, 556 5375, 2–4 Aug, 3.40pm, £5.
Thom Tuck Fresh from his Best Newcomer nomination last year, the Penny Dreadful isn’t, thankfully, dressed as a mermaid in his press shots this year. Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, 1–3 Aug, 8.10pm, £5. Through the Looking Screen From Anne Chmelewsky comes this classy bit of comedy opera about internet stalking. Underbelly, Cowgate, 0844 545 8252, 2 & 3 Aug, 3.35pm, £6.
Trevor Browne This chap’s show contains stand-up, songs and poetry as we go on a journey in I Think . . . I Am. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 1 & 2 Aug, 7pm, £5.
Vikki Stone The musical-comedy lass is back with some Hot Mess. The mind boggles. Underbelly, Bristo Square, 0844 545 8252, 1–3 Aug, 8.10pm, £6. Will Franken This ‘one-man Monty Python’ discusses Things We Did Before Reality. The Caves, 556 5375, 2 & 3 Aug, 7.35pm, £5.
WitTank Last Fringe, we gave this sketch trio one of our very few i ve-stars last year. They’re like Willy Wonka’s golden tickets, so WitTank must be hot to trot. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 1–3 Aug, 6.20pm, £5.
19 Jul–2 Aug 2012 THE LIST 53
AAA Stand-Up/Late A trio of dandy comics for much less than the normal price of three in this annual not-late/late line-up. The earlier bill includes Tom Toal while the later roster has Lloyd Grifi th. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 1–3 Aug, 7.15pm/11pm, £6.
Alan Francis Two decades on from winning So You Think You’re Funny, this Scotsman is still ploughing the festival beat. This year, Alan Francis Expands. Gilded Balloon at Third Door, 622 6552, 1–3 Aug, 8.15pm, £5. Barry Castagnola Former Cyderdelic guy Castagnola returns to the Fringe with Where’s Barry? Gilded Balloon at Third Door, 622 6552, 1–4 Aug, 7pm, £5.
BEASTS From this new trio we are promised a ‘slick, hilarious and delightful sketch show’. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 1–3 Aug, 2.15pm, £5. A Betrayal of Penguins Jaunty Irish narrative sketch troupe are Harmed and Dangerous. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 1 & 2 Aug, 6.15pm, £5.
Caimh McDonnell Another jovial sort from Eire (does anyone still call it that?), as the blonde bombshell charms everyone’s socks off with The Art of Conversation. The Tron, 556 5375, 2–4 Aug, 6.20pm, £5.
Catie Wilkins After her pleasing 2011 Fringe debut, Ms Wilkins (AKA Mrs Herring) chats about her middle name. It’s Joy. Underbelly, Cowgate, 0844 545 8252, 2 & 3 Aug, 7.45pm, £6.
Dan Mitchell Free Egg is this chap’s show about paranoia, illness and fate. And, presumably, eggs. Assembly Roxy, 623 3030, 2 & 3 Aug, 10.30pm, £6. Dead Cat Bounce With Howl of the She-Leopard, this comedy-rock power- trio will be leaving no chord unplucked. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 1–3 Aug, 10.30pm, £5.
DeAnne Smith A roaring success at the Melbourne comedy bash, Livin’ the Sweet Life is good for both your belly and your teeth. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 1–4 Aug, 7.30pm, £5.
Denise Scott A seasoned campaigner, this Aussie is making her Edinburgh debut. Let’s hope Regrets are not what she returns home with. Assembly Hall, 623 3030, 2 & 3 Aug, 6.30pm, £5.
Eddie Pepitone Eddie’s late-night Bloodbath should be well worth soaking in. The Tron, 556 5375, 2 & 3 Aug, 11.40pm, £5. Elis James The pocket Welsh dynamo follows up his 2011 show about meeting your heroes with the intriguingly titled Speaking as a Mother. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 1–3 Aug, 7pm, £5.
Fran Moulds A Fringe debut this with Signii cant Human Error showcasing Moulds’ multi-character creating talents. Underbelly, Bristo Square, 0844 545 8252, 1–3 Aug, 2.50pm, £6.
Ford & Akram Last year they gave us a Humdinger, this time they’re dealing in a made-up word called Bamp! Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 1–3 Aug, 3.15pm, £5. Gearóid Farrelly With Turbulence, Farrelly gives us a debut about life’s bumps and stresses. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 1 & 2 Aug, 8.15pm, £5.
George Ryegold’s God-in-a-Bag The ‘good’ doctor takes his leave from the stand-up i eld for a bit to generally practise his stage skills with a comedy play featuring him, Hattie ‘Holly’ Hayridge and Milo ‘Philberto’ McCabe. Underbelly, Bristo Square, 0844 545 8252, 1–3 Aug, 1.45pm, £6. Hannibal Buress With a Best Newcomer nomination under his belt, this excellent US act will hope to deliver a suitably splendid sequel by Still Saying Stuff. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 1–3 Aug, 9.45pm, £5.
Helen Arney One of the top nerds on the circuit proves she has the Voice of an Angle. Not a typo, that. Underbelly, Cowgate, 0844 545 8252, 2 & 3 Aug, 6.15pm, £6.
Iain Stirling The Scottish guy from CBBC gets to hang out with the older kids with his full Fringe debut, which asks how on earth he got here and does Peacock & Gamble The podcast geezers don’t care that no one wants them on telly. Or so they say. Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, 1–3 Aug, 9.40pm, £5.