CAMP COMEDY
Cheery East Kilbride ex-hairdresser Craig Hill is the epitome of camp as his new solo Wi: ) demonstrates. Based on his dream trip over the rainbow to Sydney‘s Mardi Gras. it's a problem to devote the whole show to his holiday. He‘s likeable. talented and watchable but he needs more cut. thrust and contention.
Jackie Clune in Bite/tin' (COO. ) displays elements of camp. but she is a heavier hitter in terms of subject matter and rubbing the audience‘s noses in it. Craig says ‘laugh at me. I‘m an inoffensive poof‘. Clune says ‘laugh at me. if you dare. I‘m a scary dyke‘. Watching a straight audience‘s reaction is hilarious. especially when Clune's material becomes more anarchic. and grosser — like the joke about George Bush‘s new form of capital punishment being big lesbians with heavy periods smothering death row prisoners. Scott Capurro and John Cardone in F ltt‘kitlg Our Fathers (eee stools. hovering between stand-up and theatre. When they dispense with nappies. stand-ups are on display as they do their nude anal fuck scene. impossible to choreograph a penis. audiences can't quite believe it and laugh in uncomfortable embarrassment.
Penny Arcade (000”) the ultimate dyke. bitch. fag-hag. whore is not camp. but she is an icon. At the Gilded Balloon for the whole of the Fringe. but not in the programme. she is an incredible pcrfomier on top form. Penny doesn't care if we like her. she wants us to join in her fury with the mess of our so-called sophisticated world. where individuality and soul is stamped down in favour of compromise and exploitation of the poor. She makes us feel. Penny is the pink highlight of the Fringe. (John Binnie)
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The Fruit And Veg Roadshow The Stand ('omedy (‘luh II. utttil 26 Aug. [1.20pm. ()rganically prodticcd gags from Stand regulars Reg Anderson. Allan Miller. Steven Dick and John Sinclair.
The Giant Pineapple Boys present HOIIWOOdI‘I'T (ii/(led Balloon. lttttil 27Attg. ll.45ptn. Boyishly irreverent chaps who invite you to the premiere of Hollywood‘s lirst mainstream porn movie.
The Kevin Glldea‘s Stand-up Set To Music Gilded Balloon at Teviot Row House. until 27Aug. [0pm. The musically and humorously blessed Kevin (iildea is a comedian. guitarist and drummer; play that funky music ftmny boy.
Tom Gleeson’s Pirate Copy (ii/(led Balloon. until 27 Aug. /(I.l5p)n. Promising young ()7. stand—up with multimedia extravaganza. Last year‘s So You Think You‘re Funny winner Drew Rokos also puts in an appearance.
The Goddess Periman The l'nderln'lly. until 2/) Aug, lt)..i()pm. Bolshy. energetic. all- singing. all-dancing comedy diva distinguished by her oversi/ed hush (yes. really?) takes a pop at music‘s prima donnas.
Goodbye Mister Bitch (nit/ml Balloon. until 27Aug, 7.30pm. Surreal story from the CFO“ t‘esponsible for Life. (iet It ('1) Ya based on a besequinned rock ‘n‘ roll police force charged with saving the audience from terrorists.
Boothby Grafioe - Midnight Assembly Rooms, until 27Aug. midnight. Would-be smooth crooner plays it for laughs performing all nine songs in his back catalogue. with accompaniment from linger-picking genitis Antonio l‘oreione.
Hackney Empire New Act Of The Year Gilded Balloon at Tet'iot Row House. until 27Aug. [0.15pm. Alan Davies. Rob Newman and Ardal ()‘Hanlan jumped on this comedy springboard and went stratospheric. lnder Manocha. Harriet Bowden. Randy Wilson. and Franky Johnston hope it will do the satne for them. The Happy Sideshow Assembly Rooms. until 27 Aug. 10pm. We off-loaded our crims. they give us their freaks. Bizarre Australian freakshow cabaret set to an infectious dance beat designed for voyeurs everywhere.
Kevin Hayes: The Devil’s Drop The Stand Comedy Club I]. until 26 Aug. 7.15pm. Acclaimed Irish mirth master Kayes takes an alternative look at our nation's obsession with alcohol.
Richard Herring: Christ On A Bike! 0... I’leasanee Dome. until 27Aug.
9. [0pm. I'm slightly afraid of comedy shows that take religion as their main theme. There‘s always the slim chance that the guy sitting in front of you (or. worse. the comedian) is a born-again something-or- other who‘ll either take umbrage and run riot through the auditorium or try to perform a mass conversion. Happily. Richard Herring is simply on a mission to rip the piss. He has an hour to prove a) that the Bible is a load of old Sodom and Gomorrah and b) that he‘s the new Messiah. The first
point is proved by the good book itself. courtesy of some hilarious overhead projections. And. as for the second . . . well. anyone brave enough to wear David lcke's turquoise shell-suit is a god in my book. Fantastic. (Allan Radcliffe)
High On Laughter Edinburgh Playhouse. 2/ Aug. 8pm. Mark Thomas. Charles Fleischer and Emo Philips line-up for a benefit in aid of Turning Point Scotland. See preview for Mark Thomas. Craig Hill’s lez To 02 Gilded Balloon. until 27 Aug. 8pm. Scotland's camp singing sensation follows his yellow brick road and takes you on a journey from the monochrome world of East Kilbride to the technicoloured fantasy of Sydney.
Adam Hills - Go You Big Red Fire Engine 0.. l’leasanee. until 27 Aug. 9.25pm. Hills runs the usual gamut of cultural differences. it's all great back- slapping fun with vote-winning references to 70s kiddies shows and Guy stereotypes. but there is so much thick-skinned bonhomie it‘s like being stuck in a (‘astlemaine advert. Hills certainly has a effortless charm but his material could do with an overhaul. Hollow Men: A Tribute I’leasanee. until 27Aug. 5.55pm. Returning for their third year at the Fringe. those Hollow Men promise to deliver ‘a diverse show of mime. songs and surrealism'. Five stars in The Evening News.
How To Lose Friends And Irritate People (iilded Balloon. until 27 Aug.
7. [Spin Jonathan Donahoe's no frills character comedy created by two playwrights attempting to overcome writers block.
Up Late With Sean Hughes Broadcasting House. 5 Queens Street. until 22 Aug. 5.15pm. Freebie comedy with the mild man of comedy Sean Hughes and his very special guests. For tickets call 0870 ()l() 4232.
In Bed With Robin Hood eee (ii/ded Balloon. until 18 Aug. 3.45pm. Kesselofski 6’; Fiske bring Robin Hood into the 2 l st century where he's deconstructed as a misguided. amoral coward. Cue lots of arrows. some entertaining songs and industrial quantities of backchat. it makes for an entertaining afternoon. marred only by an unnecessary and heavy-handed trudge into political territory and a bewildering conclusion.
In The Psychiatrist’s Wheelchair Barrie Hall . . . [)r Basil Hal/mead. Pleasanee Dome. until 27 Aug. 6.50pm. Hallmead began his medical career on F.4‘s Show Me The Funny. where he ptit minor celebrities through a barrage of psychological tests. ()ne star in Tlte Scotsman.
Incrediny incroyable Randolph Studio (0 The French Institute. 20—25 Aug. 9.15pm. Anglo-French stereotypes and internationally recognised celebrities in Betrand Boassard's attempt to prove comedy is universal.
infinite Number Of Monkeys Gilded Balloon at Peppermint Lounge. until 17 Aug. 4.30pm. in previous years they‘ve tackled Shakespeare and gravity. so expect an
imaginative ride from these sometime Perrier Newcomer nominees. Three stars in The List last year.
ironic Yenke...‘ Boom Chicago. Pleasanee. until 27 Aug. 6.30pm. Amercians being ironic? Nah. not possible. Well. not true. Boom Chicago keep confounding the cliched view ofAmericans by wearing football shirts and stranger still. talking knowledgeably about the beautiful game as if it‘s another of those weird things they‘ve invented. But it's not all jumpers for goalposts. They source the invention of irony by the British tojust after their kicking in the CS revolutionary war and deftly illustrate just how we. as much as we try not to admit it. do not have the monopoly on being cultural smart asses.
This is funny stuff indeed; the tag-team delivery from the duo is slicker than a Brylcreatn omelette and the pair construct some tasty sketches and skits. Occasionally however. they fail to connect their specific Britophile references with such an international crowd. (Mark Robertson) Dom lrrera Gilded Balloon at Teviot Row House. until 27 Aug. 10.30pm. American veteran of stage. television and the big screen. lrrera is edgy. filthy and utterly un- PC. Check out this stand—up real deal in his first visit to the Fringe.
It Woulda Been Nice Crazy Ladies. Pleasanee. until 27 Aug. 4. 30pm. Steven Froelieh plays all roles in his own one- man/three-woman play. featuring the principal characters from Weekend In Rio. also at the Pleasance. post—plane crash.
It’s Me Sylvia - Live a On Film Crazy Ladies. Pleasanee Dome. tutti! 27 Aug. 4.45pm. Wild woman of film Sylvia Miles talks unreservedly about her Oscar nominations for Midnight Cowboy and Farewell My Lovely. Another curazee lady with a highly engaging past.
Jake And Elwood - The Blues Brothers Show NETT UK. Komedia .S‘outhside. tutti! 26 Aug. 10.30pm. Toe- tappin'. hip-swayin'. singalong tribute to the silver screen siblings of cool.
Noel James And Company Boom Boom at The Tron. until 27Aug. 7.30pm. Highly respected by fellow comedians. the young Welsh comic bows to peer pressure and invites some of them along for the ride. Expect a cocktail of dark humour. word- play. monologues and anarchy.
John And Kevin's One Man Show P/easanee. until 2 7Aug. 5.45pm. Acclaimed satirical stand-up duo let you in on the things they get up to behind the closed doors of their dressing room.
Bob Jones: Humorlst, Poet, Fun Guy Diverse Attractions. 20—25 Aug. 3.]5pm. Jones resurrects the mini- monologue with his trademark witty wordplay.
Jongleurs Open Spot Competition Gilded Balloon at Teviot Row House. 17—27 Aug. 6.30pm. A chance for indigenous talent to get spotted by the expanding comedy empire. Scotland's Brian Higgins will introduce four acts bidding for a place in the new comedy club due to open in Glasgow in December.
EveningStandard
Have we found _ the new Friends? the new Frasier? the new Fawlty Towers?
Only YOU can decide
THE SI'I‘C 01V
TRIALS
BIlllElI Biilliiliii 0131 226 2151 ° MIG 3-10.18-21 - 4.30
16-22 Aug 2001 THI LIST FISTIVAL GUIDI 26