WILL DURST
Good Will goes dodgy politician hunfing
Being a political comedian in America is like shooting fish in a barrel. But while any two-bit laughmonger can rip the piss out of Bush and Clinton, it takes someone with a bit more skill to keep the belly laughs coming and to do the political funny thing properly. Will Durst is one such a comedian.
The five-time Emmy nominee is a familiar face in the States. presenting, guesting and producing numerous television shows. He also regularly works for radio, newspaper and magazines, all of which apparently keeps him 'busier than a blind squirrel neck deep in an almond-sorting warehouse'.
But stand-up is where his heart lies. as he bakes the political hot potatoes of the day with a style that has been honed to perfection over years of hard graft. His last Fringe visit saw a Perrier nomination. so there's no doubting Will Durst is the real deal. (Doug Johnstone)
I Traverse, 228 7404, 3— 7 0 Aug (not 5), 77pm, £74 (£4—E8.50).
ROB ROUSE Hopping mad and raring to go
The last three years have seen Rob Rouse. as one third of the Big and Daft crew, winning plenty of awards and plaudits. Playing an
attraction, and this year sees him striking out on his own with a stand-up show.
“While we were doing Big and Daft l was living off my stand-up. that's how I've survived.’ he says. “We'd done three Big and Daft shows and it was just time to do our own things. We took that as far as we could.’
There are elements of Rouse's previous character in his stand- up. and the man's boundless energy and positive vibes should make for an hour of quality, feel-good fun. ‘lt's escapism and silliness - there's some really. really silly stuff,’ he says. ‘If there's a message it 's that you need to enjoy yourself more and have more fun.’ (Doug Johnstone) I Gilded Balloon Teviot, 226 2757, 2—26 Aug (not 6, 73), 9.30pm, £5—£‘9.
GLEN WOOL Comedy’s rent boy bares all
If, as one anonymous comedian observed. golf is an excuse for ageing men to dress like pimps, Glen Wool clearly sees comedy as the perfect opportunity to don the garb of rent boy. In a radical change of image, the stand-up has ditched
his trademark goatee
and cable knit jumpers in favour of blonde bob, leathers. eyeliner and cowboy hat.
I’m slightly worried by i
the title of Wool's first full festival run. Along with a chamber full of
to Wool's favourite bizarre cock tale: the excruciatingly hilarious anecdote all about the day he found a spot on
endure an endoscopic investigation. A maestro of the
gag, Wool is equally at home pointing out the inequities of the so- called war on terrorism. The rumour mill affirms that Wool is currently wowing London audiences (his popularity increasing in direct proportion to the length of his barnet) which can only bode well for these Edinburgh dates. (Allan Radcliffe)
i I Gilded Balloon, 226 E 2757, 2—26 Aug (not
his member and had to
knob and masturbation '
idiotic, innocent goon ; horrified bystanders at 7 2, 79), 70pm, with incessant glee. I the Stand. l bore £8. 50—29. 50 Rouse was the star 5 witness earlier this year I (£7. 50—28. 50). flan!” TE; ’* mfiu August 1:45 pm 1 5mm Gilded Balloon Backstage I “Uproarlously Box office funny!” ‘-JohnTownund,NACT 44
26 1'“! LIST PISTIVAL OUIDI 1-8 Aug 2002
KEARA MURPHY More idle prattle than your average chick flick
Keara Murphy could talk all day about films. and she tries to during our interview. 'l've always had a fascination with the movies.‘ she says. ‘and since I started stand-up. I've always done stuff about the movies.‘
So it makes sense that she chose a comedy show about the histOry of cinema. Silver Scream, as her first solo Festival Fringe outing. ‘When I wrote the show it was two hours long and I've had to cut it and cut it.’ she says. ‘It's really just a chat about the movies with gags peppered through it, sketches. a short movie. a slide show. and a puppet show as well.‘
And for those worried they might not get all the in-gags — fear not. ‘lt's not too intelligent. and it's definitely not for film buffs. I don't really want film buffs.‘ she says laughing. ‘They
Rob Rouse is big, daft and out of control
can come along and sit at the back as long as they don't pick me up on the factually incorrect stuff.‘ (Doug Johnstone) I The Stand, 558
7272, 7 Aug, 9.30pm,- 2—26 Aug (not 72).
7 0.35pm, E4-£‘6.
SUSAN AND JANICE
Crazy ladies feeding off the mystery machine
Having survived four years of performing in Edinburgh. sparkling female double act Susan and Janice could by now legitimately qualify as festival veterans. Poised on the verge of great things. Sue and Jan have perfected their blend of sharply observed character comedy and daft. satirical sketches. all bound up within a loose. take-it-or-leave-it storyline.
They describe their new show as ‘Part
Tales Of The Unexpected. part Acorn Antiques and part Jean- Paul Sartre.’ though Out of Our Heads finds them trapped. topically enough, in classic Scooby Doo territory. complete with creepy old house where spooky things happen. During their investigations, Susan and Janice run into any number of suspicious characters. some familiar from previous shows (the scary nuns) and some brand spanking new (Julie. the aggressive fitness trainer).
No doubt the baddy will turn out to be Mr Muchnik the Amusement Park owner. though the investigation promises to be fun.
(Allan Radcliffe)
I Pleasance. 556 6550. until 26 Aug (not 6, 73), 7.25pm. $35-$70.
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