THECOMEDYTERRORIST
AARON BARSCHAK performed the finest Fringe publicity stunt of all time when he dressed up as Osama bin Laden and landed a smacker on the future king. So, who else has had an insane marketing strategy in their own hands and used it?
Malcolm Hardee The speccy. laconic comic drove a tractor through the tent where Eric Bogosran was performing. ‘He was Irritating me,’ Hardee insisted. while others claimed it had something to do with an outstanding debt of a fiver. When Hardee wasn't rarnraiding, he was busy phoning in his own glownig reviews to unsuspecting copytakers.
Archaos Street theatre was temporarily given a good name when this lot went around the Royal Mile splitting cars in two. jumping motorcycles ovei traffic queues and bending Iampposts. But when news leaked that their props included Czech Semtex. Special Branch put in a call.
surrealist's illegitimate
daughter. The whole
affair made front page news. Such a shame that Krashny never actually existed.
Anton Vladimir Krashny This Polish artist fled house arrest in his homeland to make it to the festival. Extra spice to his tale was added when his press officer insisted that she was the
Jim Rose He riled the redoubtable Moira Knox so much that she COuld take no more of his perverse circus filth and walked into his venue to confront the satanic beast. only to be met by a gang of press peOple who'd been tipped off that an unholy spat was set to take place. Cue sell-out shows for the rest of the run.
Sankai Jeku One member of the performance art group hung himself upside down on a rope outside the council offices. Quite funny, that. UnfOrtunately, he died trying the same thing in Canada.
I Osama Likes It Hot. Underbelly, 0870 745 3083. until 17Aug (not 72), 2.45pm, [4—57.50
24 7"! LIST FESTIVAL OUlDi 31 Jul-7' Aug 2003
Ho y cow
Boyle and Mulr: m 0! spiritual sports mm
FRANKIE BOYLE and REVEREND OBADIAH STEPPENWOLFE Ill fly in the face of festival protocol for a double act with a difference. Words: Maureen Ellis
here are those l'unny folk who shed
blood. sweat and tears over their
festival shows. Preparations can start in January. the title lixed upon soon after. Throw in endless previews. interview coaching by PR stall. and you‘ve got a polished show come August. Frankie Boyle and Jim Muir aren't among those comedians.
The pair began crafting material together while filming BB(‘2's Live l-‘lmn' Show. ‘A guy at the BB(‘ suggested Frankie and I do a show together.‘ says Jim Muir. aka the bible-battering Reverend. ‘And that was basically where the idea came from -- no other great artistic urge to get it done.‘
At this point. Boyle adds: 'So I immediately sprang into action and then fell asleep.‘
Writing for the weekly series involved devising new material at supersonic speed. something the duo hope to recreate for a Fringe audience. ‘lt should be fairly topical because we have to keep it interesting for ourselves.' says Boyle.
‘We’re not pressurising ourselves to get into a routine.‘ continues Muir. ‘We're aiming to have a bit of a laugh. Just wait
till week three. We'll have worked otit our Big BI‘UI/lt’l'jt)l\L‘\ by then.‘
While the air is thick with dcadpan repat‘tcc. it's easy to lorch the successes ol both comedians. Boyle won the Open Mic award in WW) and is oltcn likened to a young Billy (‘onnolly. and .\ltiir was one ol the chosen few to make it to the national series ol Lire l’limr .S'limi'. earning him a BAF'I’A nomination in the process. Both are capable of brilliance. but where's the fun in talking tip that potential'.’ As Muir states: ‘I know at this point you think we‘re hustling you and we're going to pull a really tight show out of this one . . . and hopefully you're right.‘
In spite of their nonchalant protestations. rudimentary plans are (probably) alool to test out a series ol sketches. ‘We're going to work in plays based around spiritual sports movies. like The Legend of Bugger Value and a play about black Vikings. which we don‘t have a name l‘or yet.‘ says Muir. ‘So it that doesn‘t swing you . . .'
Gilded Balloon Teviot, 226 2151, 1-25 Aug (not 10, 18, 21), 9pm, filo-£11 (29-210).