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BARRY & STUART If ever a show was aptly titled, it’s this one. Powered by Demons is the latest offering from Aberdeenshire duo Barry Jones and Stuart MacLeod who stormed the Fringe last year as Part-Time Warlocks. Since then, they have toured Malaysia and conducted a vastly successful viral con trick that made legions of folk believe they had psychic powers. But they didn’t. It was an April Fool par excellence. More crucially, their five-star showing helped nab them a top 20 slot in The List’s Hot 100, higher than screen vampire Gerard Butler and wizard-scribbler JK Rowling. Now that’s scary. (Brian Donaldson) ■ Underbelly, 08445 458 252, 8–30 Aug, 10.15pm, £9.50–£12 (£8.50–£10.50). Previews 6 & 7 Aug, £6.
5QUESTIONS
Last August, ex-Survivor contestant Zoe Lyons won an award for telling the best joke of the Fringe (about poor old Amy Winehouse, actually). Here, she gives our Q&A short shrift What five words best describe your show this year? Tasty buffoonery, fragrant cheeky swagger. Which comic should be more famous by the end of August? Brian Gittins. If this year goes well for him he may even be able to splash out and buy himself a new roadside cafe. What bugs you most about Edinburgh in August? I grew up in Scotland so you would think I’d be used to the wet summers. Last year I spent the whole month in shorts and T-shirts and got the flu. Which dead comic do you wish was still alive and working today? Tommy Cooper, a brilliant comic clown. I loved his look of bewilderment as his tricks fell apart around him. Is there a rumour you’d like to start about yourself? I kissed Katy Perry and she loved it. (Interview by Brian Donaldson) ■ Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 9–30 Aug, 8.30pm, £8.50–£9.50 (£7–£8). Previews until 8 Aug, £5.
Hitlist FESTIVAL COMEDY *
✽✽ Die Roten Punkte This spoof sibling German rock band make White Stripes seem like the Carpenters. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 8-31 Aug (not 17), 11.11pm, £10-£11 (£8.50-£9.50). Previews until 7 Aug, £5. ✽✽ Laura Solon The last ever Perrier winner returns for some bunny-based character comedy. See page 12. Assembly Rooms, 623 3030, 9–30 Aug, 5.05pm, £11–£12 (£10–£11). Previews 6–8 Aug, £5. ✽✽ Rhys Darby He’s Murray in Flight of the Conchords! Weird characterisations and silly stand-up from a true Kiwi star. See page 18. Udderbelly’s Pasture, 0844 545 8252, 6–15 Aug, 10pm, £15 (£14). ✽✽ Umbrella Birds They’ve done comedy in loos and gyms and are now setting out their stall with a bunch of sketches in a shop changing room. See page 24. Assembly Rooms, 623 3030, 9–31 Aug, 6.20pm, £8.50–£9.50 (£7–£8). Previews 6–8 Aug, £5. ✽✽ Mark Thomas Indisputably one of the key standard bearers of British political comedy, the authority- bothering TV guy lays out his own manifesto. The Stand III & IV, 558 7272, until 18 Aug (not 12), 6.15pm, £12. ✽✽ WitTank The latest breed of young sketch stars deliver two shows: a free hour of stand-up and a less free show of typically inventive sketches. See page 26. The Rowan Caves, 226 0000, 8–29 Aug (not 18, 26), 1pm, free; The Caves, 208 0882, 8–30 Aug (not 18), 5.30pm, £8 (£7). Previews 6 & 7 Aug, £4 (£3.50). ✽✽ Janeane Garofalo She may have lasted less than ten minutes at Latitude, but we’re ready to give comics a second chance. Don’t let us down, oh satirical, pint-sized one. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 6-15 Aug, 8.30pm, £12 (£11). For venue addresses see index page 80.
6–13 Aug 2009 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 11