Festival ComedyDayPlanner
Not sure what do you with your time, but really want to see some good comedy? Brian Donaldson helps sketch out your mirthful itinerary between lunchtime and the witching hour, from The Early Edition to Late ‘n’ Live Noon
The Early Edition The never unintelligent Marcus Brigstocke gets up early-ish to scan the papers with Andre Vincent and guests, no doubt piercing pomposity and satirising silliness all along the way. Udderbelly’s Pasture, 08445 458 252, 8–30 Aug, 12.25pm, £10–£12.50 (£8–£11.50). Preview 7 Aug, £7. Elaine Malcolmson & Niall Browne Two jesters from the north of Ireland take a sideways trip into their homeland. The Stand II, 558 7272, 7–30 Aug, 12.30pm, £7 (£6).
1pm
Thankless Child Freya Slipper and Liz Black are said bairns who deliver sketches which offer advice and warnings about the tribulations of youthdom. Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, 8–31 Aug (not 18, 25), 1.15pm, £7.50–£8.50 (£6–£7). Previews until 7 Aug, £5. Richard Sandling’s Perfect Movie The less than marginally obsessive film buff from Southend takes his fandom to new lengths and breadths by inviting Fringe comics to perform their favourite movie scenes. The Canon’s Gait, 226 0000, 8–30 Aug (not 19), 1.15pm, free.
2pm
Russell Kane’s Fakespeare The Essex boy who grabbed an if.comedy nomination last year for his excellent stand-up has also gone down a storm with some ye olde mirthful stuff. Here’s more, forsooth. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 9–31 Aug (not 17, 24), 2.10pm, £8.50–£9.50 (£7–£8). Previews until 8 Aug, £5. The Apocalypse Roadshow Comedy arsonists and part-time provocateurs The Dog-Eared Collective poke the coals of panic in an explosive sketch show about the end of the world. Well, blimey. Underbelly, 08445 458 252, 8–30 Aug (not 19), 2.30pm, £6.50–£10 (£8–£9). Previews 6 & 7 Aug, £6.
3pm
At Home with Holly A site-specific wander around the gaffe and mind of a comic actress. Holly’s House, 226 0000, 8–31 Aug (not 17, 24), 3.07pm, £5. Previews 6 & 7 Aug, £2.50. Jason Cook Following up his genial Joy, the Geordie lad drops Fear in our laps. The Stand III & IV, 558 7272, 7–30 Aug (not 17), 3.20pm, £7 (£6).
4pm Wilson Dixon More silly tunes and sombre wisdom about the C&W life from a man who happens to be an
34 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 6–13 Aug 2009
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8pm
Idiots of Ants Is there a better young sketch team on the Fringe? Show me where, then. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 8–31 Aug (not 17&18, 24), 8.15pm, £9–£10 (£7.50–£8.50). Previews until 7 Aug, £5. Jon Richardson And is there a better young stand-up doing the rounds in Edinburgh this August? Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 9–31 Aug, 8.30pm, £11–£12 (£9.50–£10.50). Previews until 8 Aug, £5.
9pm
Foil Arms and Hog A trio of Dublin comics (Sean, Sean and Conor) bring us routines which have impressed their compatriots. The Caves, 208 0882, 8–30 Aug (not 18), 9.40pm, £8–£9 (£7–£8). Previews 6 & 7 Aug, £5. Tim Key Is The Slutcracker the best/worst pun in the Fringe programme? Whatever, it could well help propel Mr Key into the big time. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 7–31 Aug (not 17), 9.50pm, £9.50–£10.50 (£8–£9). Preview 6 Aug, £5.
David O’Doherty The Dublin comic has wooed us all down the years and it was only a matter of time before
10pm
he’d do the same thing to some judging panel or other. And so it was last August when he waltzed off with what has proved to be the final ever if.comedy main prize. Unlike a lot of those winners, this chap has rewarded his public with a follow-up consisting of a full, proper run. All hail to the DO’D. ■ Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 8–31 Aug (not 17), 10.30pm, £10–£12 (£8.50–£10.50). Previews until 7 Aug, £5.
actual Kiwi offstage. Come on, you didn’t think he was real, did you? The Stand III & IV, 558 7272, 7–30 Aug (not 17), 4.45pm, £9 (£8). Preview 6 Aug, 4.20pm, £8 (£7). Brian Gittins Ricky Gervais seems to like this roadside café owner character, so if you take his advice like it came straight outta the bible, then head down here for some fun. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 8–31 Aug (not 12, 19), 4.45pm, £8.50–£9.50 (£7–£8). Previews until 7 Aug, £5.
5pm
Two Episodes of MASH Diane Morgan and Joe Wilkinson return with more oddball sketches and semi-real routines. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 7–31 Aug (not 17), 5.45pm, £9.50–£10.50 (£8–£9). Preview 6 Aug, £5. Tiffany Stevenson Co-creator of the acclaimed Old Rope night with Phil Nichol, Stevenson gets her own show which considers predators and their prey. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 7–31 Aug (not 18), 5.45pm, £8.50–£9.50 (£7–£8). Preview 6 Aug, £5.
6pm Keith Farnan Last year, this fine Irish fella delivered a set about the death penalty, and this time around is kicking out notions of racism in No Blacks. No Jews. No Dogs. No Irish. All Welcome. But with funnies in there. Underbelly, 08445 458 252, 8–30 Aug (not 18),
6.30pm, £6.50–£10.50 (£8–£9.50). Previews 6 & 7 Aug, £6. Anna & Katy Crilly and Wix have been off doing various TV things but happily merge once more to plop some mad old surrealism into your desperately sorry lives. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 9–31 Aug, 6.40pm, £9.50–£10.50 (£8–£9). Previews until 8 Aug, £5.
Abracadabra: German Humour Goes Global Can the Germans be funny? Apparently so, as Herren Kuhnle and Wehn so ably prove. Underbelly’s Hullabaloo, 08445 458 252, 8–31 Aug (not 18), 6.50pm, £6.50–£10.50 (£7.50–£9.50). Preview 7 Aug, £6.
7pm
Janey Godley The filthy godmother of Scottish comedy lets us dip into her pleasantly twisted world. Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, 8–31 Aug, 7pm, £11–£12 (£9.50–£10.50). Previews until 7 Aug, £5.
Alistair Barrie Could his Happiness be the show to at long last blast this dandy and acclaimed comic out into the comedy stratosphere? Downstairs at the Tron, 226 0000, 8–30 Aug (not 19), 7.40pm, £5. Previews 6 & 7 Aug, £2.50. Celia Pacquola Fresh from some glorious success in Oz, this cheeky lady asks Am I Strange? Well, if you have to ask . . . Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 7–31 Aug (not 17), 7.45pm, £8.50–£9.50 (£7.50–£8.50). Preview 6 Aug, £5.
The Dark Party If you like your comedy physical with a hint of danger, raise your glasses to The Dirty Brothers. Underbelly’s Hullabaloo, 08445 458 252, 8–29 Aug (not 18), 10.40pm, £9–£12 (£8–£10). Preview 7 Aug, £6. Alun Cochrane Full of ‘Cochranian’ wit comes young Alun, as he breezes in to chat about his daydreaming ways. The Stand III & IV, 558 7272, 7–30 Aug, 10.50pm, £9 (£8).
11pm
Die Roten Punkte Unleashing their Robot/Lion Tour upon us, this pair of not-real German rockers are set to have a bulldozing Fringe. As long as they don’t kill each other first. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 8–31 Aug (not 17), 11.11pm, £10–£11 (£8.50–£9.50). Previews until 7 Aug, £5. Love and a Colt 45 Bethany Black continues to please her fans and intrigue the uninitiated with witty tales of personal strife. Underbelly, 08445 458 252, 8–30 Aug (not 17), 11.35pm, £6.50–£10.50 (£8–£9.50). Previews 6 & 7 Aug, £6.
Midnight Take The Empire Subtitled ‘The Great Big Marvellous Victorian Game Show’, this promises devious questions and impossible challenges. There’s a party on afterwards to soothe your stretched mind. Carlton Hotel, 0845 260 1234, 8–30 Aug, midnight, £6.50–£8.50 (£5.50–£7.50).
1am Late ‘n’ Live The Fringe institute keeps on rolling with the brave and foolish facing the most uppity punters in town. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 7–31 Aug, 1am, £12.50–£15 (£10–£12.50).