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REGINALD D HUNTER For a man who has thrived on playing the outsider – whether it’s as an American living in the UK or a comedian unafraid to dry hump taboos in his comedy – Reg D Hunter returns to Edinburgh a veteran – some kind of Fringe establishment. And if he still looks like a fish out of water mugging his way through TV panel shows these days it’s because the stage is still his natural environment. This year Hunter is putting the world to rights in The Only Apple in the Garden of Eden and Niggas, which, as always, is named to offend, delight and confuse in equal measure. Long may it continue. ■ Udderbelly, 0844 545 8252, 16–30 Aug, 10pm, £12.50–£15 (£11.50–£13). 5QUESTIONS
Robin Ince is doing two shows this year, one totally free, the other for a fiver. Here, he gives our Q&A some attention What five words best describe your shows this year? Loud, quiet, frenetic, still, thumbs. Which comics should be more famous come September? None, they’ll be so much more entertaining when they still can’t afford food. What bugs you most about Edinburgh in August? When the TV Festival comes to town and you find yourself stepping in the smelly droppings that executives leave everywhere. Which dead comics do you wish were still alive and working today? Christopher Price, the very acerbic, dry and funny host of Liquid News. I would also have been very interested to have seen whether Andy Kaufman was funny, entertaining or annoying. Is there a rumour you’d like to start about yourself? I used to be Charlie Drake’s home help but left after he brought in a rule that all his staff must be branded. ■ Robin Ince: Bleeding Heart Liberal, Medina & Negociants, 225 6313, 19–30 Aug (not 25), 10.15pm, £5; Robin Ince Versus the Moral Majority, Canon’s Gait, 226 0000, 19–30 Aug, 8.25pm, free.
Hitlist FESTIVAL COMEDY *
✽✽ Pappy’s Fun Club A supersonic jaunt through a ludicrous yet hilarious number of sketches in a mere 60 minutes. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 31 Aug (not 17), 7.20pm, £12-£14 (£10.50- £12.50). ✽✽ Hans Teeuwen The Dutch comic-actor breaks free from his Amsterdam cronies to pull more Dadaist tricks from his surrealistic sleeve. See page 22. Udderbelly’s Pasture, 08445 458 252, 13–15, 26–28 Aug, 11.35pm, £14.50 (£12.50). ✽✽ Alun Cochrane One of the nation’s most merry daydreamers delivers another heavenly set. See page 32. The Stand III & IV, 558 7272, until 30 Aug, 10.50pm, £9 (£8). ✽✽ Anna & Katy Madames Crilly and Wix pull out all the Pythonesque stops with a raving hour of all-out lunacy. But in a good, funny way. See page 30. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 31 Aug, 6.40pm, £9.50–£10.50 (£8-£9). ✽✽ Mark Thomas Indisputably one of the key standard-bearers of British political comedy, the authority-bothering TV guy lays out his own manifesto. See page 24. The Stand III & IV, 558 7272, until 18 Aug, 6.15pm, £12. ✽✽ Jon Holmes A comedic chronicler of rock’s excesses brings his Babylonic blethers to the Fringe. See page 22. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 20-30 Aug, 7pm, £9–£10 (£8-£9). Previews 17–19 Aug, £5. ✽✽ Richard Herring One of the most anticipated comedy shows in this year’s programme delivers its promise amid a blur of passion and hilarity. See page 34. Underbelly, 08445 458 252, until 30 Aug, 8.40pm, £9.50–£10.50 (£8.50–£9.50). ✽✽ Die Roten Punkte A sibling pair of spoof rockers with songs and banter to make you weep soggy tears of joy. See page 30. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 31 Aug (not 17), 11.11pm, £10–£11 (£8.50–£9.50). For venue addresses see index page 88.
13–20 Aug 2009 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 21