list.co.uk/festival Reviews | FESTIVAL COMEDY
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TOM BALLARD: TAXIS & RAINBOWS & HATRED An equality-pushing set from an act who has mastered his stage ●●●●● SOME LIKE IT THEA-SKOT Madcap characters and endearing improv skills ●●●●●
HEIDI O’LOUGHLIN: A WOMAN TALKING Charm and steel in New Zealander’s solo debut ●●●●●
Tom Ballard is gay, a self-proclaimed member of the ‘no pussy party’. Originally from small-town Australia, he’s come up against homophobia, in particular from taxi drivers, and these incidents provide a neat framework for a tightly written show that finds a wealth of humour in people’s attitudes towards gay men. Even when the subject matter gets serious,
addressing homosexuality in Russia and Uganda, he pulls big laughs playing out the imagined fear of the homophobes. Aussie insults, the negative effects of MDMA on pulling technique and the near- fatal attention-seeking of the youngest Von Trapp sibling also hit the mark. Beneath the mocking, however, is a powerful exposure of the ‘otherness’ experienced by those who aren’t heterosexual and a genuine message of equality. Ballard effortlelssly commands the stage and
his assured presence would see him at home in a much bigger venue. As he acknowledges himself, ‘what other comedian would use “anal swab” as a punchline?’ (Rowena McIntosh) ■ Assembly George Square Studios, 623 3030, until 30 Aug (not 17, 24), 9.15pm, £9–£11 (£8–£10).
In an exhilarating show, Alison Thea-Skot flies by the seat of her pants as she races breathlessly through a series of mad characters. Some are vaguely familiar such as the Celine Dion who wears a draped sheet and fright wig and the Liza Minnelli- inspired Hollywood star whose famous role was playing a woman with feet for hands. Others are entirely creations of Thea-Skot’s
warped mind such as the lipstick-smeared dumped woman and a superhero from Rhyl. A great deal of her show’s success relies upon picking the correct audience member with which Thea-Skot can impose her improv skills and tonight Eric was the willing stooge, making for a joyous spectacle. When things go slightly wrong – early in the run there are a fair few sound cues slightly out of time plus there’s some unfortunate timing regarding the inclusion of a dead celebrity making a beyond- the-grave appearance – frankly, it’s endearing. Thea-Skot deals with it with corpsing charm and it only serves to add to the delicious sense of anarchy in the room. Some Like it Thea-Skot and we all certainly do. (Marissa Burgess) ■ Cowgatehead, 226 0000, until 29 Aug (not 19), 8.45pm, free.
For her first solo Fringe hour, Heidi O’Loughlin tries out a variety of topics. The New Zealander’s Tahitian heritage is up first in a spot of family history, as she recounts the inception of French Polynesia into her genealogy. One of the most interesting sections covers her struggle as a female comedian between staying true to her principles and earning a living. But two set-pieces stand out, for different
reasons. O’Loughlin has previously found success with the ensemble show Fanfiction Comedy in which the members take turns reading out stories they have written based on existing characters. She recites one of the best stories, giving this year’s more wide-ranging show a highlight. The second piece revolves around her very strong feelings about Simon and Garfunkel and, though initially inspired, goes on too long. With a casual, digressive style and a surface
sweetness that masks the steeliness she displays when putting down hecklers, O’Loughlin has a lot to her credit and, with a more cohesive show, would be a delight to watch. (Suzanne Black) ■ Underbelly Cowgate, 0844 545 8252, until 30 Aug (not 18), 7.40pm, £9–£10 (£8–£9).
DAPHNE DO EDINBURGH Wild and original sketches from a three-man team clearly going places ●●●●●
The theme tune to iconic 1950s-set American sitcom Happy Days plays out as the three members of Daphne bid us their slightly sinister farewells. If they keep up the form shown in these 60 exhilarating minutes, then plenty good times are just around the corner for Phil Wang, Jason Forbes and George Fouracres. All three have various qualities (though a certain creepiness
underpins a lot of what they get up to) and their number means that the pace never lets up with different combinations of the trio in front of us at all times. They also never have to rely on voiceovers to keep the momentum flowing, while their stripped- back approach allows a foregoing of clunky costume changes. All they need to worry about is producing excellent sketches,
and they’re threatening to be the hottest gang in town on that front. It’s hard to think of a single weak routine during the hour and when they hit their stride, the laughter which fills this Pleasance cabin is often ringing out for more than one reason at a time. There are songs, a recurring hospital-based scenario and a bit of passive-aggressive banter with their tech: all standard sketch team tropes which they cunningly forge into their very own thing. There’s a deliriously warped Postman Pat and Peter Pan bit and the reason why Wang keeps banging on about his unfeasibly large coffee is finally revealed with a wild slapstick moment that will hopefully not result in an injury to Forbes before August is out. Having scooped this year’s SketchFest (a crown previously taken by Gein’s Family Giftshop and The Pin), Wang, Forbes and Fouracres have joyfully delivered on the promise that such credentials suggest. These days are Daphne’s. (Brian Donaldson) ■ Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 31 Aug (not 17), 3.15pm, £8.50–£10.50 (£7–£9).
13–20 Aug 2015 THE LIST FESTIVAL 45