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CABARET HITLIST
Arusa Qureshi chooses the best cabaret to check out in week one
HELP! I THINK I MIGHT BE FABULOUS
Multi-talented drag prince Alfie Ordinary heads to Edinburgh for his Fringe debut, welcoming audiences into Madame LeCoq’s Preparatory School for Fabulous Boys, armed with charm, incredible pipes and a little help from good friends (and puppets) Whitney Houston and Bette Midler. See feature, page 40. Gilded Balloon Rose Theatre, 3–25 Aug, 6pm, £9–£10 (£8–£9). Previews 31 Jul–2 Aug, £6.
LITTLE DEATH CLUB Join Bernie Dieter and her gang of misfits, miscreants and fantastic freaks for a night of entertainment like no other, with dark comedy, satirical songs, gender-bending circus, and astounding burlesque. Underbelly’s Circus Hub, 3–24 Aug (not 12), 8pm, £16–£18 (£15–£17).
MAGICAL BONES: BLACK MAGIC Direct from TV appearances as well as his acclaimed London residency, breakdancing magician Magical Bones offers a different take on the
traditional magic show, celebrating historical black magicians while challenging ideas of what black magic really is. Underbelly Bristo Square, 3–25 Aug (not 12), 6.25pm, £10–£11 (£9–£10). Previews 31 Jul–2 Aug, £6.50.
GINGER JOHNSON’S HAPPY PLACE
The alt-right is rising, the permafrost is melting, and every other sea turtle has a plastic straw jammed up its nostril; it’s all a bit much for Ginger Johnson. In this comedic cabaret confessional, Johnson puts two fingers up to all sense of reality and jumps – high heels first – into a world of absolute delusion. Pleasance Dome, 3–26 Aug (not 12, 19), 9.40pm, £10–£12 (£9–£11). Previews 31 Jul–2 Aug, £9.
LATE NIGHT LIP SERVICE Hosted by giant, ginger, award- winning Glamonster Gingzilla, Late Night Lip Service features the wildest acts from across the Fringe, lip-sync battles, debauched drag, catwalk- offs and midnight madness. Gilded Balloon Rose Theatre, 3, 8–10, 15–18, 22–24 Aug, 11.30pm, £12.50. Preview 2 Aug, £10.
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Late Night Lip Service
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31 Jul–7 Aug 2019 THE LIST FESTIVAL 39