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DON’T PUT YOURSELF DOON Re: Doon MacKichan – Primadoona (664, ●●●●●) 'I used to be lovely . . . I used to be loved.’ Well, she is still both. Doon treads the risky tightrope between humour and despair with a skill that seems made even sharper during her 'absence'. Her powers of mimicry and satire spare no one, least of all herself, but by the end you will be celebrating her 'comeback' as a triumph of the human spirit. Yes, it's that profound. Tony Dyson Comment posted at List.co.uk
COLOURFUL OPINIONS Re: Camille O’Sullivan – Chameleon (664, ●●●●●) Glad to see someone giving Camille O'S an accurate review instead of five-star hype. I don't see what the fuss is all about. She is obviously a talented performer but if it wasn't for the original writers of her set and all the glitter and blather the lustre would be well faded. It's like all these comedians
with five-star reviews – the critics come to Edinburgh and get carried away on a night out. Camille's shows aren't better than the Spiegeltent days, it's
LETTER OF THE FORTNIGHT
BREATHING PROBLEMS Re: The Wau Wau Sisters’ Last Supper (665, ●●●●●) Not one for the faint hearted or the religious. As a former convent schoolgirl I am fortunately neither! Expect the unexpected, I’ve seen them before and I still didn’t
expect such a great show. They’ve only got better in the intervening years and I would recommend this show to anyone with an appreciation of the bawdy and surreal. Definitely not suitable for the kiddies, but possibly your granny, if she’s very open minded.
I laughed so much I nearly had an asthma
attack. Thank you ladies. Elsie Betty Boo, Edinburgh Comment posted at List.co.uk
THE LETTER OF THE ISSUE WILL RECEIVE ONE BOTTLE OF THE BLACK GROUSE WHISKY Smoky and Smooth – a marriage of fine peated Scotch malt whiskies and The Famous Grouse
now got too much of a formula. Take away all the hype and
you will find that she isn't a 'star' like all these reviews tell us. Jack Wilson
Not one flaw in this show, possibly even better than last year. Camille doesn't manage to fill a large venue for nothing. The songs are emotive, amusing and impressive to say the least. I for one will be there every year as I find Camille's show worth every
penny compared to a lot of the others available during the Fringe. Also, I don't think people give Camille five stars for nothing, that's pretty ridiculous. Beverleith, Leith Comments posted at List.co.uk CHAR GRILLED Re: Charlyne Yi – Dances on the Moon (664, ●●●●●) Brian Donaldson is, regrettably, correct. Charlyne Yi has been compared to some of the
6 THE LIST 26 Aug–9 Sep 2010
greatest, if not the most talented, comedians of our generation. The hype is not to be believed, in fact we’ve all known this for years – but who can say these things to such a lovely girl. It is my sincerest wish you keep her Edinburgh; LA is tired of feigning and fawning over this comedic disaster. R Woods, Los Angeles Comment posted at List.co.uk
WAITING FOR THE SUN Re: The Sun Also Rises (●●●●●) My companion and I thoroughly enjoyed the production of The Sun Also Rises at the Lyceum. It was very long, but held our attention throughout. The only criticism was the casting of a girl as the bullfighter. Although Susie Sokol acted very well, it was hard to see her as the sort of macho person who would attract Brett Ashley. All in all though, this adaption
of a Hemingway novel was brilliant. Carolann, Edinburgh Comment posted at List.co.uk
DON’T WANT TO KNOW Re: Mark Watson – Do I Know You? (665, ●●●●●) Zero stars – none. If there was a minus function available I’d use it. Unbelievable dross. Atrocious. His agent must have talked a good game on the back of his radio and TV work to get one of the bigger venues in Edinburgh. Even half-way in, and with barely a laugh, there was an expectation that he would pull it off and bring it to some amazing climax that tied up all the rambling and random loose ends – but he didn’t. Can I have my money back please? Mother of Bono, Gdansk Comment posted at List.co.uk
Editor’s note: We would beg to differ. Our comedy editor, Brian Donaldson, gives Mark Watson four stars this year on page 29, touching on the comedian’s ‘ability to captivate a crowd while playing on his own inadequacies’.
To see more comedians’ drawings from our Board Meeting feature, visit WWW.LIST.CO.UK/ BOARDMEETING
CONTRIBUTORS Publisher & General Editor Robin Hodge Director Simon Dessain
EDITORIAL Editor Jonny Ensall Assistant Editor Henry Northmore, Allan Radcliffe, Claire Sawers Subeditor Hamish Brown Research Manager Laura Ennor Research Siân Bevan, Tasmin Campbell, Siân Hickson, Henry Northmore, David Pollock, Fiona Shepherd, Kirstyn Smith Editorial Assistant Niki Boyle Editorial Intern John-Paul Holden SALES & MARKETING Advertising Sales Manager Brigid Kennedy Senior Media Sales Executive Juliet Tweedie Media Sales Executive Aimi Gold, Jude Moir Media Project Sales Manager Suzanne Robertson Business Development Executive Adam Coulson Business Development Manager Brendan Miles Sponsorship & Promotions Manager Sheri Friers Promotions Executive Amy Russell Circulation Executive Murray Robertson
PRODUCTION Senior Designer Lucy Munro Production Manager Simon Armin Production Assistant Miriam Sturdee
DIGITAL Web Editor Hamish Brown Senior Developer Andy Carmichael Senior Designer Bruce Combe Software Developer Iain McCusker Online Editorial Assistant Alice White ADMINISTRATION Accounts Manager Georgette Renwick Accounts Assistant Tasmin Campbell Office & HR Manager Jo Morgan
SECTION EDITORS Around Town Kirstin Innes Books Brian Donaldson Clubs Henry Northmore Comedy Brian Donaldson Dance Kelly Apter Eat & Drink Donald Reid Film Paul Dale Kids Kelly Apter LGBT Allan Radcliffe Music Claire Sawers News Anna Millar Shopping Claire Sawers Theatre Allan Radcliffe Visual Art Allan Radcliffe