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Fringe previews {COMEDY}
JOSIE LONG Little miss sunshine gets political
JosieWorld is a place built on homespun whimsy, and Ms Long presides over it with a refreshing optimism, pointing out all the little things that make us smile or inspire or deserve kudos. In her fourth Fringe show it is being impinged upon by a newfound political dissatisfaction. ‘It’s sort of about how I feel really angry because of the government and dealing with trying to stay politically aware but trying to negotiate the fact that in order to do that it means I’m just going to be upset every day.’ As a departure from her previous optimism, she
describes The Future is Another Place as being ‘a lot more about trying to manage when you don’t feel that there is any positives’, and, in addition, ‘the fact that I also like swimming outdoors’. Long doesn’t plan on shying away from the fact her evolving world view is at odds with spreading happiness. ‘The show is about how uncomfortable I feel about wanting to say serious things because that’s not really my job. It’s about feeling confused and awkward and frustrated, which is going to sound really pretentious. A lot of it’s just me doing stupid voices as well.’
Another big change is that this time ‘there are no props, no pictures, there’s nothing. It’s just me’. Given her propensity for crafty activities such as making her own programmes, it’s not unusual for fans to present her with homemade gifts or examples of their artwork. Recently, a musician credited her with inspiring him to be more political in his music. Long’s response? ‘I literally don’t feel as if I could have been given a better compliment than that. But now it sounds like I’m bragging. People make me biscuits as well.’ (Suzanne Black) ■ Pleasance Dome, 556 6550, 6–28 Aug (not 15, 22), 7pm, £10–£12. Previews 4 & 5 Aug, £7.
ELIS JAMES Starstruck Welshman divulges secrets SHAZIA MIRZA Busybody and go-to girl for Islam
KERRY GODLIMAN Putting her superpowers to the test
Beguiling storyteller Elis James returns to the Fringe this year with a show about his earliest experiences, borrowing its title from the iconic Pulp song for Do You Remember the First Time? ‘The first time I did a few of the formative things everyone does, they went a bit wrong for me,’ admits the Welshman. ‘I wanted to tell stories I enjoyed telling so there’s an element of getting stuff off my chest combined with a pathological need to make myself look stupid in front of paying strangers.’ Among the innermost secrets that will be revealed
will be reminiscences of James’ first kiss, his first time in a swimming pool and his first meeting with the sports presenter Jim Rosenthal, whose son Tom will also be appearing at the Fringe this year. ‘I met Jim Rosenthal when I was about seven, and became totally starstruck and made a fool of myself. That’s understandable as I was under the age of ten, but I met him again when I was 27 and it was just as bad. He is a legend in my eyes, though, so I hope he doesn’t mind me talking about him for 15 minutes.’ (Julian Hall) ■ Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 6–29 Aug (not 18, 20), 8.15pm, £9.50–£12 (£8–£10.50). Previews until 5 Aug, £5.
As a female Muslim stand-up, Shazia Mirza often finds herself asked to comment on current affairs. Around 9/11 she soon tired of being the go-to girl for Islam. ‘I always get people ringing up asking my opinion and always on things I don’t know about. I had someone asking for my opinion when Obama shot Osama. I’ve been asked what I think about Bin Laden’s porn collection. I know so much about Lady Gaga and I think, why don’t you ring me up and ask about her?’ Having a distinct lack of interest in being nosy, it came as something of a surprise when Mirza was called a busybody at Heathrow airport. ‘The woman in front of me in the queue asked how much her suitcase could weigh and the woman at Virgin Atlantic said, “It’s 23 kilos.” I said, “I thought it was 30.” The Virgin Atlantic woman then said, “Can you wait your turn and stop being such a busybody.” That’s a word I’ve not heard since I was at primary school!’ Insulting as it may have been, at least it’s given her the title of her new show. (Marissa Burgess) ■ Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, 6–28 Aug, 8.15pm, £10.50–£12.50 (£9–£11). Previews until 5 Aug, £5.
F E S T I V A L
Comedian and actress Kerry Godliman will appear in Ricky Gervais’ new sitcom Life’s Too Short in the autumn. Before that, though, she’ll be entertaining Fringe audiences with tales of ‘trying to be a hero and failing’. There will be no donning of Wonder Woman outfits, as far as we know, but the cult hero will be referenced. ‘This show is all about trying to do too much,’ explains Godliman, who arrived at her theme via ‘scraps of paper and what seems like hundreds of oddly-named Word documents’. When it comes to the Fringe Godliman has certainly had a full plate in the years since her 2004 debut. ‘I’ve been with ropey plays, sketch shows and stand-up “package” shows. I even did a film at the festival once, all about a woman who was obsessed with Bill Hicks.’ Her patchwork experiences have left her with a ‘love/hate relationship’ with the month-long jamboree. ‘I think it’s an amazing event in terms of creativity and imagination, but it’s long and there are a lot of shows to compete for punters with. The Fringe is essentially the Ofsted for jesters.’ (Julian Hall) ■ Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 6–28 Aug (not 17), 6pm, £11–£12 (£9.50–£11). Previews until 5 Aug, £6.
4–11 Aug 2011 THE LIST 41