Fresh Air - The Alternative

Wednesday 13th August 2008
Underbellys Baby Belly

Rob Deering’s advertising this year cannot fail to spark interest, seeing his head rather disturbingly adorning a pair of rather lovely pair of breasts, is an image that stays with you all the way to the box office. This interest is well rewarded from start to finish in this absolute cracker of a show. Rob introduces his show as a social commentary on the state of women in society today, a theme which is stuck to very loosely.

Rob Deering is a brilliant stand up comedian but his comedian is brought above the mundane by the addition of his musical stylings. Deering makes excellent use of his musical talents and his witty rewrites of popular tunes are very funny. Deering copes well with the space he is given filling it with his talents and his big if slightly self depreciating personality.

This show is an excellent way to spend an hour on the fringe and audiences are well rewarded by Deering’s talents and passion his instruments and entertaining. Deering shows a natural ability for stand up and the versatility of his act will be hard to better.

Run Ends Sunday 24th August 2008

Review by: Phoebe Myles

Saturday 16th August 2008
Gilded Balloon Teviot - Billiard Room

The Mish-Mash is a brilliant variety show consisting of young comics joining together to have fun on stage and ensure the audience has a good time too. The main host Andrew Stanley comes into his own more so than he does in his solo show and his co-host Fred Cook is an excellent addition to the show.

The show consists of a variety of sketches, a little improv and a lot of audience participation, particularly when it comes to biscuits. Stanley and Cook, with a little help from their friends, spend an hour bounding around the stage full of energy as they do various sketches; one of the highlights of the night was 80’s myspace.

This show is a great way to round of an evening at the fringe. It’s a variety show that does not fail to entertain and is what the fringe is all about, young comics showing off their talents and having a fun time doing it. This is a brilliant variety show and one well worth a look.

Run Ends Sunday 24th August 2008

Review by: Phoebe Myles

Saturday 16th August 2008
The Gilded Balloon Teviot - Balcony

Andrew Stanley is a very likable comic and his stand up is made up of a variety of stories about his life. He oozes enthusiasm for what he is doing and the audience takes to him immediately as he regales them with stories of his childhood.

The highlights of the show include two of Stanley’s best stories, reminiscing about the games of Knick Knacks he used to play as a nine year old and the best moment of the show has to be when he reveals the secrets of the hairdresser to all the men in the audience. Whilst Stanley is a brilliant comic it would be irresponsible not to warn you of the perils of sitting in the front row – it’s not for the faint hearted.

Whilst Stanley’s show really is very good it never reaches its full potential as some of his stories become overly long and his mile-a-minute pace can become a little over whelming.

Stanley’s show is a good example of Fringe stand up and is very entertaining, well worth a look if you fall for the good all Irish charm and are a fan of clever and witty stand up.

Run Ends Sunday 24th August 2008

Review by: Phoebe Myles

Wednesday 13th August 2008
Underbelly

Debut shows at the Fringe can be a bit hit and miss. Thankfully Welsh stand up Lloyd Langfords debut show is a well crafted hour of comedy.
He is happy to let the audience know that when hes not performing he is really a shy lad who would rather run than fight. Despite this fact he is still able to engage in some good banter with the audience and deliver more than a few killer jokes. Langford is a like-able and honest comic with a sharp wit and great delivery. A man who I susspect will be around for many a Fringe to come.

Run Ends Monday 25th August 2008

Review by: HP

Monday 18th August 2008
Pleasance Above

Justin Moorhouse’s latest show draws on the perils of the Facebook age where you find yourself surrounded by just too many friends. Throughout the show Moorhouse sheds the unwanted friends whilst guiding you through the process by which he decided to discard those excess to requirements.

This stand up is lifted from the mundane by his excellent use of the audience. Rather than just being passive they contribute to his act and he seems genuinely interested in what they have to add to his show. Moorhouse’s likability is only enhanced by his insistence to shake each audience members hand when they left. As Moorhouse begins to reduce his friends you learn more about him personally and he makes no apologies for his attitudes and opinions and you like him all the more for that.

Moorhouse is an excellent comic and this show is well worth a look. Though there are many stand up shows on at the Fringe this really is one of the best. Its clear structure makes it flow well whilst leaving room for audience participation. See it – its good!

Run Ends Monday 25th August 2008

Review by: Phoebe Myles

Wednesday 20th August 2008
Pleasance Beside

There are few words I can think of to describe Zimbani. It is a show unlike any other I have seen at this years Fringe. It can best be described as an excellent spoof of the spy movies of old, especially Bond. All the misogynistic and testosterone fuelled undertones that make these movies so classic are wrapped up in this absolutely brilliant, if slightly demented, comic adventure story.

The characters in this show represent all those typical to the classic adventure movie – the ‘hero’, his boss and the silent, but most intelligent, receptionist. The stars of the show, Colin Hoult, David McNeill and Clare Ward do an absolutely brilliant job of playing these roles and do so whilst clearly enjoying themselves immensely and the audience cannot help but become infected by the enthusiasm and sheer good humour. It’s hard to pick out a single highlight but look out for the Norwegians.

This show is very very funny. It is so difficult to categorise but I do urge people to go, you will be hard pushed to spend a funnier hour at the festival. An absolutely excellent contribution to the Fringe it deserves to be shared with as many people as possible.

Run Ends Monday 25th August 2008

Review by: Phoebe Myles

Elvis Hates Me
The Zoo

Jenny chats to the cast of Elvis Hates Me to discover what two Elvis' and a nurse can be doing at the fringe…

Run Ends: Monday 25th August 2008
Date of Interview: Tuesday 19th August 2008
Interviewer: Jenny Humberstone
Download The Interview (mp3, 9.97MB MB)!

Andrew Bird: This Is Ten Years From Now
Pleasance Courtyard

The delightful Andrew Bird calls in with special guest hosts Harbingers to discuss where they will be in ten years, and explain the ideas of maturity.

Run Ends: Monday 25th August 2008
Date of Interview: Wednesday 6th August 2008
Interviewer: Harbingers
Download The Interview (mp3, 9.79 MB)!