Full on Fringe day

A full on and packed out day at the Fringe today, starting before lunch (eek) and finishing well after midnight. No particular plan. Seven shows. That has to be a record.

Fringe show 13: Pleasance Press Launch
We always try and catch the press launch if we can, as a good compilation show to see the best that the Pleasance has to offer. It is in the morning (urgh) but worth getting up for. I enjoyed it, but this time I wasn’t inspired to see anything new as a result.

Fringe show 14: No Direction (4*)
This was a really good play. The two actors were excellent and the dynamic between them worked really well. I don’t want to say too much, it was quite twisty from the start and we never really got to the bottom of what was happening. Which was the point of it, by the way!

Fringe show 15: The boss of it all (4.5*)
A play about leadership and what happens when a company needs to take some difficult business decisions and communicate them to the staff. But this is no ordinary workplace, as it turns out no-one knows who the boss of it all actually is. It was a simple concept – nothing too complicated or distracting, and in that sense it felt very Scandinavian (along with the set and lighting which also felt in keeping). And it was funny, and engaging, and well acted. But the ideas in it will be well recognised by anyone who has ever been a manager at work: it is easy to be a great boss as long as you don’t have to take any actual responsibility. Saying that, it wasn’t serious or anything. Very entertaining, very good, would have a broad appeal.

Fringe show 16: Aidan Goatley is on the mend (3.5*)
Aidan Goatley is a stand-up (and pet store manager) from Brighton who has recently recovered from mental health problems. Aidan seems like a decent guy, this was a very warm and amusing show. In his act he tells us about his journey and how the films of Jason Statham got his through it. I liked what he’s done here – his story is funny and poignant and honest, without getting too preachy or dark. It is good to talk about this stuff, and I think comedy is a positive way of raising awareness about what it is like to have mental health problems.

Fringe show 17: Creative Martyrs - After the apocalypse (4*)
The Creative Martyrs are involved with a post-apocalyptic cabaret show. Things need to be taken in hand. This mainly involves singing and playing the cello. Not my first time at the Creative Martyrs, I enjoyed them very much last year. These guys have a lot of presence and a genuine musical talent. Basically they are weird. Something about the combination of their look and their music and their subject matter. It is amusing, but that’s not the appeal. They are quirky and odd and it works brilliantly. Liked the bit about the goat.

Fringe show 18: Magic Faraway Cabaret
This is a cabaret show with different acts put on by the Voodoo Rooms. A mixture of music, burlesque and comedy on this occasion. Very good, very enjoyable and glitzy. Absolutely rammed full with people. My personal highlight was the first burlesque act whose dance was mesmerising and looked like fire – I wish I could remember her name.

Fringe show 19: The Distraction Club
The Distraction Club is a compilation show of musical acts, brought to us by the Voodoo Rooms. They have a resident act and bring in special guests – this evening Titty Bar Ha Ha and the Noise Next Door. Titty Bar Ha Ha were good, be enjoyed the kazoo section in particular. We’d seen the Noise Next Door already this week but as they do improve it is always a bit different. Very amusing suggestions. And I was on stage being sung to for one of the songs which was awesome fun. Ah, love the Noise Next Door. Especially the purple one, yum. Very enjoyable, lots of laughs. Although to be fair it was after midnight so we were probably quite drunk.