Rob and I were up in Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the whole of yesterday, until well after midnight. We had booked three shows: Mervyn Stutter's Pick of the Fringe at 1.00 pm; James Acaster at 7.30 pm and Joe Lycett at 10.30 pm (actually started about 15 - 20 mins late).
We just made it in time for Stutter. The host is the most annoying part of the show, but he sometimes gathers together 7 decent acts: a range of musicians, actors, comedians etc. This was about our sixth or seventh visit to one of his shows - have to say it was not one of the better ones. I think they had had a couple of acts pull out and people had filled in at the last moment.
1. Roulston & Young: Songs for Lovers (And Other Idiots) [Cabaret]
2. ? Replaced Act
3. Scorched [Theatre]
4. Patrick Monahan: That 80s Show [Comedy]
5. Bubble Schmeisis [Theatre]
6. Justin Moorhouse: People and Feelings [Comedy]
7. La Poule Plombée [Cabaret]
None the less, the singers who performed in two of the slots (1 and 7) were very good - talented and original. The two comedians: Justin Moorhouse and Patrick Monahan were both quite funny. The excerpts from plays: well, I liked one of the three: Scorched - performed by one actor playing an old man with dementia who has flashes back to his earlier life, including fighting in the second world war. With very few props, and some great sound effects he told the story very well and captivated the audience. That would be my recommendation from the line up.
We headed to the National Museum of Scotland, in the gap between shows, to look at their new galleries.
Rob took these photos from the rooftop gallery...
You can see the seating for The Tattoo in the centre of this image.
These were some of the exhibits that caught my eye:-
Phoebe Anna Traquair, Biblia Innocentum, 1897 - 98 (embossed leather)
Transfer printed pot lid, c. 1850 - 1875
Michael Powolny, Traubenbock (Grape Goat - what the?), c. 1907 - 10 (glazed earthenware). Not something you see every day.
Gilbert Marks, charger with dolphins/waves, 1901 (pewter).
Jasperware paint box, late 18th century.
Male figure, blolo blain, Baule People, Ivory Coast, early 20th century. Represents the spirit spouse of the owner. Look at that adorable face!
Leopard mask pendant, Benin, Nigeria, 19th century (brass). Worn at the waist by military officials.
Tunjos (votive offerings) and figurines, Central and South America, pre 1492 (gold)
Martin Bros, Bird Jar (stoneware, wooden base). I like his wise expression.
After an early dinner (excellent!) at Mother India, we went on to the Pleasance for a drink and to spot the celebrities (Dara O'Briain, Alex Brooker, Matt Forde, Lucy Porter, an actor that I recognised, but could not name!).
James Acaster's show was really good - plenty of laughs: he has quite a strange sense of humour - sets about his honey business; things that annoy him (including people pretending to hold up the leaning tower of Pisa); his extra-large shirt pocket, to name but a few topics covered.
Another long break in which we wandered down to Princes Street and Rose Street and had a large cup of hot chocolate sitting outside The Rosehip restaurant.
Overexcited.
The queue for Joe Lycett's show was interminable. The show was running late for some reason, but we finally got into the venue at the Assembly Hall. Nice, very large, venue inside, but the bar area outside was a bit dark and depressing. The show, though, was hilarious and worth the wait. The hour passed in a flash as he went over some of his email and twitter correspondence with officials such as parking fine administrators (a lot funnier than it sounds!), talked about some of his strange friends and people he had met. We both said afterwards that he was the sort of person you could have a great night out with - one of those people who is naturally funny.
Just a half mile walk, twenty minute bus ride, short walk, and two hour drive to get home. Finally went to sleep at 3.00 am!
We just made it in time for Stutter. The host is the most annoying part of the show, but he sometimes gathers together 7 decent acts: a range of musicians, actors, comedians etc. This was about our sixth or seventh visit to one of his shows - have to say it was not one of the better ones. I think they had had a couple of acts pull out and people had filled in at the last moment.
1. Roulston & Young: Songs for Lovers (And Other Idiots) [Cabaret]
2. ? Replaced Act
3. Scorched [Theatre]
4. Patrick Monahan: That 80s Show [Comedy]
5. Bubble Schmeisis [Theatre]
6. Justin Moorhouse: People and Feelings [Comedy]
7. La Poule Plombée [Cabaret]
None the less, the singers who performed in two of the slots (1 and 7) were very good - talented and original. The two comedians: Justin Moorhouse and Patrick Monahan were both quite funny. The excerpts from plays: well, I liked one of the three: Scorched - performed by one actor playing an old man with dementia who has flashes back to his earlier life, including fighting in the second world war. With very few props, and some great sound effects he told the story very well and captivated the audience. That would be my recommendation from the line up.
We headed to the National Museum of Scotland, in the gap between shows, to look at their new galleries.
You can see the seating for The Tattoo in the centre of this image.
These were some of the exhibits that caught my eye:-
After an early dinner (excellent!) at Mother India, we went on to the Pleasance for a drink and to spot the celebrities (Dara O'Briain, Alex Brooker, Matt Forde, Lucy Porter, an actor that I recognised, but could not name!).
James Acaster's show was really good - plenty of laughs: he has quite a strange sense of humour - sets about his honey business; things that annoy him (including people pretending to hold up the leaning tower of Pisa); his extra-large shirt pocket, to name but a few topics covered.
Another long break in which we wandered down to Princes Street and Rose Street and had a large cup of hot chocolate sitting outside The Rosehip restaurant.
The queue for Joe Lycett's show was interminable. The show was running late for some reason, but we finally got into the venue at the Assembly Hall. Nice, very large, venue inside, but the bar area outside was a bit dark and depressing. The show, though, was hilarious and worth the wait. The hour passed in a flash as he went over some of his email and twitter correspondence with officials such as parking fine administrators (a lot funnier than it sounds!), talked about some of his strange friends and people he had met. We both said afterwards that he was the sort of person you could have a great night out with - one of those people who is naturally funny.
Just a half mile walk, twenty minute bus ride, short walk, and two hour drive to get home. Finally went to sleep at 3.00 am!
