WITH ONLY DAYS TO GO....
I first started going to Fringe shows back in 1974. Sadly my long sojourn down south means that it didn't become the annual event I'd have loved it to be, but I've been to a fair number of shows over the decades, and the number has increased greatly since we retired. Last year we hit sixty events, of one sort or another, over the three weeks. But instead of getting blasé about the whole thing I find myself feeling just as excited as ever that August is finally here and our first shows are just a few days away.
Of course the posters have been going up, and the physical preparation of the city taking place, for a few weeks now. So the sense of anticipation starts to grow as the face of Edinburgh slaps on the makeup and gets ready to prostitute itself to the masses once more. Many residents hate it of course, for the huge disruption it brings to their daily lives. And the killjoy tendency has always had a strong Calvinist following up here. I have never been one of them and, despite the over-commercialisation that is synonymous with the twisted society we find ourselves in, still find myself childishly delighted at the prospect of three weeks of shows, fliers and confused looking crowds.
The planning of our Fringe is largely complete, with thirty shows booked so far, plenty of Free Fringe shows still to be slotted into the schedule, and a list of 'possible' to fill in those free moments. Just to make it interesting we have three different groups of people coming to stay with us at various times. But they can find their own shows to go to....
So what do I find myself looking forward to the most? Inevitably there are a few old reliable favourites we'll be back to see again, and who I know won't be a disappointment. That includes just a few names who people might know off telly or radio. And topping that list has to be Mark Thomas. Every year he comes up with something new, something brilliant, that's moving, funny, meaningful, funny, thought provoking and funny. To us he's become unmissable.
I'm excited to be going back to see Stewart Lee, because there's nobody else quite like him as a storyteller, or at highlighting simple truths in a new framework. Plus he despises ukip, so he's definitely one of the good guys.
There are also a few less well known acts that we've been to see before and wouldn't consider not returning to. Austentatious put on an improvised play based on a spoof Jane Austen title put forward by a member of the audience. Obviously they must have some stock routines and situations to fall back on and form the core of that day's production, but it's still impressive the way they take a title they've never heard of before and carry it through the hour. And very funny, especially when things go a bit wrong.
Also the same but different, we'll be back to see Tourette's Hero, aka Jess Thom, delivering Backstage in Biscuit Land. Even if the basic outline of the show won't have changed much Jess' condition guarantees it can never be the same show twice. A major highlight of our 2014 Fringe.
And then there's the Return of the Danish Bagpipe Comedian, one Claus Reiss, with a title that describes exactly what and who he is, and yet manages to still be more eye catching than the myriad contrived names on offer. Lovely guy too. As is Chris Coltrane and sharply political , the Free Fringe answer to Mark Thomas.
And then there's Aidan Goatley. Or as he's also known, Aidan Who? Renowned on the Fringe as the man who is bringing back the same show for the fifth year running. Which either indicates a very serious lack of imagination, or a show that audiences mysteriously fall in love with. It may help that 10 Films With My Dad is a pretty good title. Or that he keeps getting excellent reviews for it, and even invited to put it on in various parts of the globe. But he has promised (again) that this will be it's final year of life. Quite right too, or he may find himself featured in The Archers. He's got another show too, something about goats. Anyone not like goats? Seriously though, he's a lovely man, very funny, and if you don't go and see him (twice) then it's only yourself you're fooling.
I'm also excited about some shows by people who will be entirely new to us. Hannah and Hanna looks like an intriguing take on bigotry and racism in Britain, rather timely given the baying headlines of the media in blowing up events in Calais. Barluath are a band we haven't come across before and look good on YouTube. Last year we were delighted to discover the fabulous Dallahan at the same venue, so here's hoping we are similarly impressed. And Hotel Paradiso is something a bit different, a masked theatrical performance from Germany that looks like providing a sophisticated form of slapstick.
Oh, and George Egg, a man who cooks a meal using items that can be found in a hotel room, and Simon Caine who has another one of these intriguing titles which may or may not be reflected in reality. Anyway, I've just been talking to him on Facebook so I couldn't really leave him out. No pressure Simon.
Finally, there's an aspect of 2014 I'll miss. With only weeks to go before the fateful date of 18 September the Fringe featured several shows giving some take on the referendum to come. We saw several great Indy themed shows, all with a strong Yes bent. That's in the past, but two of the artists we saw dealing with the subject last year, Bruce Fummey and Vladimir McTavish, have shows in which they explore the history of our country and how that reflects on our present. The independence theme is still alive and well....
Roll on Wednesday and out first show. Just need to complete a bit more stamina work first.
PS I'll be attempting to post a review of every show I go to on my other blog so if you're coming to Edinburgh this month and want to know what I've seen that's good, or bad, then do give me a follow. I'll also be posting links to the reviews on my Facebook and Twitter accounts.
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