Edinburgh Fringe Festival-- Part One

I have now been to see 9 plays, 6 good and 3 bad. Not too bad if you ask me, considering we've only payed full price for one show, and it ended up being good, and in a really good location!!

Now I'm going to attempt to review as many of the shows as possible. Since I procrastinated, and saw most of them over a week ago, I'm sorry to say that they won't be as detailed as I would have liked. In any case, if you want to know more about the shows I went to see I'm sure a simple Google search will bring something up or you can check out the Fringe website at http://www.edfringe.com/ .

Bigger than Jesus ****

The first show that we saw, my expectations were very low, there are so many shows on the Fringe, they can't all be fabulous, can they (see Xenu is Loose). Because there are so many shows, they really set up venues everywhere, this one was in a church, and ironically we sat in pews. In the first few minutes of the show, you think that you've made a big mistake and this really is going to be a mass, and the ad was an elaborate scheme to draw in those who have 'lost their way'. Thankfully though, it was not only hilarious, but Rick Miller managed to poke fun at religious groups without being too offensive and critical of them. Considering the setting he had to work with it was very well done, my favourite part being his recreation of the last supper with a Jesus action figure, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and a few other recognizable characters. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

http://www.biggerthanj.com/

Tony Blair The Musical ***

Pretty obvious what this one is about. Very well done, especially considering the venue they had to work with, the stage was about the size of a dinner table, and there was no air. Despite being very somewhat sweaty this youthful cast did an excellent job comedically going through Tony Blair's career. Especially entertaining was the depiction of his relationship with Gordon Brown. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Xenu is Loose! Cower puny Humans as the Dark Prince of the Galactic Federation rains Atomic Death once more upon your Pitiful Planet - The Musical!*

You know when your friend is in play so you go see it and pretend it was good so you don't hurt there feelings. Well in the case of Xenu is Loose, not even the nicest friend could muster up something nice to say about it. Sorry that was a lie, the title is cool, and the reason why I gave it one star. Who wouldn't want to see a show with a title like that? This show is about Scientology and is about as confusing and as easy to make fun of as the religion itself. Why most will agree it has the ingredients to be a good show, every aspect of the show needs fixing. From the guys standing on corners of the stage playing their guitars way too loud, looking less than thrilled to be there, to the gun fights resembling ones my brother and I had when we were in diapers. Xenu needs to be locked back up. I give it 1 out of 5 stars.

http://www.xenuisloose.com/

Women Fully Clothed*****

I've been in Scotland for nearly a year now and my strongest feelings of homesickness came after seeing Women Fully Clothed. I was laughing throughout the entire show. While it was aimed at women from about the 30 to 50 age range I think everyone can relate to the sketches these brilliant women perform. But as a big support of anything Canadian I guess I am somewhat biased. In any case a must see! I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

http://www.womenfullyclothed.com/

Best Laid Marketing Plans

Picture this. After crawling up a dark and dingy st air case you enter a tiny room, a nervous looking man flipping through a notebook mumbles something incoherently to you. "Pardon", you say nervously. Slightly clearer the man replies, "Are you here for the show...tickets are around the corner."Politely you thank him and head around the corner, where a surprised teenager tells you that the other show is still on, but you can have a seat and wait or get a drink at the deserted bar. Kindly you decline the drink and have a seat, where through a window you can see the stage below. It is small and the audiences folding chairs are practically on the stage. About half way back from the stage are two girls, giggling nervously. On the stage a girl is, well how to put this sensitively...lip syncing to very bad songs while shoving a sex toy in her ear. You turn to your friend nervously, than glance around with the sudden realization that if you stay around any longer it will be the two of you sitting along in that little theatre listening to that awkward, nervous mumbling man talk for an hour if you don't get out of there soon. So we left.

According to these reviews we made the right choice... http://www.one4review.com/Comedy_/comedy2007/best_l_m_p_.htm

http://www.edfringe.com/reviews/read.html?id=4096

Prints Of Denmark ****

We went to see this on a recommendation. A comedy about the controversial Danish comics depicting the Mohamed. The script was brilliantly written and except for a minor hitch in a few lines the acting was superb. On an awkward stage, with few props these guys did an excellent job. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Tap Ole *****

Tap Dancing and Spanish Guitar. Simple yet brilliant. I went into this show with very little expectations, I was looking for something I could sit back and enjoy without having to think about it. What I got was a performance that was not only colourful, but full of character and enthusiasm. It wasn't just that both the tap dancers and the guitar players were amazing, which they were. It was that they were really happy to be there and were clearly enjoying what they were doing. Fun for all. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

http://www.tapole.com/

X-Files Improv *

Anyone who has ever seen any improv could have created this improv show. Very formulatic (if that's a word that's what this was). No one seems to have told Dean (aka Langley from the Lone Gunman), that improv isn't getting ideas from the audience and than spend your time making fun of those ideas. It was similar to primary school when the teacher gives you a story and you have to fill in the adjectives. The story is the same every time, but in some the dog is green, not brown. He didn't even have the sense or creativity to end a skit when it was clearly going wrong. He chose a girl from the audience who didn't just seem like she didn't speak English, but told him she didn't speak English in her broken English. You think he would have figured that out when he had to go up to get her when he told he to come to the stage, or when she couldn't figure out to put her arms in a lab coat. Maybe he just thought she was really stupid when he told her to wave and she didn't. The poor girl had to take hand signals from other audience members so she knew what to do. It was more sad than embarrassing. I am giving it 1 out of 5 stars, for a guy in the audience who came on stage and was actually funny.

Potted Potter****

Made for kids, this show is enjoyable for Harry Potter fans of any age. A hilarious run through all 7 books in just one hour. Qudditch included!! Dan and Jeff use their quick wit to keep even a young audience entertained for the whole show. Finale is icing on a already tasty cake, it left me humming days later. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

http://www.seabright.info/pottedpotter.html