Sarah Millican – Chatterbox

***** 5 Stars Delightful Geordie Sarah Millican returns to the Fringe for another sell out year, this time in the main space at The Stand. The show isn’t really about anything in particular, Sarah explains she chose the title Chatterbox because it’s the only thing she was told off for at school. Discussing everything from [...]

The Penny Dreadfuls

*** 3 Stars The Penny Dreadfuls (Thom Tuck, David Reed and Humphrey Ker) are regulars of the Fringe, that said this is the first time I have managed to catch their show. With a yellow and black themed set and costumes and minimal props they provide an delightfully silly hour of sketch comedy. With a [...]

Loretta Maine – I’m Not Drunk, I Just Need to Talk to You

**** 4 Stars Loretta Maine is the latest creation of character comedian Pippa Evans, an alcoholic American redneck with a penchant for white wine and a voice that wouldn’t be out of place in the rock charts. I’ve seen Loretta Maine before and was mightily impressed, and although this time I was surprised to see [...]

Fordy’s Morning Hangover Show

5 stars ***** There are a lot of shows who cater to the late-night, alcohol consuming, ‘up-for-it’ Fringe attendee.  It’s surely a given that at some point in your Fringe viewing you attend a show that finishes in the early hours of the morning and then totter home over the Edinburgh cobbles, grabbing a bag [...]

Nathan Caton: Breakfast at Stephanie’s

**** 4 Stars I saw Nathan Caton perform his first Edinburgh show last year and was impressed with the comic ability, stage presence and material that this well educated Londoner of Caribbean stock delivered so was keen to see how the difficult second show held up. I need not have worried. Caton has as strong [...]

Jarlath Regan: Not So Common Sense

4 Stars **** In his fourth year at the Fringe, Jarlath Regan’s brand of conversational and intelligent humour is a popular attraction from the evidence of a packed house. This is not surprising for the audience is provided with an hour of sustained humour. He admitted that his 30th birthday is looming up and it [...]

Swing!

4 Stars **** Lauren Benstead’s musical comedy bounces along with a pile of toe tapping songs and saucy humour. Set in the apparently mundane middle class village of Wafthead, the tennis club is the centre of village social life offering gentle exercise and quiche. However, beneath the genteel surface, there is back biting and win [...]

Lady Carol: Malady

***** 5 Stars It is not very often that this wizened reviewer gets blown away by a musician at first hearing. I usually find the attraction grows over a period of time, but last year I was with the Fringe show delivered by Lady Carol. She is a stunningly attractive blonde, perched on a stool [...]

The Hub

5 Stars ***** Hopes, dreams and failed ambitions are the themes which come under scrutiny in this uproariously funny comedy by Feri Tezcan. Set in a TV announcer’s studio, five 25 to 35 year olds with very different personalities are thrown together. Faith, played by the writer, has recently returned from Los Angeles. She gives [...]

I, Elizabeth

4 Stars **** In her bearing and manner, Rebecca Vaughan’s portrayal of the young Elizabeth I is immediately convincing. She successfully brings a dramatic realism to a unique woman who must be one of history’s greatest survivors. Having your mother put to death by your father and imprisoned by your sister under threat of execution, [...]