Vinegar Knickers: Sketchy Beast

3 Stars ***

A blonde, a brunette and a redhead walk into a venue and perform a sketch show.  It sounds like the start of a trite gag. The Sketchy Beast show that is subsequently served up sometimes feels trite as well.

The three performers, Katie Burnetts, Samantha Baines and Harriet Fisher are good enough actors, they can dance and sing, but some of the material they use is not up to standard. Some tired old scenarios, ginger gags and chav skits do detract from some of the better original material. I was particularly impressed by the acting abilities of Katie portrays one of Adolf Hitler’s old girlfriends. Genuinely funny and different that one.

The show is very pacey, the presentation more than adequate and the enthusiasm from the stage was evident even towards the end of a long, long month.

I think this group have it in them to be a real quality act, the main requirement would be some consistently stronger material and given that, I’d be more than happy to visit their show next year.

Reviewed by Geoff

C SoCo V348

Until 29 August

16:35 to 17:25

Fringe Brochure P 163

Pistol And Jack: Smash. Glam. Sex. Music

3 Stars ***

Is this a comedy Show? A cabaret? Character comedy? A selection of all three in reality and of course music music music.

The characters are Pistol, a loud raucous, needy American chanteuse and Jack, undoubtedly English, but with a strange upbringing and a penchant for women and their story, interspersed with musical mash up is the substance of their 50 minutes.

These two are unconventional in style. The night I attended they didn’t so much break the forth wall but demolished it as Jack attempted to come on to a lady in the second row and Pistol  grabbing a guy to dance with her.

I felt they really needed to concentrate on what direction they are going. Jack in particular is a fine musician and singer, Pistol a sassy woman who can sing too, but trying to tick too many boxes was confusing and left me thinking maybe specialising would be the way forward.

The sound was not the best the night I attended also, the backing too loud and tended to drown the vocals, especially Pistols.

I’m sure in a cabaret space, with a boozy crowd they would rock. Unfortunately the space was no cabaret or the crowd boozy, and I felt a bit disappointed

Reviewed by Geoff

Assembly Theatre 3 V 3

3 to 28 August

21:20 to 22:10

The News at Kate 2011: Kate Smurthwaite

4 Stars ****

It’s been a few years since I had seen Ms Smurthwaite perform comedy live but was aware of her reputation as a favourite ‘arguer’ on BBC both TV and radio.

Although it’s well into Fringe week three she has a packed out room in the basement of an Italian restaurant, the walls of which are adorned with a couple of quotes from Mussolini, something that is seriously at odds with her left wing politics.

She is not a preachy comedian, just dislikes idiots, who come in all shapes and forms, she mixes with the stars, wants to work in advertising and has written some high brow comedy in alphabetical order of which we get a taster.

Kate is a well written, and researched comic, she does interact with her audience, but is never in your face, and has a easy delivery style, together with her stage presence and a whole host of funny material some of which on occasions makes you think and all makes you laugh.

As part of the Free Fringe entry to the show is free, but a collection bucket is available for donations at the end, after all the lady does have to eat. So why not check her out but go early, you wouldn’t want to miss out.

Reviewed by Geoff

Ciao Roma V 283

6 to 29 August

20:20 to 21:20

Fringe Brochure P 125

Laughing Horses Funny Fillies – Free

4 Stars ****

With a starting time approachingmidnight, generally I am in danger of turning into a pumpkin by then; this show features some of the best of the female comics appearing on the Fringe.

It is a laid back atmosphere, the room and the seating is more akin to a lounge than a comedy club the MC of this and every night is Sajeela Kershi, one half of sketch group Asian Provocateurs, in her more usual role as a stand-up.

The line up varies each night but the ethos is the same, numerous female acts turn up and perform part of their show, maybe ten minutes or so, to give a taster of the full experience. It’s good promotion for them and good for the audience too.

The night I attended their were two sketch groups, two stand-ups, a ukulele playing singer of comedy songs and a shark!!! I kid you not., but don’t expect it to be the same when you venture there.

The show has a nice feel about it, a bunch of mates spending time together and with Ms Kershi in charge things flow smoothly.

As part of the Free Festival entry is free, but a donation bucket is there for you to make your donation when leaving, well these fillies do need to eat after all.

Reviewed by Geoff

Laughing Horse @ The White Horse V 296

Until 28 August

23:50 to 01:00

Rory O’Hanlon: Is it Just Me That’s Mental

4 Stars *****

Rory O’Hanlon is yet another comedian from the conveyor belt of comedy talent that seems to exist inSouthern Ireland and although being a stand up for six years and having been in Edinburgh Fringe before I was unaware of him.

However, catching me in a queue for another show he, never afraid of self promotion asked me to go and see his show and as it fitted in I was able to do so.

O’Hanlon is an observational and autobiographical comedian with a nice line in material and good presentation. He is often self-deprecating making himself the butt of several stories, in particular his hair colour and now his lack of the same.

Family, school, jobs and holidays are points of call along the route he took us, with many laugh out loud moments on the way. If the audience I was in were any judges of proceedings then the guy was a definite hit. And I totally concur.

If there is a slight improvement I would like to see, then that would be a few more smiles along the way, he has an infectious sense of humour and a grin or two more would only heighten the pleasure.

Reviewed by Geoff

Just the Tonic @ The Store V 20

Until 28 August

16:20 to 17:20

Ian Fox Exposes Himself – Free

3 Stars ***

Manchester based Ian Fox has been on the comedy scene for a long time but it was only recently I became aware of his other passion that of photography, so it seems perfectly natural for him to combine the two art forms and use this as his Edinburgh show for 2011.

Playing to a smallish audience this likeable chap ran through a whole series of his photographs with Fox pointing out things in some, explaining others and generally showing his photographic ability of ‘seeing a picture’ coupled with his gentle humour.

There were two ‘ad breaks’ when he allegedly sold out for sponsorship, but were in fact a series of hand drawn gags, broke up proceedings, and we finished off with a silly game.

All good fun, non threatening, not ground breaking in any form but certainly worth seeing a s a gentle start to the long Fringe day.

Reviewed by Geoff

Laughing Horse @ Espionage V 185

14:30 to 15:30

Until 28 August

Fringe Brochure P 90

Matt Kirshen: Wide-Eyed

4 Stars ****

On the traditional Fringe Black Tuesday I along with a reasonable number of others considering the day attended the latestEdinburghshow of this engaging comic, and without fail had the time of our lives.

Now it is by far and away not the first time I have seen him perform, yet I think he is as fresh and funny today as he was then.

The essence of this show was on embarrassment, and being able to own it, mixed together with equal parts of politics as well, and as always Kirshen can be relied on to deliver a well honed enjoyable and funny hour.

He has the ability to gather he audience into his world, take them along one route, then returning to a previous scenario seamlessly achieved by the quality of his writing and the enthusiastic delivery style. He has story after story to illustrate his theme and finest examples for me where about his job some years ago in John Lewis, a nostalgic look at air travel and a BNP supporter at a gig he did in ‘the sticks.’

This was a thoroughly well rounded performance from a very funny and likeable comedian.

Reviewed by Geoff

Underbelly Belly Button V 61

4 to 28 August

20:35 to 21:35

Fringe Brochure P 116

Juliet Myers: I am Not Spartacus

4 Stars ****

On a wet Wednesday afternoon, Fringe week three, a small but beautifully formed audience one could almost have forgiven Juliet Meyers if she let the pace of her show drop. Did she do that? Hell no! Unlike the title of her show she stood up to the plate and delivered a show of substance, good material and a whole host of laughs along the way, and okay maybe just a couple of lesser moments.

She is an engaging comic, a pleasant manner and one surely can’t help but like her and her style.

As well as the already mentioned potential issues, she also had to cope with a rather enthusiastic ‘touch typist’ who got seriously involved in the show and the Venue deciding to test the fire alarm part way through her set, not to mention the staff member who confirmed it a test right over part of her story. Cope. Certainly she did and carried on virtually without pausing.

I will concede that there were not so many belly laughs in her hour, but there was certainly ample material of sufficient quality for most people and all delivered by a quality comic.

Sign me up for next years show please.

Reviewed by Geoff

Just The Tonic at The Store

Until 28 August

17:40 To 18:40

Fringe Brochure P103

Doctor’s Do Little: St George’s Medics Revue

3 Stars ***

As a rule of thumb I have given up attending student revue shows. Why? Well usually I find them self indulgent and often too surreal for my palate. There is one group I’m prepared to make an exception for and it is St. George’sMedics Revue and try to see them each year as their show always has quality and entertainment with very little self indulgence at all. And these doctors in waiting are already having packed out houses so I am not alone in supporting them.

Theis show is snappy, hectic, musical with less obviously medical based skits than normal, but the enjoyment factor is still the same. There were some very clever ideas, some silly ones, some that didn’t work as well but the rather short piece, only 40 minutes, was certainly good value for money… as always.

The finale, no I’m not going to give the game away, just has to be witnessed. And you don’t have so much time. They are on a very short run, so get there today.

Reviewed by Geoff

Spaces @ Surgeons Hall V

Until 27 August

17:10 to 17:50

Ava Vidal: The Hardest Word

4 Stars ****

It has been a while since I first saw this funny lady perform comedy and have been delighted to see her profile grow as she deservedly is becoming appreciated for the comedy talent she undoubtedly is.

With her selling out at most gigs I only managed to catch her show fairly late in the run, but am so glad I did, as always.

The show title was initially drawn from an incident with another comedian some months ago and this really was the jumping off point for the hour.

Ms Vidal has travelled far and wide this year and each and every stopping of point was a source of material for this erudite comic to regale her rapt audience with.

Of course it would not be a show if mention of her kids didn’t come into the set, along with the News of the World scandal, Australian racism, theLondonriots and funny incidents from the Kick Racism out of Football campaign that she helps with amongst others that made the cut.

With an Ava Vidal show you know the quality of performance will be extremely high, the entertainment first class and this show just underlines the norm.

Reviewed by Geoff

Stand V Venue 8a

5 to 28 August

17:05 to 18:05

Fringe Brochure P 41