Category Archives: shows

Maff Brown’s True or False – The List

‘The Royal Mile is what Prince Charles calls his intestines’

The Purple cow is purple because it has been holding its breath for too long.

Scottish people don’t even like haggis; it’s a practical joke they play on the English.

All street performers are really agoraphobics going through therapy.

The Gilded Balloon has often been mistaken for The Guild of Baboons.

When a comedian gets an erection he calls it his funny bone.

North Bridge and South Bridge often swap places when no one is looking to fool tourists.

The most popular tattoo in Edinburgh is a tattoo of the Tattoo.

The most visited venue by comedians at last year’s Fringe was the massage parlour on Blair Street.

The Scottish love it when English people do their accent at them.

Paying £4000 for a month’s rent for a one-bedroom flat is very reasonable.

It’s illegal to run on Leith Walk.

To order a fried breakfast in Edinburgh you must ask for a salad.

The EICC stands for Edinburgh Is Cocking Cold.

Arthur’s Chair has been replaced by Arthur’s Futon.

The Royal Mile is what Prince Charles calls his intestines.

There are no chairs in The Stand Comedy Club.

The free Fringe is only free because it is out on bail.

It’s impossible to look cool while walking on cobble stones.

The Pleasance Dome was the location for filming Mad Max 3.

Summer time in Edinburgh lasts 2 hours and 13 mins.

Leith Walk has the highest number of people called Keith in one area in the country and can often be known as Leith’s Keiths.

The film Groundhog Day was modelled on the Edinburgh Festival.

The Assembly rooms will be full of schoolchildren singing hymns.

The most tipped show to see this year is Christopher Biggins the Musical.

Sons of clowns never take after their fathers as their shoes are too big to fill.

Maff Brown: Pacman is actually Allergic to Ghosts, Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, until 28 Aug (not 15), 5.15pm, £9–£10 (£8–£9).

Taken from The List

Ian D. Montfort – Comics with “a little something extra up their sleeves” in The Observer on Sunday

The Guardian‘s Observer on Sunday reviewed Tom Binn’s newest incarnation Ian D. Montfort today In an article that lists comics who offer something a little more special than straight stand-up, Stephanie Merritt said,

“Since retiring his award-nominated amateur DJ Ivan Brackenbury, character comic Tom Binns has found new success in the guise of spirit medium Ian D Montfort (Spirit Comedium, Pleasance). Simply spoofing this dodgy profession offers plenty of comedic scope on its own (“There’s a lady here,” Montfort says earnestly, eyes closed, “who’s either thinking about losing weight or has just lost some weight…”), but what makes this show so compelling is that Binns has learned the genuine tricks of the trade, so that laughter turns to astonished gasps as he appears to receive real information about audience members from their chosen dead celebrity. There are some lovely moments – “Is anyone here thinking of Ernie Wise? Anyone?” Pause. “No one again, Ernie, sorry. Next time, bring Eric with you” – and, as with Brackenbury, the details of the character are beautifully observed, down to the embroidered jeans and flip-flops. This is a superbly original idea, skilfully executed – an affectionate debunking of the genre that also admires the cleverness of its deceptions.”

Read the who of the article here

Learn More about Tom Binns as Ian D. Montfort – Spirit Comedium on his show page

And buy tickets from the Pleasance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The List Talks High Art and Comedy with Hannah Gadsby

The List‘s Jon Richardson today considers the fine line between High Art and Comedy, Hannah says,

“Stand-up and qualified art curator Hannah Gadsby. She’s conducted humorous general gallery tours in her native Australia, but for the Fringe she’s straddling a fine line of reverence and mockery of representations of the Virgin Mary. Densely researched, Mary. Contrary is a ‘serious lecture that I tell in a more irreverent manner with jokes and a few personal stories thrown in. Because it’s slightly heavier subject matter than normal, the laughs are easier to extract.’

Her lectures draw those who ‘want to see a different kind of comedy, people who are genuinely into art but intimidated by gallery spaces and those who like feeling superior to other people’. And she hopes to encourage more critical art appraisal. ‘It’s important they take whatever they want from art and if they think something’s rubbish, that’s a perfectly valid response. A gallery or a big comedy venue doesn’t automatically convey merit; art should elicit emotion and whether that’s good, bad or indifferent, people need to trust their initial instincts. But laugh at mine!’”

Check out the whole article at The List website

Or for more information on Mary. Contrary. go to Hannah’s show page 

Or buy tickets Here!