Edinburgh's Czech Centre last week celebrated the six shows, five companies and art exhibition that have come from the Czech Republic to the Fringe this year. The ThreeWeeks photo team were there to snap some of those involved in the Czech shows, which take place in various venues across town, and details of which are online at here. Photos: Elena Heatherwick

EIF GEORGIAN BALLET COMPANY COMMENT ON SITUATION BACK HOME
We all expected the news agenda in August to be dominated by the Olympics but instead - as any of you who have actually seen the news since arriving in Edinburgh will know - it is the escalating violence in Georgia that has been capturing the headlines, as Russian troops move to exert their authority over the former Soviet state.

That particular story has a Festival angle of sorts because the State Ballet Of Georgia are in Edinburgh as we speak for performances of 'Giselle' and a 'Mixed Bill' show. It's not clear whether the 80 strong company will be able to return home at the end of the week when their EIF shows are complete, meanwhile two British musicians were drafted in at the last minute after two Georgian musicians were unable to leave their country in time given the latest troubles. Recorded traditional Georgian folk music will also be used in the 'Mixed Bill' show to replace the group Changi, who are now also unable to make it to Scotland.

One ballerina involved in the shows has spoken out against Russia's actions in her home country. Nina Ananiashvili, originally from Moscow but a Georgian resident since the age of 13, is married to a Georgian foreign minister, and she has told reporters that she is angry at the Kremlins actions in the region, and at what she sees as a slow response to the developments by Western governments.

Speaking ahead of the final performance of 'Giselle' on Sunday, she said: "It feels like everyone is looking at us, but they are not making a strong decision. I think we expected a stronger decision from the West. But I don't think Russian is listening, they don't listen to any international law, because they are powerful. They may finish suddenly, but after this, it will be the same thing - Russia will cut one part and then another part".

I NAME THEE SIR PENGUIN OF CORSTORPHINE
And you thought all the crazy stories came out of the Fringe, but this one has landed on our desk on Tattoo headed notepaper. It's the one about the penguin due to be promoted by the Norwegian King's Guard later this week. Yes Norway's King's Guards are about to honour a penguin. At Edinburgh Zoo. Brilliant.

The penguin in question is already the most decorated (in the medal sense) penguin on record. In 1962 a young lietuenant from the King's Guard called Nils Egelien, while on a trip to Edinburgh, stumbled across the penguins at the city's zoo. Feeling a certain affinity to the birds, when he returned a decade later he persuaded his regiment to adopt one King Penguin in Edinburgh Zoo as a mascot. That penguin, named Nils Olav (after Egelien and Norway’s then King Olav) by the army, has since been awarded the rank of Lance Corporal, then Sergeant (1987), then Sergeant Major (1993), then Honourable Regimental Sergeant Major (2001) and finally Honorary Colonel-in-Chief (2005).

With the King's Guard in town to participate in the aforementioned Edinburgh Military Tattoo, they plan to pay the, presumably now rather aging, penguin a visit to promote him even further this week. We don't know what to, though it wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't become heir to the Norwegian throne.

The ceremony will take place at Edinburgh Zoo on Friday, with the guards accompanied by other participants from the Tattoo, and the big show's producer Major General Euan Loudon, who told ThreeWeeks: "I am honoured to have been asked by the Norwegian Guard to perform the promotion ceremony for Nils. I understand he continues to carry out his duties as Honorary Colonel in an exemplary fashion and this latest award is clearly very much deserved".

I'm not sure I believe any of this, but if one press office can be trusted at the Edinburgh Festival surely it's the Tattoo's? So, if you think the one thing your Festival has been missing so far is witnessing the promotion of a regimental penguin, then get thee to the Zoo at the end of the week. It all kicks off at 10.45am on Friday.

Send in news: editor@threeweeks.co.uk

Answering the ThreeWeeks Quick Quiz today... Bremner Duthie from 'Whiskey Bars'

1. What is your 2008 show all about? 'Whiskey Bars' is a tell-all, behind the scenes, no-holds-barred, backstage peek into the torrid and neurotic life of a fading cabaret singer teetering between a stunning future and a plunge into obscurity. It takes place as he prepares himself with innumerable shots of cheap vodka in the dressing room before a 'comeback' performance. Casting the audience as his critic, he lies, seduces, threatens, cajoles and bargains to secure a good review for the show he's about to do...all while performing a reverse striptease. He starts in a towel and ends in full tuxedo and whiteface. And best of all - he illustrates his story with the dark and daring songs of Kurt Weill. 2. Why should we come and see it? Because folks say 'Wow' after hearing Weill's songs in this context - songs like 'Mack The Knife', 'September Song' and soooooo many others, with lyrics by writers from Bertolt Brecht to Ira Gershwin. Because how often to you get to spend an evening with someone who believes they were captured by aliens? And because everyone can relate to the story of trying to get up and do what most scares them.

4. What are you most looking forward to about this year's Festival?
We're looking forward to sharing our own art and work and struggles equally amidst a collective community of the best of international theatre dedicated to artistic excellence...no, wait...that's the first line from the grant proposal...damn! ...OK... we're looking forward to single malts, late night music jams, a distant shot at fame & glory, and a brief sleazy fling with some hot dancer with an amazing physique (we can dream, right?).

5. What are you least looking forward to about this year's Festival?
Now look - before heading for Canada I spent my youth in Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire...not that far from Edinburgh...so I know...I know ALL ABOUT the friggin' awful weather. None of those carefully selected edfringe.com photos where happy performers busk in warm sunlight fool me. In Canada, August means a chance to soak up some sun, but in the capital city of Scotland I remember those North Sea squalls sweeping through at any time of year! Normally I do the busking in white face, so hopefully drizzled, dripping and streaked makeup will give me that lovely dramatic touch...

7. What advice would you have for someone trying to survive the Fringe?
Just three words – Alcohol, Caffeine, Baked Tatties

8. Describe your show in three words
Terrifyingly pleasurable schmaltz

Even more reviews for you! Some, though not all, of these also appeared in edition 08 of the printed ThreeWeeks Daily. Remember only a selection of our reviews appear in the printed Daily and Weekly, they all appear here in the eDaily. Enjoy...

Speedy links:
Children's Shows - Comedy - Dance - Music - Musicals & Opera - Theatre

ThreeWeeks Ratings Explained
1/5: Bad
2/5: Mediocre
3/5: Good
4/5: Very good
5/5: Excellent

CHILDREN'S SHOWS

The Sun Dragon
Gomito Productions
The sun's been stolen by a dragon who needs it to keep its eggs warm, and schoolboy Jacob has been chosen by a robot version of Isaac Newton to travel to another planet to retrieve it. Logic and science is mixed with magic and mystery to ignite the imagination as well as encourage curiosity about the laws of science. The acting isn't always strong but the amazing costumes and puppetry provoked some enthusiastic "ooohs" and "aaaahs" from the audience. The point of the story is slightly laboured at times, and you feel the snippets of science are interrupting the plot, but it's informative nevertheless, and there are even a few jokes thrown in for the Mums and Dads.
Pleasance Courtyard, 30 Jul - 25 Aug, 12.45pm (1.30pm), £7.00 (£6.00), fpp 18.
tw rating 3/5
[sg]

The Just In Case
Ambidextrous
It's often hard to experience a Zen moment of calm on the Fringe or, I suppose, if you have a young child, but 'The Just In Case' is proof that it's not impossible. This show is packed with colourful props - flowers, rainbow snail puppets and sequined jingling ants - and it is all set to a brilliantly chosen soundtrack. There is no narrative and there is no speech, only dance and movement. Some scenes are odd: two torch lit faces behind curved glass made for a surreal moment. However, the more successful parts of the show create a shimmering dance of nature, both hypnotising and relaxing; an undulating underwater sequence in particular threatened to lull me into a (not unwelcome) meditative trance.
Gilded Balloon Teviot, 1 - 25 Aug (not 12 or 19), 11.30am (12.30pm), prices vary, fpp 15.
tw rating 3/5
[jwm]

Cloudcuckooland
The Onassis Programme - Festival Highlights
An enthusiastic, energetic show with a strong environmental message, 'Cloudcuckooland' is also serious fun. The play is based (loosely) on Aristophanes' work 'The Birds', and the material generated appeals to kids and adults alike, with numerous pop-culture references smuggled into the songs to keep parents amused. Multi-talented performers act, sing, clown around and play musical instruments, maintaining a frenetic pace throughout, whilst the live music contributes to an exciting, carnival atmosphere, although the musicians did sometimes drown out the singers, who had no microphones. Some of the younger audience members found the cacophonous trombone music accompanying the chase scene (which is itself a significant achievement given the tiny stage) a bit frightening, although their tears were soon forgotten, and the laughter returned when the music grew softer.
Pleasance Courtyard, 30 Jul - 25 Aug (not 1, 13), 12.50pm (1.50pm), £8.50 (£7.00), fpp 11.
tw rating 4/5
[al]

COMEDY

Andrew Bird: This Is Ten Years From Now
Andrew Bird
Andrew Bird offers proper British bloke-in-a-pub kind of humour, in the nicest possible way. He's so amiable, even someone's annoying mobile phone going off just prompted astonishment at how loud it was, without a tinge of irritation. His material is not exactly groundbreaking - British weather, public transport, racist grandmothers - but it's well delivered and he's always enjoyably easy-going. The premise of the show - that it's 10 years since he left school and he still doesn't feel like an adult - provided good material; wry looks back at being a kid prompted similarly wry looks at how childlike most adults really are (although he tended to repeat himself a bit). But be warned: this show may prompt dangerous nostalgia for the 1990s.
Pleasance Courtyard, 30 Jul - 25 Aug (not 12), 8.30pm (9.30pm), prices vary, fpp 26.
tw rating 3/5
[hw]

Andrew Lawrence
Don't Just Do Something, Sit There!
He sounds like a coal miner who smokes 40 a day, he looks like a demon child from a horror movie, and his material - well, what are you expecting? Jackanory? The humour begins as black as the comic's intense eyes, and his phenomenal pace allows him to jump into a risqué area and out again before you have time to stop laughing and pretend you're offended. It isn't just randomly insulting, however, the theme is making the most of your life, and allows Lawrence some well-aimed attacks on consumerism. Also impressive are the multiple voices, not all of them rasping, though none of them exactly sweet, employed in quick-fire conversations with each other. A skillful stand-up who isn't as evil as he looks.
Pleasance Courtyard, 30 Jul - 24 Aug, 9.45pm (10.45pm), prices vary, fpp 26.
tw rating 4/5
[se]

Barbershopera
Toni & The Guys
Barbershop quartets have a simple genius to them - actually, quite a complex genius - close harmony is one of those things you've got to do right or not at all, and these guys are right on the money. The plot really is simple: one member of the quartet has gone AWOL, so they hire a female opera singer to take his part. Amongst what ensues is a flirtation, numerous song references, a training montage (with the appropriate music sung barbershop style), and chase scenes where the cast double up as another quartet with Groucho Marx glasses. The show is packed with silly action and implausible rhyme. This is witty, light-hearted musical mischief that never misses a beat. Or a minor key change.
Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 25 Aug (not 12 or 20), 9.50pm (10.50pm), prices vary, fpp 30.
tw rating 4/5
[jwm]

Beth Becomes Her
Bethany Black's show is confessional comedy at its most extreme. She takes her audience from abortion to suicide attempts through mental breakdown to, eventually, gender reassignment surgery and the beginnings of her comedy career. As she admits, it doesn't sound like a 'comedy goldmine' but the show is more than simple stand-up. It's frequently awkward as she tells the story of her gender reassignment surgery, step by gruesome step, and while Bethany has a down-to-earth style that lets her get away with more than many other comics could, there's no denying that dedicating a show to her aborted unborn child could be one ethical dilemma too far for many. Thought-provoking, ambitious and uniquely funny.
Baby Belly, 31 Jul - 24 Aug (not 11), 11.05pm (12.05am), prices vary, fpp 33.
tw rating 3/5
[vp]

Fried Eggs Don't Talk Back
Graham Foster/Gareth Morinan/PBH's Free Fringe
This is a pretty average stand-up show featuring three different comedians each doing ten minute sets. The usually quite humorous Simon Lilley was first up, but failed to impress on this occasion, raising little more than a few chuckles, though he did engage the audience in some decent banter. Next on stage was Gareth Morinan who was my favourite of the line-up by far. He did some self-deprecating material but raised the tone with his wonderful artwork including such gems as 'Cat on Moon' and 'Cat on Acid'. Lastly came Gareth Foster, who was suffering from the self-inflicted sickness of the night owls, eerily common amongst Fringe performers.
The Standing Order, 2 - 23 Aug, 2.45pm (3.45pm), free, fpp 51.
tw rating 2/5
[mb]

After Hours
Pleasance Theatre
With an audience boozed up and ready for a laugh, the atmosphere couldn't fail to be a lively one at the Dome's 'After Hours'. Four hand-picked comedians and a compère mean there's bound to be something for everyone, and a bar in the venue ensures that nobody's cup runneth dry. Great for couples and groups of mates, this is a perfect way to round-off an evening, and if you're feeling brave, the tables at the front will ensure some involvement in the night's proceedings. Just make sure you wait for a pause before taking a swig, as spraying the person in front with your beery guffaws probably isn't the best way to make friends. Awesome late night hilarity.
Pleasance Dome, dates vary, 12.45am (2.30am), prices vary, fpp 22.
tw rating 4/5
[fc]

Amadeus Martin & Special P Frederick: Facts Sometimes Based On Actual Events
PBH's Free Fringe
"I'm black so I can't be racist, can I?" Hmm, tricky. Maybe you should ask the Asian community you've just spent the last half hour stereotyping. Suffice to say that if sweeping generalisations aren't your bucket of fried chicken, this might not be the show for you. But, double standards aside, Amadeus and Special P are actually quite likable. Their humour might not be the most original - or 'PC' - and the delivery is fairly unpolished, but they are charismatic entertainers who quickly win over the room. The unapologetic attitude towards their material, however, is a little intimidating and you may find yourself laughing more to avoid being picked on than out of any real amusement.
Nicol Edwards, dates vary, 10.30pm (11.30pm), free, fpp 24.
tw rating 2/5
[fc]

Best Of The Fest 2008
Assembly in Association with STV
There was a 14-year-old boy in the front row; discovered by amiable host Stephen K Amos, little Ben got quite an education tonight from the unrestrained comedians at this show, which went on well past his bedtime. First to liven up the crowd was useless hospital DJ Ivan Brackenbury, gormlessly ambling on stage scratching his crotch. Things proceeded from gormless to ghoulish as Andrew Lawrence's fast-paced rasping voice freaked out some of the audience, then legendary folk singer Otis Lee Crenshaw gave Duncan the personal injury lawyer in the second row his own song. After Jason Byrne's very lively set (he may have had a few drinks. Or not. He is Jason Byrne after all) Amos finished the night by getting Ben on stage, a sweet ending to a long, filling feast of funny.
Assembly @ George Street, dates vary, 11.59pm (2.00am), prices vary, fpp 33.
tw rating 4/5
[se]

The Big Value Comedy Show
Just The Tonic
The Big Value Comedy Show is essentially 90 minutes of stand-up comedy for the price you would usually pay for 60 minutes. However, just because there is quantity, does not always guarantee quality. This year's line-up consists of Charlie Baker, Paul F. Taylor, Stuart Hudson and Carl Donnelly. Charlie Baker's jokes are nothing new, but his singing voice is impressive, and I felt he could work it into his act more successfully. Donnelly and Taylor fail to make much of an impression, but Hudson steals the show with his own brand of black comedy. Dark and self-deprecating, his material stands out as distinctly different from the rest. Although the quality isn't first-class, there is a pleasing amount of variety.
Underbelly's Baby Belly, 31 Jul - 24 Aug, 9.45pm (11.15pm), prices vary, fpp 33.
tw rating 3/5
[kk]

Hils Barker: Exhibitionist!
Jeremy Meadow for Something for the Weekend Ltd
The topic of dystopia is 'in' at the moment, it seems, and Hils Barker has some genuinely original material to add. Set in a future where social networking sites have become a powerful tool for both marketing and government observation, four characters voice their opinions in front of webcams that they cannot switch off. This is part character-comedy, part stand-up, and part theatre, which has its disadvantages; Hils makes jokes in character aimed at the webcam rather than the audience in front of her, constraining the stand-up element of the show. Nevertheless, the jokes are clever, often with a sharp satirical edge, perhaps making Barker one of the most innovative and relevant acts you will see this year.
Gilded Balloon Teviot, 31 Jul - 25 Aug (not 12), 4.00pm (5.00pm), prices vary, fpp 58.
tw rating 3/5
[jwm]

The Jonny and Joe Show
Jonny and Joe
The Jonny and Joe Show is an off-the-wall sketch show, with great one-liners and a healthy dose of bizarre situational comedy. Johnny and Joe are a marvellous pairing, with Joe taking the more serious roles in order to contrast with Jonny's flamboyant persona. Their awareness of the contrived nature of a sketch show is refreshing, often pointing out that they have forgotten what is meant to come next. This tactic could go horribly wrong, but given their immense likeability, it works in their favour. Many of their sketches would work well on TV, so I wouldn't be surprised if they were to make that transition, at some point: although they've created a side-splittingly funny show, they are still very much in the process of mastering their craft.
Pleasance Dome, 30 Jul- 25 Aug (not 11), 8.10pm (9.10pm), prices vary, fpp 66.
tw rating 4/5
[kk]

Lucy and Des Show Off
This show has some of the best jingles in town. From the gloriously camp introduction onwards, it's obvious that someone's had a lot of fun with a jingle machine! 'Lucy and Des Show Off' sees Fringe favourites Lucy Porter and Des Clarke showcasing their own work as well as some of the sketch comedy available at the Fringe. Their own sketches aren't anything special, but their stand-up and chat show material more than makes up for it. Lucy's the more vocal, more visible and more edgy of the two (and essentially funnier), while Des feels cut in the mould of an older and more traditional act. Together though, the performance works; they are silly and engaging, and accompanied by great guest acts, the show is teatime perfection.
Pleasance Courtyard, 30 Jul - 25 Aug (not 6, 13), 5.00pm (6.00pm), prices vary, fpp 74.
tw rating 4/5
[vp]

One Thing After Another
Tiani Ghosh/PBH's Free Fringe
Away from the packed crowds of the Underbelly, the Pleasance, and the rest of the Edinburgh Comedy Festival crew, the real Fringe experience is still going strong. Unfortunately, the real Fringe experience can be a mixed bag of cheap shows and even cheaper jokes, but real comic class can be discovered, and Tiani Ghosh certainly shows a great deal of potential with this carefully crafted sketch show, performed for free in some basement bar on George Street. Each little skit is given time to develop, as the terrifyingly inept character played by Ghosh works her way through a very confusing life. A bit more variety would have been welcome, but this is a more than pleasant alternative to the bigger names.
Madogs, 2 - 23 Aug (not 11), 12.15pm (1.15pm), free non ticketed, fpp 84.
tw rating 3/5
[tm]

Alex Horne - Wordwatching
Avalon Promotions
Dick knickers. Pratdigger. Mental safari. These are just a few terms Alex Horne wants included in the dictionary - and he needs your help to make it happen. He calls the process 'planting verbal seeds,' and ensures that his bizarre terms are sowed in magazine interviews, online forums and even the BBC World News. But what's your part in the process? Simple: Horne asks you to include his terms in everyday conversation, utilising them with confidence, like they actually are words. He even reinforces his 'planting' project with hilarious 'use-of-word' demonstrations by himself on video - a character he converses with throughout the show as if it were an 'other'. So put your paddles (hands) in your pockets, pull out some honk (money) and go see this show.
Pleasance Courtyard, 30 July - 25 Aug (not 20), 7.40pm (8.40 pm), prices vary, fpp 23.
tw rating 3/5
[be]

Dan Nightingale: Geronimo
Gag Reflex Management
Apart from the somewhat embarrassing moments where Dan Nightingale chatted away to me on the front row, whilst referring to the strange man next to me as my 'dad', this was a thoroughly enjoyable session of stand-up. Nightingale has obviously served his time on the drunken-hen-night comedy circuit, and is truly relishing playing to a slightly higher calibre of audience. Although the show took a while to pick up steam, Nightingale has a warm rapport with his audience and a wry observational style of humour, lending weight to previously made comparisons to Daniel Kitson. It's not side-splittingly hilarious, but it's delightful to listen to Nightingale tell his stories.
Underbelly, 31 Jul - 24 Aug (not 11), 7.50pm (8.50pm), prices vary, fpp 43.
tw rating 4/5
[je]

The Grandees
The Grandees
This. Was. Ridiculous. And probably the most surreal comedy I've seen so far this Fringe. A gay faun in very, very tight green tights, a prince with a rat-face on his finkle, a dance to 'Wuthering Heights' to leave your stomach aching with laughter, a scene from Pulp Fiction, a box, a key, a fisher-price cassette player, there is no way to describe this play other than utter, utter madness. Glam-rock surrealism, or maybe giblet-parading-dance-mania, it was a crazy hour performed hilariously by the cast. There were some film references I think I missed, which is why I'll be definitely going back. See you at the end for the free Polaroid. And tell all your friends.
Underbelly's Baby Belly, 31 Jul - 24 Aug (not 12), 1.15pm (2.00pm), prices vary, fpp 55.
tw rating 5/5
[rs]

A Guide To Sexual Misery
Wolfgang Weinberger
Honesty is the best policy, right? Well, we are actively encouraged to be as honest as possible in this show, which is more like a seminar/group therapy session than a comedy gig. When the session starts we are divided into guys and girls, so that we can answer honestly some personal questions, and to avoid any embarrassment we are asked to 'hum' if we agree with a statement, a tactic which works well, as the only person you can identify as humming is the person sat next to you. Our session leader is funny and knowledgeable and is able to explain ideas and concepts clearly. It's a good show but be prepared to be completely honest, as that is the only way it can work.
Sweet Teviot, 31 Jul - 24 Aug, 9.00pm (10.00pm), £8.50 (£7.50), fpp 56.
tw rating 3/5
[fa]

Laurence Clark: Spastic Fantastic!
Laurence Clark
Power-point to hand, Laurence Clark delivers a witty and creative stand-up show. Cleverly interweaving the meaning of words, the visibility of disability, and perhaps the last taboo: the reclamation of the term 'spastic' from its non-derogatory origins, Clark's VT footage exposes the ignorance of the so-called great British public. But most importantly it makes for toe-curling, cringe-worthily brilliant viewing. Clark measures the success of his shows by the number of laughs he gets, not by PC liberal sympathy for his cerebral palsy, and with this in mind, I can safely say that judging by his audience's reaction he is nothing short of an excellent comedian, and anyone who hates David Cameron and Heather Mills as much as he does gets my thumbs up!
Pleasance Courtyard, 31 Jul - 24 Aug (not 11, 12), 4.45pm (5.45pm), prices vary, fpp 71.
tw rating 4/5
[rsj]

Maeve Higgins - Kitten Brides
Lisa Richards in Association With Edcom8
I hate to let the side down, but I think comediennes often leave a lot to be desired. This, fortunately, is very much not the case with the lovely Irish cailin, Maeve Higgins, who is well equipped to spar with the big boys for a chance to fulfill our every comedy whim. Her exceptionally natural style of delivery is complimented by her banter with the audience, who reacted with a rarely seen frenzied giddiness, and I assure you, the show is worth seeing if only to find out the peculiar reason why it's entitled 'Kitten Brides'. Maeve, who rates chatting as her number one activity, is one of those people who leave you agape with the utter madness that comes out of her mouth - but in a very good way.
Gilded Balloon Teviot, 30 Jul - 24 Aug (not 11), 7.45pm (8.45pm), prices vary, fpp 75.
tw rating 4/5
[mb]

Mould & Arrowsmith: A Sketch Show in Powerpoint
Mould & Arrowsmith
This show claims that "you're never quite sure what's real". I beg to differ. My feelings of boredom throughout this performance were all too real, my will to live less and less so. The idea of using Powerpoint in a comedy show has potential, but what's the point if you're only going to stand in front of the projection screen? Actually, what's the point in doing a comedy show, with or without Powerpoint, if you're going to use weak material with lame punchlines and spend much of the time trying not to giggle at your own hilarity? Most of these sketches should have stayed in the pub where they originated and belonged. I've had more entertaining experiences with Microsoft Office Assistant.
Pleasance Courtyard, 30 Jul - 24 Aug, 4.30pm (5.30pm), £9.50 (£8.00), fpp 79.
tw rating 1/5
[jm]

Real Daniel O'Donnell Show Presents: The Clock Hour
Real Daniel O'Donnell Show
Do you want to hear a story? Well, 'The Clock Hour' offers no less than "twelve tales of terror". The company of five moved swiftly through their material, from one bizarre sketch to the next, all sprinkled liberally with surreal non-sequiturs, clever word play and puns galore. They took every possible cliché or familiar phrase and turned them very firmly on their heads. And yet somehow it doesn't quite come together. This show should have been rather funny but it failed to provoke a single belly laugh (although the advert for the 'Complete BBC News' box set on DVD came close). It might be performed at the witching hour, but there's some kind of magic missing here.
Pleasance Courtyard, 30 Jul - 25 Aug (not 13), 11.00pm (12.00am), prices vary, fpp 90.
tw rating 2/5
[hw]

Susan Calman - Maybe It Is Your Fault
Stand Comedy Club
If this is a bad review, Susan Calman has given permission to blame it on her, or shoplifting, or anything. You may as well go just to find yourself a scapegoat, though you should also go for the hilarious ramblings and moans of this 5'11'' Lesbetarian (her terminology) who is afraid of raisins and loves chicken in white sauce. Sporting a bright gold tie she meandered through relationships, cats and how a lesbian can never have too many suede brogues. "Let go of responsibility" is her rallying cry, and it's certainly one you'll want to get behind. Ingeniously she had placed a photo of herself on the side so if your mind wandered it was brought straight back to her. Mine didn't once.
The Stand Comedy Club III & IV, 30 Jul - 24 Aug (not 31, 11), 3.10pm (4.10pm), £7.00 (£6.00), fpp 101.
tw rating 4/5
[rs]

Sound & Fury's 'Cyranose!'
Sound & Fury
For a show based on a man deemed hideous to women because of his huge snoz, there is a glaring absence of prosthetic noses in Sound and Fury's 'Cyranose'. However, this three piece are the kind of anarchic ensemble that thrive on the suspension of disbelief; indeed at one point swords are comically mimed as they were apparently 'confiscated by customs'. This is high jinks, historical pastiche that titillates as much as educates. However, for all its energy and hilarity, I can't help feeling that this may be a show in an adult time slot, which is really for kids. That said, adults are only grown up kids anyway, and the middle aged kids around me were certainly all doubled up laughing.
Gilded Balloon Teviot, 1 - 25 Aug, 7.00pm (8.00pm), prices vary, fpp 97.
tw rating 4/5
[pl]

DANCE AND PHYSICAL THEATRE

Holdin' Fast
DOT 504/Czech Republic @ the Fringe 2008
Titillating even before the show starts, the four pairs of legs with disembodied voices canoodling boisterously before us are like foreplay to the main event. Sold as a "dreamy ballad of sexual dependency" DOT 504's work is raw and visceral, and while overtly sexual at times, it remains sexy and sensual. Dancers are carried with a swift caress until they hook, flex and hurl themselves into an athletic airborne flight of dangerous orchestrated beauty. At times violent and challenging, the series of scenes and dances contain magic, humour and gravity. As the company conveys the weight of touch and pressure of connection, sometimes gentle, but more often heavy, they grasp onto bodies in motion and hold tight. It's an exhilarating ride.
Zoo Southside, 1 - 25 Aug (not 11, 18), 1.00pm (1.50pm), £10.00 (£8.00), fpp 116.
tw rating 4/5
[sr]

MUSIC

Cathedral Messiaen 100
St Mary's Cathedral
Opinion is divided on Messiaen; there are some, like organist Nicholas Wearne, who love his compositions for their innovation, complexity and broad range of influences. There are others, myself included, who feel that they sound like a night on Ketamine with Delia Derbyshire in the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. So this is an easy one to sum up. If you like Messiaen, you're in for a treat; Wearne has a lifetime of world-wide playing under his belt, a salvo of CDs to his name and a beautiful, candlelit Catholic cathedral in which to perform. Add a star to my rating, and go. If you're a casual fan of organ music, skip this and take in some Bach instead.
St Mary's Cathedral, 7 Aug, 21 Aug, 10.00pm (10.40pm), £5.00, fpp 144.
tw rating 3/5
[cmg]

In The Smoke
This group of vocalists consisted of five girls and eight guys who sang a cappella pop and soul songs, and in the tight space of Sweet Teviot Place, the audience couldn't fail to be charmed by their genuine enjoyment and enthusiasm. Favorite tunes included 'Midnight Train' and 'Martha', but they also performed a dance music medley and, as a second encore, pulled out a medley of theme tunes from popular children's TV shows, including Inspector Gadget and Ghostbusters. There weren't any outstanding individual voices and they lost the rhythm once or twice, but they had superb backing vocals and harmonies, and seeing this charismatic group in a small performance space is a unique experience sure to leave you buzzing.
Sweet Teviot Place, 6 - 10 Aug, 5.25pm (6.15pm), £8.50 (£6.50), fpp 152.
tw rating 3/5
[tb]

InvAsian Festival: ChineseElvis - The King From Beijing
ChineseElvis
I think I must be on drugs. See, this Chinese guy just walked into the room wearing an Elvis costume and started serving me dim sum whilst giving a lecture on the history of themed Asian restaurants. Not being an Elvis fan myself, I didn't think much of the music but then the 'King from Beijing' seems to be more about the piss-take than the musical legacy anyway, using a mixture of stand-up style banter, Powerpoint 'lectures', oh, and the odd song. Though a very friendly guy, his show did feel rather fan-exclusive and the gags weren't all that great, though the sheer surreal nature of the experience is sure to pull in some curious punters.
ClubWEST @ Quincentenary Hall, 3 - 22 Aug, 3.15pm (4.05pm), £10.00 (£8.00), fpp 153.
tw rating 3/5
[sh]

MUSICALS AND OPERA

The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Edinburgh International Festival
There can be few endings as depressing as Mahagonny's. As the anarchic pleasure-city burns, a doom-laden chorus intones "nothing will help him or us or you now" with such conviction that it's hard not to believe them. Yet the calibre of the performances at the EIF opening concert was so high that the opera managed to be uplifting in spite of its gloomy plot. Excellent singing all round, particularly from Anthony Dean Griffey as Jim, and the usual high standards were on display from the Edinburgh Festival Chorus under Christopher Bell and the RSNO, conducted by HK Gruber. The concert performance spares us the Brechtian captions and placards, allowing the music to take pride of place - and it's richly deserved!
Usher Hall, 8 Aug, 7.00pm (10.00pm), prices vary, eifpp 2.
tw rating 5/5
[jm]

THEATRE

Confessions & Obsessions Of A Thirty Something Divorcee
MJS Productions
I blame Bridget Jones. Ever since chic-lit, material dealing with single thirty-something women has saturated popular culture, thus rendering this particular zeitgeist well and truly over. This is a shame, because it makes 'Confessions' neither a unique, nor an informative experience. However, it is an exposing account of the aftermath of divorce, and its star Melanie Sherwood is an engaging performer, who discusses love, sex, and marriage - all in her underwear and with (rather crazily) her vibrator - in a genuine, touching and funny manner. Unfortunately, it would take more than a slick of Touche Éclat to cover the cracks in 'Confessions', which although humorous, does feel, due to its happy ending, a little contrived. And for this I blame 'Sex And The City'.
The Vault, 3 - 25 (not 11, 18), 1.15pm (1.55pm), prices vary, fpp 192.
tw rating 3/5
[rsj]

Charlie Victor Romeo
Scamp Theatre In Association With Mercury Colchester & Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds
Star ratings shouldn't apply - either you want to watch this or you don't. 'Charlie Victor Romeo', phonetic for CSV, and meaning Cockpit Voice Recorder, re-enacts cockpit scenes in several real-life airline disasters using scripts based on the black box recordings. Before each re-enactment, a terse overhead informs you of the number of passengers and crew on each flight and the nature of the malfunction. The sound is perfect. You can feel the mid-flight rumble in your chair; hear the manic beeping; hear the crew talking over each other, reading out figures and status reports in incomprehensible technical language, becoming increasingly panicked until the moment of impact, after which the overhead lists the casualties. This is sickeningly close to reality, and both hard to watch and utterly compelling. It feels somehow wrong to applaud.
Udderbelly's Pasture, 31 Jul - 25 Aug (not 12), 7.40pm (8.55pm), prices vary, fpp 190.
tw rating 4/5
[jwm]

Foreskins Lament
Trailer Trash Theatre
So there I was, sitting in a small, crowded room with a whole team of stark naked New Zealand rugby players. No, this isn't a description of some weird personal fetish; I don't even like rugby. This was the opening scene of 'Foreskins Lament', a surprisingly compelling and sophisticated play about a group of men whose lives are dominated by the game. Though all the talk of ankle taps and advantage lines went completely over my head, it didn't take me long to be taken in by the intensity of the actors' performances and Greg McGee's excellent scripting. Definitely worth a visit, if only for much toned testosterone and way more sophistication than your average sports pinup calendar.
Pleasance Courtyard, 3 - 25 Aug (not 17), 12.50pm (2.00pm), prices vary, fpp 200.
tw rating 4/5
[sh]

Carl Hiaasen's 'Lucky You'
By Carl Hiaasen
Author Carl Hiaasen apparently approves of this adaptation of his bestselling novel 'Lucky You', and it isn't hard to see why. The play brings out all the depth and complexity of the world of the book and notes of colour, aggression, and humour are struck in a sardonic portrait of greed, white supremacists and crackpot Christians in Florida. The sassy JoLayne, played by Nicola Alexis, wins $14 million in the lottery but when gun-toting rednecks steal her ticket to fund their White Rebel Brotherhood she is determined to get it back. A whole mix of characters are drawn into the fray, part acting and part narrating their own stories making a lively and unrestrained production that does credit to Hiaasen's sharp satirical imagination.
Assembly @ Assembly Hall, 31 Jul - 25 Aug (not 4, 11), 2.15pm (3.45pm), prices vary, fpp 213.
tw rating 4/5
[lr]

Romeo And Juliet
NonsenseRoom Productions
Staged in a wonderfully atmospheric setting, this faithful adaptation of the world's best known love story is a joy to behold. Preserving both period dress and Shakespeare's language, the play has been slightly modified to suit just three actors, each playing a number of roles (some exposition and unnecessary characters are cut, and the roles of Benvolio and Friar Laurence are both enlarged). The performance began within the intricately carved chapel, before we were led outside the building for a number of key scenes, including the famous balcony scene, and the tragic finale; the gloomy sunset of a Scottish summer's evening was the perfect environment in which to witness a pair of star cross'd lovers taking their lives. Magical.
Rosslyn Chapel, 31 Jul - 23 Aug (not 3, 10, 17), times vary, prices vary, fpp 226.
tw rating 4/5
[al]

She Do The Police In Different Voices
Cal Arts Festival Theater
The scene is set with an ominously ticking metronome in a pitch black room, forewarning of a majestically dark rendition of T.S Eliot's 'The Wasteland'. One performer, basking in a single light, mixes recitation of the original poem with interpretation of the different characters. A smoothly poetic interchange between stanzas allows her to change personality in the blink of an eye, becoming the unmoved lady spurned by her midnight lover, before morphing seamlessly into the old clairvoyant joyfully predicting death by water. A simple setting with very few props highlights the importance of what is being said: words tumble rhythmically forward and our protagonist doesn't miss a beat. This performance is as much a masterpiece as the original poetic work.
Venue 13, 8 - 17 Aug (not 11), 11.00am (11.30am), prices vary, fpp 230.
tw rating 4/5
[ks]

The Scandalous Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde
Holden Kemble Company
An adaptation of Stevenson's macabre tale? Staged in a subterranean vault beneath Edinburgh's Old Town? At Midnight? Surely that's a foolproof recipe for success? Sadly not. A promising start quickly fizzles out, and what follows is a limp, amateurish hour of unchallenging, un-engaging theatre. Mr Hyde sounded like a cross between Jack Sparrow and Austin Powers, and his constant use of modern swear words was neither convincing nor shocking. The changes to the text went far beyond merely adapting it for stage; the introduction of not one but two insipid female characters did little to liven things up, while the alterations made to key characters - notably Utterson and Lanyon - were incomprehensible and unforgivable. A criminally wasted opportunity that would have given Stevenson nightmares!
The Vault, 7 - 25 Aug (not 11, 18), 11.59pm (12.59am), £7.00 (£6.00), fpp 228.
tw rating 2/5
[al]

Rex Futurus
Emmett Brown Productions
I'll be honest. I was not looking forward to this play, given that it's an hour and fifty minutes long and the name is in Latin. However, I was very pleasantly surprised by both the acting and writing in this production. The story of the legendary King Arthur, his queen Guinevere, and his knights, it's about chivalry and courtly love, and the right of a man to be King. The cast managed to hold my attention for the duration of the performance and bring alive this centuries-old tale, and I would only caution that if you are not familiar with Thomas Mallory's 'Le Morte D'Arthur', you may find the plot confusing. Otherwise, it is well acted and enjoyable.
Zoo Southside, 3 - 16 Aug, 8.30pm (10.20pm), £7.00 (£4.50) fpp 226.
tw rating 3/5
[ah]

Philotus
Commedia della Scozia
Surprisingly accessible, this resurrection of the rarely performed Scots play 'Philotus' is a mixed bag. The story is a romp of thwarted love and mistaken identity performed with all the subtlety of Dr Evil. It's not a prerequisite for Commedia dell'Arte, subtlety, but forced obviousness does not work, and though the cast enjoyed themselves, not many had a flair for physical comedy. Benjamin Dahlbeck as Philerno stands out, not least in his preposterous similarity to his sister (which is funny but could've been exploited further) and he performed with natural comic ability. More could have been made of this bawdy farce, though. Here it's silly and pleasant enough, but in the hands of the masters it could have been so much better.
Zoo Southside, 1 - 16 Aug, 3.45pm (5.15pm), £8.00 (£7.00), fpp 223.
tw rating 2/5
[sr]

Reviewer details are online at www.threeweeks.co.uk