Fringe Review V The Lock-in Cabaret

The other night the hostel kids wanted to go to a cabaret show and asked, if I wanted to join them. Since I had a night off and I think I have not nearly seen enough shows I agreed to come along. And I am way more interested in cabaret than comedy anyways. 

The show was being held in the beautiful Voodoo Rooms. Not the easiest venue to find, but the room , the Lock-In cabaret was happening was amazing, kind of shabby chic.

The show itself turned out to be held by two magicians called Griffin and Jones who lead the audience through an hour of different artists that change every night. Griffin and Jones opened the show by the usual introductions, some jokes and magic tricks that shocked and maybe even grossed out the audience, but they were non the less impressive.

After that there was a female burlesque act, I am very sorry, but apart from Griffin and Jones I did not manage to catch any other names of the performers. Anyways, the burlesque act only performed one song, but I really enjoyed it. And NO not only because she took most of her close off, it was because the show she had put together was very clever, funny and her performance overall well done.

Next was a comedian from, as we learned during his performance, a tiny place in South England. He talked about how life as a country boy was and how it compares to the big city. I have to admit, that I did not understand everything he said. The rest of the audience seemed to find him very funny while I again, as usual had a chuckle here and there but wasn't blown away. It seems like I just don't share the same sense of humor. And as I said, I am not much for comedy shows anyways.

Next was another burlesque show. This time by a man, who at first played the role of a cowboy, including hat and toy gun. He included the front row of the audience which was quite funny especially since he had no problem coming on to the boys as well. In good old burlesque fashion he started taking most of his clothes off. With each item he lost, he produced a yellow flower. I have to admit that I am not sure that to do with male burlesque. I don't think it is sexy most of the time, but this performer managed with his cowboy outfit and the flower he produced to at least play a little with the male stereotype, especially since the flower he pulled out of his boxers hung it's had in rather sad manner....

The last performer was a female American comedian. And at his point I would like to mention that people in the audience, who can't shut up are arseholes! Her set was good and she tried at first to involve to hecklers and make fun of them but ended up ignoring them all together because they just wouldn't shut up. The comedian had no problem with crude jokes and making fun of her own country.

Griffin and Jones kept doing little magic tricks and a little stand up in between the different acts and also trying to get the noisy audience in the back to shut up. They were the perfect hosts for a show like that and ended it with wiggling themselves out straitjackets. A lot of entertainment for just one hour!.  

Fringe Review II Who did I think I was (drama)

While the Fringe is on, I quite often just walk around and have a look what's on. I love walking up and down the Royal Mile and check out all the street performers and go to venues where I have seen good gigs before.

One of these venues is the Counting House/Blind Poet/Pear Tree House. Two years ago they had a fantastic show called Burlesque and Blues. Back in the day they were free but they have become so popular that they've moved on to a new venue and now charge £9 per ticket. And even outside of the Fringe I have seen good stuff there. They also have a lovely beer garden where they have really live music every day during the Festival. So I go there quite often just to hang out, listen to music and sort through all the flyers and events. And that's what I did yesterday when someone gave me a flyer to invite me to his show. So again I thought, why not... It was the first flyer I had gotten that day and somehow it sounded interesting. And so it was. 

The show is called "Who did I think I was" and basically tells the story of a man in his late 40s and his father who have a difficult relation ship but somehow end up living together again. Both have screwed up in different ways, both have suffered because mom had schizophrenia and yet they do not seem to understand each other at all.

Both parts are played by the same actor and I am not sure how much of it is autobiographical but it feels like the actor gives you a very intimate glimpse into his family life. It is funny in some parts but it also has intense parts so sad, I am sure a few people in the audience might tear up a bit.

But he plays his characters so well and convincing, changing his costume and his position on the tiny stage in a way that makes it clear which one of the two is talking.

I very much recommend this show, even though it might leave you bit uneasy. 

And ..... here.... we.....go! (imagine me whispering this like Heath Ledger's Joker)

Yessss, I made it! I managed to walk up the Royal Mile, down Grassmarket and to the Underbelly tent at the university without getting a single flyer. I successfully dodged them all. And you might wonder why that is reason for applause. Because it is festival season in Edinburgh. What kind of festival? All of the festivals. Mainly the Fringe Festival, the largest arts festival in the world (so they say on their website) and it's been running since 1947 and lasts for three weeks. It has become HUGE, like MOTHERFUCKING GINORMOUS. There are over 400 venues with over 3000 shows with anything from comedy, to burlesque, from kids shows to classical concerts, street art in all kinds of forms, arts and crafts markets, cabaret and stuff I have probably never heard of. 

But the festival season is more than just the Fringe. About two weeks before the Fringe kicks off, we already have the Blues and Jazz Festival with several venues and acts all over town. It gets you in the mood for the madness that is August in Edinburgh. A week after the Fringe starts we have the Edinburgh Book Festival, which lasts two weeks, has over 700 events and attracts all kinds of authors, this year we expect the guy who writes the Game of Thrones books. I am a little bit exited about that one actually! And around the same time the Book Festival takes off, the Edinburgh International Festival also takes place which was also founded in 1947 after WWII to promote performing arts from all over the world. Oh yeah and there is the Edinburgh Military Tattoo which shows Military Bands and performances from all over the world. And although I am not a fan of military, war, armies and all these things, I have to admit that it is an impressive show, including fireworks and army jets flying over the city. 

So as you can see, if you come to Edinburgh in August, there is no way you will be bored, unless you're locked inside your house and you don't know how to entertain yourself because you have no electricity (I still wouldn't be bored, I would just crochet...). You just have to step onto Rose Street, the Royal Mile or any other street in the city center and you will be overwhelmed by the choice of entertainment. It is impossible to really get an overview over all the things going on. You can just pick a few things you want to do or see, even if you are here the whole time. There are so many interesting things.

Sure some of these gigs are not cheap but there are hundreds, if not thousands of free shows. Most pubs have acts on and one part of the Royal Mile is one big stage and you just tip the artist if you liked them or you just move on to the next one. 

But even, if you manage to catch only free stuff, it is not the time of the year where you want to be traveling on a budget. Because everything is expensive. Take accommodation for example: In winter we charge between £10 and £15 per bed per night. Right now, in August, we charge around £30 per night. Why? Because we can! There is just such demand for beds, that people will pay anything. I think the number of people doubles or maybe even tipples in August here in Edinburgh. On a Saturday night we easily turn 10 - 20 people away, because we don't have space for them. It is only the very beginning and already all our weekends are fully booked and there are only a few beds during the week left. Locals have long since realised that, if you leave on a holiday, just rent out your flat and you can make a couple hundred pounds.
But not only accommodation becomes more expensive, pub and restaurants raise their prices and I wouldn't be surprised, if the main tourist attractions like the castle would do, too. But again, they can. There are just so many people in town. Not only the artist and tourists but also tour managers, caterers, builders, electricians, journalists and so on.

The streets in the city centre are so packed with tourists that I sometimes wish for two separate lanes on the side walk, one for tourists and one for locals, because it takes a lot longer to get to your local super market or the bus stop because of all the people. Pubs and clubs are open longer which means you have yelling people in the streets way after sunrise and the only time you can go for a walk or to the shop without bumping into people the entire time is at 7 in the morning.

But as exhausting as all this can be, it is still amazing that the entire world seems to come together in Edinburgh during the festival season. No matter where you go, you see art art art. You round a corner and you end up in the middle of a performance, your favourite pub suddenly has comedy, poetry and some weird acoustic singer/songwriter in one night. On your way back from the doctors you remember that lovely beer garden with the stage and it turns out that at 5pm there is this awesome ska band playing or while drinking you morning coffee someone gives you a free ticket to a show that turns out to be a play for kids, yet you go anyways just because...
You just have to take a deep breath and let it flow. Take your time and try not to get stressed and you might have the time of your life!