Edinburgh Top Tips
As Edinburgh comes to a close and the comedians, actors and dancers pack their bags and bid a fond farewell to rainy Scotland, it’s time to reflect on those acts that really stood out during the Fringe to me. While Tim Key deserved to receive his award as king of comedy, it’s time to look at the acts I managed to catch during my time at the Fringe and who I think should be looked out for in the future. So here they are in the order that I saw them…
1 – Ginger and Black
The musical story tellers, Ginger and Black
These were the first acts I saw at Edinburgh and they have left a lasting impression on me. They are quirky and unique and I have always been impressed with them whenever I have had the pleasure to see them. Opening with the line..”Hi, we’re ginger and black because….”, they are tradationally known for their songs, which mix clever writing and a sarcastic and unenthuastic tone to deliver some of the funniest songs you will ever hear. Check out the video below for some classic Ginger and Black
But their Edinburgh show didn’t rely on their music, but told a story based during the World War. Not excatly a typical topic for comedy, the story mixes between a young boy experiencing wartime Britain, a falkner with a dodgy past and a man with a fork stuck on his head. Sounds bizzare, but was one of the funniest shows I have ever seen. Even better was their clever involvement of the audience. Choosing one audience member to be “rubble” and another to be a mute uncle, the audience interact with the show without saying a word. Infact the mute uncle had his photo taken, was then killed during the story, and then the poor sod’s photo ended the entire show. Other audience moments that stick to mind is the Q and A section, where an audience member is picked, only to have Ginger dubb them instead. Instantly likeable and always providing laughs, Ginger and Black are definetly worth a visit in the future.
2 – Rob Rouse – My family and the dog that scared Jesus
Next on my Edinburgh list was Rob Rouse’s show, “My family and the dog that scared Jesus.” You may remember Rouse from the original Friday Night Project before guest presenters and Alan Carr took over. Well after having a baby boy and gaining a dog, Rouse is back with new material and a kick-ass stand-up show. Not for the light-hearted or witnessed with elderly relatives, this show focused on his new baby boy Lenny and the awkward moments caused by his overly horny dog who has a passion for a red cushion in particular. Although the ending of his show was incredibly sweet as the audience sees some cute photos of Rouse and his new family, it is soon destroyed by footage of his dog doing what it does best and a cute moment is quickly ruined.
Rouse’s show was recently shortlisted for best gag at the Fringe (eventuall won by Dan Antopolski) and was charming and funny throughout. Despite the fact his girlfriend was present in the audience on this particular night, Rouse never faltered and his show was spectacular.I was just glad I didn’t watch it with my parents though…go and watch it and you’ll see why.
3 – Tom Basden – Now That’s What I Call Music-Based Comedy
I’m a big fan of comedians that use music in their acts, Tim Minchin,
Funny and good looking, what more could you want in a comedy show?
Stephen Lynch and Bill Bailey are people that rarely leave my Ipod. So BBC4′s Coward Tom Basden was an easy choice to go and watch. After noticing him at the bar the day before, I knew he was a handsome guy, but nothing could prepare me for just how good his stand-up show was.
Using a mix of slideshow artwork, general jokes and short quirky songs, Tom Basden made the stand-up of a musical comic something completly different.
His songs range from seeing Richard Madley in a lift, thinking Libby and Susan from Neighbours are lesbians, stalking random celebrities, and visiting a stripclub. Below is one of my favs from Mr Basden
Although his songs were hilarous and had me laughing till I got funny looks from other audience members, my favourite part was a photo of the Obama family in drawn-on nightwear with the caption, “Obamas in Pjymas” while he played the Bananas in Pjymas theme tune….that I am still laughing at today almost a fortnight later.
But it’s really no wonder that his Edinburgh show was so good, he’s already been noticed by other professionals and he won a if.comedy award in 2007. Go see him live, he’s fantastic.
4 – Superclump
Recomended by the Guardian, given critical acclaim by Chortle, and basically loved by every person that saw them, Superclump are made of talented comedians, each and everyone of them with a bright future (well bright present really).
Made up of Tom Craine, Ben Partridge, Henry Paker, Elis James, Josh Widdicombe, Mike Wozniak, Sian Harries and Nat Luurtsema, this is one the best sketch groups out there.
Their sketches were all so different, and that’s what made it so good. It ranged from a deluded potato, a drunken Aesop trying to think of his next tale, kabuki theatre trying to survive the recession, a small child that no-one wants to play with, and my all-time fav sketch, a grown-up famous five. Although it has to be said, one of their cleverest sketches involve a mix-up with party bags…I won’t ruin it for you but my friends tell me it was their favourite.
An hour wasn’t long enough for this sketch group, every minute was good, and unlike other sketch shows before them, I found every sketch to be funny and worthy of applaud. If you didn’t catch them at Edinburgh, you’re an idiot, each one of these comedians are fantastic, both solo and in the ensemble.
5 – Elis James – The Most Cautious Little Boy In Wales
Like several members of Superclump, Elis had his own solo show during the 
Fringe. You wouldn’t know that the poor sod was doing a knackering minimum of two shows a day, his show was full of enthusisam and energy that kept the whole room happy and laughing.
I’ve written previously about Elis in my blog, and he’s going from strength to strength. His show was based around his cautious attitude to life, from going to Oakwood, a paintballing disaster and an awkward trip to the swimming pool, his tales are full of embarassment, and proving once and for all that the welsh really are the most cautious people around (some of his tales sounded oddly familar to my welsh peers).
Despite joking that he is no good at banter, he never alienates the audience and engages people in a way that was fun and polite without being threatening, (something I’ve never previously experienced at a comedy gig, as I’m normally the first to be picked on, and find myself moving very quickly after.)
If Elis’s show is anything to go by, it won’t be long until he becomes a bigger name, so see him while you can, you won’t regret it.
In conclusion…
So who were my favs?, it really is hard to judge. Basden was fantastic for music, Superclump were amazing for sketches, Elis was great in his solo show of cringing tales, Ginger and Black were unique and Rouse was equally a super-star.
My advice? go see ALL of them next year if they go to Edinburgh again, and if you get a chance to see them live, for goodness sake go, they are ALL worth the money.
But if I HAD to pick (like if a gun was raised to my head and my life depended on it..) my top tips for the best shows in Edinburgh are a draw between Superclump and Elis James…..don’t make me choose you bastards….
Bang….
