Edinburgh Fringe – Day Three

If you’re wondering what to see at the Edinburgh Fringe 2009, this may help, but it may all be sold out. Sorry.

0930 – Gorged myself on another hotel buffet breakfast. This time added waffles into the mix. Scrummy.

1100 – Went for a stroll in Princes’ Gardens and the heavens opened. Making me very very soggy.

1200 – Walked to the Scottish Parliament to look around the press photo exhibition. It was not open on a Sunday. What a fool.

1230 – Instead I stumbled upon a very jolly hour of free comedy. Cool Fun is on at The White Horse pub on the Royal Mile. Four stand ups, with four refreshingly different styles. Ed Gamble was a cracking compere, warming up the crowd nicely and giving the whole room a warm glow. Witty poet Tom Neenan did funny verses delivered in a brilliantly dry style. Clever, but not pretentious. Jez Scharf up next was really likeable, with humour edged with pathos. Completing the foursome was Nish Kumar, who was confident, bubbly and a great conclusion to a very funny gig. And free! I even almost got my Irn Bru from the barman for free because it was just such a nice place…

1410 – To the Pleasance Courtyard once more to see Russell Kane’s Fakespeare: The Tragickal Saveings of King Nigel, down in the cellar. It was an intimate venue and we sat right in the front. It was an unnerving experience as the play unfolded almost in your lap. Very cleverly written, with the style and panache of Shakespeare, but with references to Kerry Katona and Richard and Judy. Great juxtaposition which worked to very funny effect. I was really impressed by Russell Kane, the performance and the script. Last year he took his show to the RSC and this one deserves to go too.

1600 – One farewell look around the shops in Grassmarket and then it was back on a budget plane home. A very fine festival and I wish to return for a second helping next year.

Fringe frolics here I come!

Soon I shall be jumping on a plane, packing my jolly little self up to Scotland, to enjoy a very quick flit at the Edinburgh Fringe. Due to some fantastically organised friends and family, I’ve got tickets to see Stewart Lee, Rhys Darby (of Flight of the Conchords fame) and um, something else I’ve momentarily forgotten.

However I’m sure much of my pleasure will come from the surprises, the things I haven’t booked up. Along with everyone else at the Fringe, I’m there to find “the next big thing”, or act. Knowing me, I’ll massively miss the mark and see a batch of stuff, none of it will ever be “big”. But I’ll have a silly fun time doing it.

The REAL reason I’m going to the Fringe is out of loyalty to a group of exceptionally talented and hilarious friends/siblings.

First up, my little sister Nicola Bolsover, is in action as part of the Free Fringe, with a few of her comedy chums. They’ve all just graduated from Canterbury’s School of Funny aka The University of Kent’s MA in Drama and stand up comedy. Edinburgh can be a bit pricey so if you’re short on pennies, go to some of the Free Fringe’s events. Her troupe is called Banterland and they are doing their gigs at The Rat Pack. Go along and see some fresh new acts in all their weird and warped glory.

Next plug is for some pals from Cardiff. There’s a sketch group called Superclump, who the Guardian have descibed as “disgustingly talented”. I think. I can’t remember the exact quote. Talented was definitely in there. Well I’m sure they’ll be fabulous as they include the lovely Benjamin Partridge and the charming Elis James. Wowzers. Both lads also have their solo show so ch-ch-check it out. Plus, I’ll give a mention to the terribly chucklesome Mike Bubbins. He’s got a show n’all. It’s like a Welsh invasion.

I’ll be reporting back one I have immersed myself in all the delights. Taa raa…

Ra-ras, ruffles and unisex unitards – fashion gone bonkers

It was my day off work today so I decided to go to Reading for a day trip. “Ah-ha, mistake number one” I hear you cry. Well, I have friends there who I was meeting for dinner. Which was lovely. But my real mistake was deciding to do a little bit of shopping first.

I’d been to the Oracle Centre in Reading as a 15 year old when I was in the town for a regular swimming competition. In the sessions I wasn’t swimming I’d escape to the shopping centre and eat Millie’s Cookies and drink McDonald’s milkshakes (the diet of a true swimming champ). I remember the centre as a shopping mecca.

I think if I had returned as a 15 year old today I would have enjoyed myself more. The choice of shops wasn’t bad, but the clothes in them were.

Topshop was awash with horrid florid flowery skirts and dresses. Which even my purple-eyeshadow-clad German teacher wouldn’t have worn in 1983. If it wasn’t strewn with violent violets, dresses were covered in some kind of Pocahontas-themed tassles. All the clothes seemed to be constructed for pre-pubescents. They had no room for hips or breasts, and by the shape of them, I could have been in Topman. Don’t even get me started on playsuits.

H&M seemed to have had some kind of identity crisis, not knowing if it was young and trendy or savvy workwear. It just had drab trousers and lurid polyester tops.

Shoes were either vertiginously high, or had some some kind of Roman bondage theme going on. Office, Faith, Topshop and Zara all had identical pairs in.

I know I sound like an old fogey but I don’t get it. When I was 15, I could have worn these clothes – I would have looked a plonker but they would have fit. But I would never have had the money to buy a purple flowery lycra dress for £45. Now, I have a job, I could buy a dress that much. But I wouldn’t because it’s hideous. So who is buying this tat?

I know this sounds like the rant of an old biddy, but I feel seriously out of the fashion loop.

(PS – Whilst I’m in ranting mode… What the blazes has happened to Cinnamon Grahams?? Now called ‘Curiously Cinnamon’. WHAT?? Or sorry, to coin a Topshop-sporting, Skins-loving yoof, WTF??? According to ‘dontpanicpikey‘ “these people are cereal renamers and there should be a law against it”. Hear, hear Mr Pikey.)

Sir Anthony Hopkins comes to the Valleys

It’s not every day that Caerphilly in South Wales gets an A-List celebrity visitor.

Today, Sir Anthony Hopkins was in town to unveil a new statue dedicated to Tommy Cooper – who was born in the town.

Hopkins is a big Tommy Cooper fan and did a series of impressions of the comic legend before unveiling the statue.

Fez hats were in abundance and the large crowd was a curious mix of Hopkins and Cooper fans.

Here are some of my pictures from the event and a couple of videos.