Below are all the links to my comedy reviews for the British Comedy Guide during the 2011 Edinburgh Festival. They are listed in order of them being published. Big thanks and hugs to the BCG for having me "on the team."
Elis James - Do You Remember the First Time? - *** stars
http://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2011/reviews/elis_james/
Mary Bourke - Mary Mary Quite Contrary - ** 1/2 stars
http://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2011/reviews/mary_bourke/
Ian Fox - Ian Fox Exposes Himself - **** stars
http://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2011/reviews/ian_fox/
Lloyd Langford - The Cold Hard Facts of Life - *** 1/2 stars
http://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2011/reviews/lloyd_langford/
James Redmond & Luisa Omielan - His N Hers - * 1/2 stars
http://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2011/reviews/his_n_hers/
Chris Ramsey - Offermation - **** stars
http://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2011/reviews/chris_ramsey/
Jimeoin - Lovely - *** 1/2 stars
http://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2011/reviews/jimeoin_mckeown/
Morgan & West - Crime Solving Magicians - **** stars
http://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2011/reviews/morgan_and_west/
Chris Martin - No. Not That One - **** stars
http://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2011/reviews/chris_martin/
Barry and Stuart - Show and Tell - ***** stars
http://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2011/reviews/barry_and_stuart/
Andrew Bird - Andrew Bird's Village Fete - **** stars
http://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2011/reviews/andrew_bird/
Diane Spencer - All-Pervading Madness - **** stars
http://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2011/reviews/diane_spencer/
Garrett Millerick - Which One's Fergal? - *** 1/2 stars
http://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2011/reviews/garrett_millerick/
Tom Deacon - Can I Be Honest? - ** stars
http://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2011/reviews/tom_deacon/
Roisin Conaty - Destiny's Dickhead - *** stars
http://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2011/reviews/roisin_conaty/
Steve Hall - Steve Hall's Very Still Life - *** 1/2 stars
http://www.comedy.co.uk/fringe/2011/reviews/steve_hall/
Thanks to anyone who stops by to read them.
Tuesday, 30 August 2011
Saturday, 30 January 2010
Zone eleven: Alone at night beckons paranoia
Yes, let's be depressing. I'm writing this in the early hours of Sunday morning in between late night emails with a few friends. This is unintentional as my original intention was to write some comedy (I'm at my best and my most alert at night).
I have a presentation to give on Monday morning in front of 25 people. Yes that is a small number but they're all looking at you. And you have to talk without stuttering, remembering how to form sentences, trying not to sweat and trying not to make eye contact as in reality this is a normal, functional, human device to service interaction but in this situation is out-of-this-world weird. I have people and deadlines and life in general pondering on my mind at night which is the worst time to do so. You're doing nothing else. You're trying to get to sleep but whilst in the process of doing so your mind is empty and as such is vulnerable to a strike of paranoia or idiocy. A noise you heard during the day repeatedly plays in your head. You make up a story involving the man and woman you saw in the street. What would have happened had I not have bought this sandwich? The entire future would be distorted beyond my human imagination. My existence would be questioned.
And now you've ruined your one chance to get off to sleep. The mention of existence brings up the religion discussion. Now religion at a time like this is Hell. Do not start questioning this at your most vulnerable. You will actually damage your brain. It will be scarred for life.
Going to bed and not being able to sleep keeps my paranoia alive. I'm paranoid that I'm being too paranoid.
And overthinking I've discovered is one of the worst things you can do. You think by looking at every angle you'll come to a solution. Actually, you have just opened many doors for the paranoia to slide in. Think of paranoia as a burglar. And you've gone to bed or left the house with the doors not unlocked but open. You are a fire while the paranoia is water, having splashed your embers into submission or in fact is a huge cauldron of petrol and has just abused you by using you to become a brief, large, vicious flame and after the spectacle have died from the lack of oxygen. Either way, you, the fire, get hurt in the process. I find that randomness can distract you from reality sometimes. I'm currently listening to some 1920's jazz. No, really.
Sleep well, but don't let me distract you.
I have a presentation to give on Monday morning in front of 25 people. Yes that is a small number but they're all looking at you. And you have to talk without stuttering, remembering how to form sentences, trying not to sweat and trying not to make eye contact as in reality this is a normal, functional, human device to service interaction but in this situation is out-of-this-world weird. I have people and deadlines and life in general pondering on my mind at night which is the worst time to do so. You're doing nothing else. You're trying to get to sleep but whilst in the process of doing so your mind is empty and as such is vulnerable to a strike of paranoia or idiocy. A noise you heard during the day repeatedly plays in your head. You make up a story involving the man and woman you saw in the street. What would have happened had I not have bought this sandwich? The entire future would be distorted beyond my human imagination. My existence would be questioned.
And now you've ruined your one chance to get off to sleep. The mention of existence brings up the religion discussion. Now religion at a time like this is Hell. Do not start questioning this at your most vulnerable. You will actually damage your brain. It will be scarred for life.
Going to bed and not being able to sleep keeps my paranoia alive. I'm paranoid that I'm being too paranoid.
And overthinking I've discovered is one of the worst things you can do. You think by looking at every angle you'll come to a solution. Actually, you have just opened many doors for the paranoia to slide in. Think of paranoia as a burglar. And you've gone to bed or left the house with the doors not unlocked but open. You are a fire while the paranoia is water, having splashed your embers into submission or in fact is a huge cauldron of petrol and has just abused you by using you to become a brief, large, vicious flame and after the spectacle have died from the lack of oxygen. Either way, you, the fire, get hurt in the process. I find that randomness can distract you from reality sometimes. I'm currently listening to some 1920's jazz. No, really.
Sleep well, but don't let me distract you.
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Level Ten: What is the point of morons? And why are they always in close range?
Yes, the start of the title is ironic. I am being purposefully defiant here. Many may say "is" should be "are" but this is side-tracking from the purpose of this discussion into idiots. But I'd like to say hello to Dan, my one and only follower (who I already know, it's not just some guy.) This blog however is for anyone who finds it, so read what you like or skip on, but thanks for stopping by.
Firstly I know there is a hefty gap between blog 9 and 10. What is the cause in such a delay? Family issues? Work? No. Laziness which is entirely within my character. I am lazy but mean well. As my twitter account also shows a big gap, from September, and have only just posted some garbage about what I'm doing not too long ago.
This discussion into idiots goes back some weeks. I have to get the bus to get to university (it takes about 35 minutes) and since I sometimes have a 10 o'clock start I have to be up around 7:30. If I were to walk I'd have to be up around 3:30-4:00 which in reality scares me.
What with getting the same bus ever morning the same people are around and they sit in the same seats (it is basically like Groundhog Day). During winter I sit on the left nearest the engine as it is much warmer. All tips are in my book "Bus Survival for Beginners." The same people get on it everyday and sometimes a new person gets on, and I see the regulars glance in their direction (I know this becuase I too am one) judging them seeing if they are fit to join our little gang. What I do love is that this bus is quiet which is a joy. No pleb with techno-whattsit banging out their phone. No trouser tucking in the socks indiviuals here. Most new people are welcomed to the group. They sit, they mind their own business, they read, they listen to their i-pod (at a volume level suitable for them but at a level which is silent and respectful for fellow passengers) which is how it should be.
But this daily (except weekends) routine was disrupted by a man. Oh yes. A man. Him and a friend got on and argued on how the bus was too late. OK, that's a pretty annoying thing but 20 minutes on he still was fuming.
Basically he liked to say the f word on a far more frequent basis than anyone I've ever heard. (insert whatever Gordon Ramsey joke comes to mind first) I don't swear on this blog beacuse I'm kind knowing anyone could read it so in substitute I'll say "cake", which too makes it hopefully ever so slightly humourous.
I quote: "This is caking stupid. The caking bus should be here at quarter past for cakes sake. It's twenty five to and I've got washing out and it's lemonading down for cakes sake. They don't know what they are caking doing these caking hampers." for about 25 minutes.
But here comes the moronic bit that made me want to shout at this guy. I'm sure there have been moments in all our lives where someone has done something and we imagine what we'd like to do rather than do it. Only later do we think we have the courage to actually do it by which time it is too late.
This pleb said: "What was the point of these caking kids. They're caking everywhere. They're all over the caking street. I wish they'd cake off the little cakers."
I wanted to shout: "Don't use "was" you *&^%, that is only used in the past tense, you're in the bloody present!" That and: "You are next to a caking school AND college you caking cake."
Then he got off the bus, tripped over his own misery and fell in a neatly laid patch of despair and drowned in his own void of selfishness. Wait... part of that I dreamed. You can decide which bit.
Anyway, I've released some rage and I'll build it up for the next blog, expect late March 2010.
In the meantime if you do stop by, please do sign my petition, read some of my short comedy correspondents and read my reviews on Ents24, my latest a review of the great comedian Daniel Kitson. Yes, what a shameful plug. Off to listen to We Are Scientists.
Firstly I know there is a hefty gap between blog 9 and 10. What is the cause in such a delay? Family issues? Work? No. Laziness which is entirely within my character. I am lazy but mean well. As my twitter account also shows a big gap, from September, and have only just posted some garbage about what I'm doing not too long ago.
This discussion into idiots goes back some weeks. I have to get the bus to get to university (it takes about 35 minutes) and since I sometimes have a 10 o'clock start I have to be up around 7:30. If I were to walk I'd have to be up around 3:30-4:00 which in reality scares me.
What with getting the same bus ever morning the same people are around and they sit in the same seats (it is basically like Groundhog Day). During winter I sit on the left nearest the engine as it is much warmer. All tips are in my book "Bus Survival for Beginners." The same people get on it everyday and sometimes a new person gets on, and I see the regulars glance in their direction (I know this becuase I too am one) judging them seeing if they are fit to join our little gang. What I do love is that this bus is quiet which is a joy. No pleb with techno-whattsit banging out their phone. No trouser tucking in the socks indiviuals here. Most new people are welcomed to the group. They sit, they mind their own business, they read, they listen to their i-pod (at a volume level suitable for them but at a level which is silent and respectful for fellow passengers) which is how it should be.
But this daily (except weekends) routine was disrupted by a man. Oh yes. A man. Him and a friend got on and argued on how the bus was too late. OK, that's a pretty annoying thing but 20 minutes on he still was fuming.
Basically he liked to say the f word on a far more frequent basis than anyone I've ever heard. (insert whatever Gordon Ramsey joke comes to mind first) I don't swear on this blog beacuse I'm kind knowing anyone could read it so in substitute I'll say "cake", which too makes it hopefully ever so slightly humourous.
I quote: "This is caking stupid. The caking bus should be here at quarter past for cakes sake. It's twenty five to and I've got washing out and it's lemonading down for cakes sake. They don't know what they are caking doing these caking hampers." for about 25 minutes.
But here comes the moronic bit that made me want to shout at this guy. I'm sure there have been moments in all our lives where someone has done something and we imagine what we'd like to do rather than do it. Only later do we think we have the courage to actually do it by which time it is too late.
This pleb said: "What was the point of these caking kids. They're caking everywhere. They're all over the caking street. I wish they'd cake off the little cakers."
I wanted to shout: "Don't use "was" you *&^%, that is only used in the past tense, you're in the bloody present!" That and: "You are next to a caking school AND college you caking cake."
Then he got off the bus, tripped over his own misery and fell in a neatly laid patch of despair and drowned in his own void of selfishness. Wait... part of that I dreamed. You can decide which bit.
Anyway, I've released some rage and I'll build it up for the next blog, expect late March 2010.
In the meantime if you do stop by, please do sign my petition, read some of my short comedy correspondents and read my reviews on Ents24, my latest a review of the great comedian Daniel Kitson. Yes, what a shameful plug. Off to listen to We Are Scientists.
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