Tag Archives: Fringe

WHAT’S ON: MYRA DUBOIS ANNOUNCES NATIONAL TOUR AND EDINBURGH FRINGE RUN FOR 2023

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Following a national tour of Australia, British comedy sensation Myra DuBois will be bringing her new show ‘Be Well’ to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe before embarking on a UK tour for 2023. Tickets are on sale now and available from www.myradubois.co.uk

Myra DuBois calls out to you, the disadvantaged, downtrodden and tyrannised of the world, with her manifesto for mental health: AdMyrism! But are you ready to receive the call? Myra will head to Edinburgh Fringe to perform in Pleasance KingDome at 8pm throughout the month of August.

Audiences will be delighted to know that she will then kick off her nationwide live tour in Salford on 29th September before heading to Ilkley, Leamington Spa, Southend, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Carlisle, Cambridge, Cardiff, Oxford, Nottingham, Swindon, Birmingham, Newbury, Liverpool, London before closing the tour in Brighton on 16th November.

“Be Well” is a sardonic side-eye at the Wellness Industrial Complex as Myra continues of the tradition of the likes Shirley McClean and Gwyneth Paltrow, a celebrity that knows best.

Having left audiences across the globe in physical pain from laughter with her take-no-prisoners brand of rapid-fire comedy; Myra DuBois lays her healing hands on the masses in this; her wellness sermon.

Unpredictable, intelligent character comedy, the self-declared siren of South Yorkshire works the room, sparing no-one her sharp tongue, and yet somehow keeping everybody affectionately on-side.

Myra DuBois will be supported on her UK tour by comedian Frank Lavender, who will performing highlights from his own Edinburgh Fringe Show “Be Funny” which is at Just the Tonic’s La Belle Angele at 17:00, 3rd – 27th August (not 14th).

Both Myra DuBois and Frank Lavender are comic creations of character comedian Gareth Joyner.

 

12/10/2023                                             EDINBURGH, The Stand

14/10/2023                                             GLASGOW, The Stand

REVIEW: Sinatra Raw – Bier Keller Frankenstein’s Pub, Edinburgh

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This isn’t the Sinatra who screaming Bobby-soxer’s threw themselves at, nor the rose-tinted twilight years legend, this is Palm Springs, 1971, Frank Sinatra is in the biggest decline of his illustrious career. The era of Glam Rock beckons and retirement looms. We’re gathered here for one, last, intimate show.

This is a night filled with memories, both bitter and brilliant. Behind-the-headlines anecdotes intersperse this collection of greatest hits. British-born, now Las Vegas based Richard Shelton delivers this brand new, self-written play with both sass and class. There’s meat on the bones of this show, the memories private and painful, show a little seen side of the showbiz Titan, illuminating the breadth and depth of Sinatra’s many grudges and regrets. Hugely entertaining, this is a classy little number housed in the basement of a tatty Edinburgh pub.

Shelton is a class act and this play a little gem.

 

 

REVIEW: Spring Awakening – The Famous Spiegeltent, Edinburgh

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Eight-time Tony Award-winner, Spring Awakening made its debut off-Broadway in 2006, finally arriving in the West End in 2009 after a sold-out run at the Lyric Hammersmith. An adaptation of Franz Wedekind’s seminal, 1906 work Frühlings Erwachen, it chronicles the rocky path from adolescence to adulthood in a hugely oppressed, 19th Century Germany, dealing with themes of puberty, sexuality, rape, child abuse, homosexuality, suicide and abortion.

In direct contrast to its setting is its modern pop/rock score from Duncan Sheik and Steven Slater, a score replete with knock-out tunes that both elevate and save the relentlessly dark book.

Edinburgh-based Captivate Theatre’s age-appropriate cast delivers a huge dose of raw enthusiasm and teenage angst throughout and ably cope with the demands of this emotionally draining show. However, their fervor at times spills over into imprecise diction, lack of projection and tuning issues. The cast whilst competent individually is at their strongest when singing as one, and the harmonies are glorious throughout.

This is a gripping work with much to say, but the weakness of the book and its relentless intensity fails to sustain interest for the two-hour running time. Were it not for the first-rate score and the commitment of the young cast it would be a hard watch. A brave choice, which should be applauded.

REVIEW: The Falcon’s Malteser by Anthony Horowitz – Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh

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Theatre company New Old Friends have a rare and brilliant gem on their hands: taking Anthony Horowitz’s much-loved 1986 kiddie noir novel The Falcon’s Malteser and delivering a show that is utterly entertaining and daftly funny for both adults and children alike.

Ex-cop and now private eye, Tim (rather dim) and his teenage (genius) brother Nick Diamond find themselves in possession of a mysterious and much sought after package. Throw into the mix a cast of, what seems like thousands, including: a vertically challenged Mexican, a Russian gangster, an East End villain and a German hit-man to name a few. There’s a cracking script filled with slapstick, songs and sight gags and delightfully clever wordplay – all ripping along at a breakneck speed that keeps you glued throughout.

Much of the show’s success is down to the well-drilled and simply top-notch cast: though churlish to single anyone out, it is Dan Winter who creates the lion’s share of the laughs, as in turn: a door to door, door salesman; a science teacher; a butcher; a newsagent; a hotel proprietor; a night-club bouncer and a hit-man – oh, and he sings too.

It’s filled with witty writing, warmth, charm and winning performances – what more could you ask for? Gather your grannies and grandpas, mums and dads, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters and get along to this gag-filled gem. You’d be missing out if you missed it.

Runs until 31 August 2015

Originally published at: http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-falcons-malteser-by-anthony-horowitz-pleasance-courtyard-edinburgh/