EDFRINGE RAMBLING TIME
Jul. 3rd, 2017 10:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
peiyenyea i'm bored, so let's bring it ON.
I'm going to be in Edinburgh a little over a week this year. Longer than the previous couple of years cause I have the privilege of applying for a longer leave from work now. Fun fun fun. Everything's all organised and I am REVVING to go. I've upgraded from my usual hostel bed to an airbnb -- hoping that goes well.
Friends and family are always going on about how I keep visiting the same city every year (it'll be my 4th edfringe this year!). Edinburgh's a bit like home away from home now. It's familiar, and exciting; and in my head it's been shaped into some kind of idealised place where I'm still capable of feeling happiness... It's something to strive for every year. The build-up, the planning and organisation, the process of getting there, mixing in with the festival crowd and seeing people I love honing their craft on stage -- it keeps me going, man. What else do I have to live for.
but yeah ENOUGH of emoing about. LOOK AT WHAT I'VE BOUGHT SO FAR:
1. I keep going on about how great Go 8 Bit is and OH BOY I get to see WiFi Wars FOR THE FIRST TIME!!! I'm bummed that they're only doing one show this time around (and the fact that I've missed out on all the fun for the past few runs). It's a totally interesting premise, audience members whipping out their smartphones/tablets and playing along to 8-bit games. Plus, well, Steve McNeil! Ah!! Is it too much to hope that Sam would be there too..? Even though he technically has nothing to do with this live version? Imagine seeing his hair irl... drool
2. I've mentioned John Robins and Sara Pascoe in a previous post already... These two are going to be weird to watch. I'm not taking sides in their relationship, I'm just sad that it didn't work out tbh. I just love them bothhhh okayyy. Two comedians airing their post-break-up thoughts at edfringe isn't a new occurence though (Tom Craine and Nat Luurtsema 2013, anyone?) so as a comedy enthusiast it'll be, uh, a thing.
3. Ivo Graham is adorable. I love him and I love watching him. We're practically the same age but he just comes across as a baby, I can't help it. Going to be a delight to see him live again!
4. The last time I met Michael Legge in person, I pretty much died from awkwardness. *proceeds to go drown in a shame well* He's still one of the nicest people I've ever met though, so totally unlike his shouty onstage persona (which I like as well). The show title this year makes me a bit weary though, I s2g if he starts reminiscing about his dog Jerk I AM NOT GOING TO CRy. and i am going to act like a NorMAL PERSON when I meet him this time OK
5. One thing I noticed about the fringe shows this year is the gaping lack of some of my favourite sketch troupes. No Beasts! Even Daphne are doing a one-off Best Of show, and Max & Ivan are doing a limited run of a previous show. Bit of a shame, really. These silly sketch shows were my highlights from the past two years. I may have to stretch out to see *gasps* other sketch groups. I've got a few of them in mind already, I guess.. Gein's Family Giftshop being one of them. But in the meantime, I'll just tide myself over with some Max and Ivan... I missed their Reunion show when it was on, but have heard good things from that year! Plus they're always fun to watch, their loopy characters and just the bloody choreography of every show and the way they switch between scenes is fuckin beautiful. Can't wait.
6. ADAM KAY'S SHOW CHANGED MY LIFE LAST YEAR. Well, not really, I'm still stuck at this job, aren't I? But oh my GOD, it was so good, so so good -- the best live performance I have ever seen. His tales of working in healthcare is so relatable to me. The song parodies are silly and fun and put you off guard so much so that the absolute heart-crushing punch of an ending just hits you where it hurts the most. Thinking back on how that hour-long show unfolded still leaves me in awe. I'm so, so happy that I get to this show again. It's completely amazing.
7. Mark Watson has a special place in my comedy fan heart. He was one of the first comedians that I saw live, and also the first that I approached and sorrrrt of spoke to in person (STILL AWKWARD). I'll take in whatever he does tbh.
8. It's been said that this will be Hannah Gadsby's final edfringe show. I haven't actually seen her perform before. The only point of reference I have is that one time where she briefly appeared in one of Shaun Keaveney's free morning Pleasance shows. She seems great though! Maybe a bit high brow? (referring to her past show where she talks about art history, which i have zero knowledge about lol)
9. One person that I totally didn't expect to see in the edfringe brochure this year was Dan Antopolski, omg. I haven't heard from him for yearrrrrs. Last I saw him was in 2013, where he dripped sweat over me during a Jigsaw show. Good times? Haven't had a chance to see him perform stand-up before, so this should be cool.
10. I've never seen one of Arthur Smith's shows live before, but the Leonard Cohen ones he's recorded for Radio 4 previously were funny and moving pieces of art. This'll be the third and final part of the trilogy, and I am intrigued.
11. Y'all and your little work-in-progess shows. Nick Helm and Tim Key are favourites and getting to see what they've been up to will be great, I'm sure. Not as good as a full show though eh, but it's quite fun and interesting to see the process of working out a solid stand-up show. Simon Amstell is a bit of a treat, I've enjoyed so much of his work in the past and I've missed chances to see previous WIP shows, so yeah, pretty much just bit the bullet and bought a ticket in advance this time around.
12. As long as Phil Wang has a show on, I will be THERE. The fact that he's named his show this year after a town near where I currently live just tickles me (I thought he was from Kuching/Sarawak though??). It's a matter of national pride haha. I'm just so proud of how well he's doing. The only thing to make my heart swell further is if Ronny Chieng showed up at edfringe this year ehehe. That dude's way too busy being Mr Popular in the US right now though
13. Dear Andrew Hunter Murray, whyyyyy don't you have a solo show on this year???? THIS SADS ME. I actually have to go watch improv comedy just to see your beautiful face again. Oh, the tragedy. Then again, I wasn't even a fan of character comedy until I saw his show last year.. Uh hmmm. He's so so lovely in person though. He was the highlight of my year in 2016 even though I ended up being awkward with a comedian AGAIN. Maybe this year will be different. Maybe maybe maybe.
14. Forgot to include them in the list above, but I bought tickets for Tape Face and Sofie Hagen as well! All festival favourites of mine. I can't wait to see Sam Wills performing again. I'm so happy he decided to come back to his roots of edfringe after all that success in America. Good for you, man. I've got a friend joining me for the festival for a weekend, it's her first time at the Fringe and I'm SO excited to show her around. She's not even a comedy fan but lol, I did drag someone else last year and they ended up loving the festival. So, yeah, fingers crossed!!
August can't come soon enough.
I'm going to be in Edinburgh a little over a week this year. Longer than the previous couple of years cause I have the privilege of applying for a longer leave from work now. Fun fun fun. Everything's all organised and I am REVVING to go. I've upgraded from my usual hostel bed to an airbnb -- hoping that goes well.
Friends and family are always going on about how I keep visiting the same city every year (it'll be my 4th edfringe this year!). Edinburgh's a bit like home away from home now. It's familiar, and exciting; and in my head it's been shaped into some kind of idealised place where I'm still capable of feeling happiness... It's something to strive for every year. The build-up, the planning and organisation, the process of getting there, mixing in with the festival crowd and seeing people I love honing their craft on stage -- it keeps me going, man. What else do I have to live for.
but yeah ENOUGH of emoing about. LOOK AT WHAT I'VE BOUGHT SO FAR:
1. I keep going on about how great Go 8 Bit is and OH BOY I get to see WiFi Wars FOR THE FIRST TIME!!! I'm bummed that they're only doing one show this time around (and the fact that I've missed out on all the fun for the past few runs). It's a totally interesting premise, audience members whipping out their smartphones/tablets and playing along to 8-bit games. Plus, well, Steve McNeil! Ah!! Is it too much to hope that Sam would be there too..? Even though he technically has nothing to do with this live version? Imagine seeing his hair irl... drool
2. I've mentioned John Robins and Sara Pascoe in a previous post already... These two are going to be weird to watch. I'm not taking sides in their relationship, I'm just sad that it didn't work out tbh. I just love them bothhhh okayyy. Two comedians airing their post-break-up thoughts at edfringe isn't a new occurence though (Tom Craine and Nat Luurtsema 2013, anyone?) so as a comedy enthusiast it'll be, uh, a thing.
3. Ivo Graham is adorable. I love him and I love watching him. We're practically the same age but he just comes across as a baby, I can't help it. Going to be a delight to see him live again!
4. The last time I met Michael Legge in person, I pretty much died from awkwardness. *proceeds to go drown in a shame well* He's still one of the nicest people I've ever met though, so totally unlike his shouty onstage persona (which I like as well). The show title this year makes me a bit weary though, I s2g if he starts reminiscing about his dog Jerk I AM NOT GOING TO CRy. and i am going to act like a NorMAL PERSON when I meet him this time OK
5. One thing I noticed about the fringe shows this year is the gaping lack of some of my favourite sketch troupes. No Beasts! Even Daphne are doing a one-off Best Of show, and Max & Ivan are doing a limited run of a previous show. Bit of a shame, really. These silly sketch shows were my highlights from the past two years. I may have to stretch out to see *gasps* other sketch groups. I've got a few of them in mind already, I guess.. Gein's Family Giftshop being one of them. But in the meantime, I'll just tide myself over with some Max and Ivan... I missed their Reunion show when it was on, but have heard good things from that year! Plus they're always fun to watch, their loopy characters and just the bloody choreography of every show and the way they switch between scenes is fuckin beautiful. Can't wait.
6. ADAM KAY'S SHOW CHANGED MY LIFE LAST YEAR. Well, not really, I'm still stuck at this job, aren't I? But oh my GOD, it was so good, so so good -- the best live performance I have ever seen. His tales of working in healthcare is so relatable to me. The song parodies are silly and fun and put you off guard so much so that the absolute heart-crushing punch of an ending just hits you where it hurts the most. Thinking back on how that hour-long show unfolded still leaves me in awe. I'm so, so happy that I get to this show again. It's completely amazing.
7. Mark Watson has a special place in my comedy fan heart. He was one of the first comedians that I saw live, and also the first that I approached and sorrrrt of spoke to in person (STILL AWKWARD). I'll take in whatever he does tbh.
8. It's been said that this will be Hannah Gadsby's final edfringe show. I haven't actually seen her perform before. The only point of reference I have is that one time where she briefly appeared in one of Shaun Keaveney's free morning Pleasance shows. She seems great though! Maybe a bit high brow? (referring to her past show where she talks about art history, which i have zero knowledge about lol)
9. One person that I totally didn't expect to see in the edfringe brochure this year was Dan Antopolski, omg. I haven't heard from him for yearrrrrs. Last I saw him was in 2013, where he dripped sweat over me during a Jigsaw show. Good times? Haven't had a chance to see him perform stand-up before, so this should be cool.
10. I've never seen one of Arthur Smith's shows live before, but the Leonard Cohen ones he's recorded for Radio 4 previously were funny and moving pieces of art. This'll be the third and final part of the trilogy, and I am intrigued.
11. Y'all and your little work-in-progess shows. Nick Helm and Tim Key are favourites and getting to see what they've been up to will be great, I'm sure. Not as good as a full show though eh, but it's quite fun and interesting to see the process of working out a solid stand-up show. Simon Amstell is a bit of a treat, I've enjoyed so much of his work in the past and I've missed chances to see previous WIP shows, so yeah, pretty much just bit the bullet and bought a ticket in advance this time around.
12. As long as Phil Wang has a show on, I will be THERE. The fact that he's named his show this year after a town near where I currently live just tickles me (I thought he was from Kuching/Sarawak though??). It's a matter of national pride haha. I'm just so proud of how well he's doing. The only thing to make my heart swell further is if Ronny Chieng showed up at edfringe this year ehehe. That dude's way too busy being Mr Popular in the US right now though
13. Dear Andrew Hunter Murray, whyyyyy don't you have a solo show on this year???? THIS SADS ME. I actually have to go watch improv comedy just to see your beautiful face again. Oh, the tragedy. Then again, I wasn't even a fan of character comedy until I saw his show last year.. Uh hmmm. He's so so lovely in person though. He was the highlight of my year in 2016 even though I ended up being awkward with a comedian AGAIN. Maybe this year will be different. Maybe maybe maybe.
14. Forgot to include them in the list above, but I bought tickets for Tape Face and Sofie Hagen as well! All festival favourites of mine. I can't wait to see Sam Wills performing again. I'm so happy he decided to come back to his roots of edfringe after all that success in America. Good for you, man. I've got a friend joining me for the festival for a weekend, it's her first time at the Fringe and I'm SO excited to show her around. She's not even a comedy fan but lol, I did drag someone else last year and they ended up loving the festival. So, yeah, fingers crossed!!
August can't come soon enough.
