After cramming in 30 shows, a slight wave of Fringe fatigue had inevitably set in. This is why mixing up your itinerary matters; watching six stand-up comedians back-to-back can strain your Comedy focus. Today’s schedule was a refreshing blend of clowning and crowd interaction, and my experience was all the better for it.
Back in 2010, I caught Paul in a Pick of the Fringe showcase and was entirely won over by his brief five-minute set. Since then, I’ve returned again and again for his incredibly versatile hours of frantic flights of fantasy.
While his last tour focused on a mental health breakthrough, his new show The Future remains equally poignant.
It is anchored by a moving segment about his grandmother and filled with heart.
Paul seamlessly blends themes of gender, racism, and sexuality into a smart, silly, and beautifully crafted hour.
The show delivers Comedy with depth, balancing wit and pathos.
With a string of sold-out dates already under his belt, the tour speaks for itself.
As Paul himself says: “It’s a good sign.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
@paulfootcomedy
An hour with a person pretending to be a cat. Yes, that is the show and yes, it’s absolutely brilliant. It’s the perfect way to spend an evening in the company of award-winning Australian performer Natalia Sledz, who spends the runtime doing exactly what you’d expect: playing with toys, chasing mice, and even getting petted by the crowd.
This is exactly the kind of joyful absurdity the Fringe is all about. While it might sound like a premise that couldn’t possibly stretch to a full hour, Sledz keeps the audience in total, breathless anticipation of what she’ll do next. Check it out, even if you’re strictly a dog person.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
@nataliasledz
Garry Starr: Classic Penguins
After a technical fault cut my viewing down to just ten minutes last year, I was thrilled to see Garry Starr return to the Pleasance with his award-winning Classic Penguins. This interactive performance is an absolute tour de force of coarse clowning.
Dressed in just a tailcoat, ruffle and orange flippers, Starr perfectly balances the grotesque with the sweet. It feels like the entire Edinburgh Fringe condensed into one cocktail of glorious, anarchic mischief. It is certainly not for the faint-hearted, though if you fall into that camp, you might want to steer clear of the front row. You can thank me later.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
@garrythestarr
