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Category Archives: Edinburgh Fringe
Edinburgh Fringe 2022 – The Final Analysis and 5* Shows
Posted on September 2, 2022 by therealchrisparkle
So, we did it! We saw 125 shows between 5th – 29th August and the standard was extraordinarily high. I also learned a lot about planning for a Fringe month rather than a Fringe week. For a Fringe week, you can be confident about packing as much into it as you possible can – you can always sleep on the train coming home. For a month however, you can get a burnout if you try to do too much. We found that we cancelled many of our late night shows because we were just too tired to do them justice; and we discovered that if I left too many gaps throughout the day (for meals, drinks, shopping etc) then you lose the adrenaline rush and it's harder to pick up the enthusiasm again. This is particularly important from, say, 9pm onwards. But I am well prepared to plan next year's Fringe already, and am ready to avoid the pitfalls I fell into this year!
But let's look at these shows again. We saw 53 productions that you could loosely call "plays" and 18 of them were 5* status. We saw 52 shows that you could list as "comedy", and of these 23 merited 5* – that's a massive proportion! Additionally, 2 of the 4 dance productions we saw were 5*, 3 of the 6 Spoken Word events were 5* and, on a slightly lower proportion, 3 of the 11 "other" shows (cabaret, circus, magic, etc) gained 5* from me. At the moment, I'm finding it hard to identify my favourite, or even my favourite(s) from all these 5* productions, so let's do a quick run-down of them, in the order that we saw them, and my on-the-spot reactions on the night:
THEATRE/PLAYS:
The Mistake – It's not often that a play leaves you almost lost for words. The Mistake is a heartstopping, blistering piece of theatre, telling the story of how atomic power was developed and misused to devastating effect. Michael Mears and Emiko Ishii create a cast of characters who either caused or suffered from the 1945 attacks on Japan, using just a few props with amazing inventiveness. Vital viewing for everyone.
Feeling Afraid as if Something Terrible is Going to Happen – Here's another "false testimony"- type play given a brilliant tour de force performance by Samuel Barnett who has a huge number of words to remember! You can't know what to believe and what not to believe as he pieces together the various stages of his relationship with "The American". Both funny and occasionally ghastly, the play holds your attention throughout; and Mr Barnett is on fabulous form.
About Money – A splendid way to start the day with a very thought provoking, and brilliantly written play about poverty and responsibility amongst young people and the things they make you do. Great performances, especially from the amazing child actor Lois Hagerty. Touching and moving; it's incredible how using just two chairs and wearing two red caps can say so much.
Mrs Roosevelt Flies to London – An extraordinary story, well told, with great vocal characterisations and a wonderful sense of humour. It's also very informative; for example, I didn't know FDR had polio, nor that Eleanor Roosevelt played such an important role in the declaration of human rights – still a hot topic today. An assured and very enjoyable history lesson!
Please Feel Free to Share – A liar gets addicted to lying by attending various self-help sessions pretending she is out of control. Very clever writing, matched by a very convincing performance. It's also very thought provoking. Loved it!
Conflict in Court – If you liked Crown Court (if you're old enough) you'll love this. A fascinating court case, beautifully realised, full of great interaction – and when the final truth came out the whole audience gasped! Plus you get a free pie and a pint and they were both delicious. Absolutely brilliant – really loved it!
Boy – This is such an inventive way of telling an extraordinary story. Two amazingly good actors do a really strong script justice. Very moving, very sad, but also loads of humour. Never have soft toys played such a relevant role in serious drama. Just what you'd expect from the team who produced Us/Them. First class indeed.
An Audience with Stuart Bagcliffe – The story is kept secret in the promotional material and it's important it stays that way. Suffice to say there are many twists to Stuart's tale. But it's blisteringly well told and there's a fantastic performance by Michael Parker as Stuart. Only a tiny venue, so book early!
Dorian – Well, there's dramatic and there's dramatic, but this is super-dramatic! Incredibly intense, Dorian is a powerful, strongly-building adaptation that has you on the edge of your seat. I'd go so far to say this is a better adaptation of Wilde's original than Matthew Bourne's Dorian Gray. Some excellent performances, brilliant stagecraft – the fight scenes are superb – all topped off with a stunning lighting and sound design. A mini-masterpiece!
Dog/Actor – A true masterclass in acting from Stephen Smith in this Berkoff double bill. Berkoff's superb writing demands excellent characterisations, and that's exactly what Mr Smith delivers by the truckload. He's also amazing with the physical theatre – in "Dog" particularly you really got a sense of the powerful and aggressive Roy. An enthralling show!
A Shoddy Detective and the Art of Deception – They may call themselves Shoddy Theatre, but there's nothing shoddy about this brilliant piece of nonsensical, physical theatre, packed with terrifically ludicrous scenes, hilarious characterisations, knockabout humour and superb stage fighting! Loved every minute of it.
Death of an Author – A very clever premise, excellent performances, extremely well written, and surprisingly moving. Lots to think about – and truly intriguing for literature buffs! I shan't reveal who murdered the author…. but no jury would convict! I also liked how the detective did a spot of mansplaining!
Words Without Consent – Verbatim text of women in interviews combined with politicians' comments on the role of women in society and the dangers faced daily from men. Extremely well staged, great use of video projections and two first rate performances. Take note of the trigger warnings; many of the things said in this production shake you to the core. A thrilling, appalling and vital work.
Candy – Brilliant storytelling, both in Tim Fraser's riveting play and Michael Waller's spellbinding performance. At first, I thought the content of the play was going to position itself as some kind of analogy or symbol. But then I quickly decided it wasn't that, it was just a straightforward story about a man falling in love with his mate, but only when Billy presents himself as Candy. Fascinating, thought-provoking, at times hilarious, at times deeply sad. We absolutely loved it.
Eh Up Me Old Flowers – An excellent portrayal of Charlie Williams, by Tony Marshall; and the play itself is full of great storytelling, and ultimately is remarkably moving. You don't have to remember Charlie Williams from the 70s, but it helps if you do! The play posed fascinating questions about whether Williams was complicit in spreading racism, or did he pave the way for the likes of Lenny Henry or Gary Wilmot? I was really surprised to find I had a tear in my eye at the end. Way better than you might possibly expect!!
Wilf – That rare thing – a comedy that is extraordinarily creative in its subject matter, confronts headfirst disturbing issues like domestic abuse and mental illness, and is also jaw-achingly funny. Beautifully staged and performed by Michael Dylan, Irene Allan and Neil John Gibson, there's no way this play won't have a life beyond the Fringe. Absolutely magnificent!
Closure – Mrs Chrisparkle and I constituted the full audience! Yes, only two people in but the cast threw themselves into a great performance of a brilliant play, with very serious, challenging material, and a fabulous twist. A good old fashioned thriller, based on sexual violence. Read the trigger warnings first. We talked about it for ages afterwards! Riveting!
No Place Like Home – Gripping tale, spellbindingly told, with superb use of video graphics that truly helped the story along. Marvellous acting – great characterisations. A feast of creativity, I'm so glad we didn't miss this!
COMEDY:
Colossal (Patrick McPherson) – I predict another massive word of mouth success for Patrick's latest creation. Incredibly beautiful writing reminds you of the hip hop rhythms of Hamilton, whilst telling his own very individual story of love and deception. So many brilliant callbacks, so many surprises. Patrick turns his likeable persona inside out and challenges the audience to stick with him. And we sure do. Technically brilliant too with a terrific sound and lighting plot, which also play their part. A complete winner.
Ben Clover: Best Newcomer – The evening ended with a great show from Ben Clover, who included anti-vaxxers, Prince Andrew and Boris Johnson in his material and it all landed perfectly. The show contained an early contender for best line of the Fringe; I won't spoil it for you but we were still chuckling about it back at the apartment. He delivers his routine with apparently effortless ease, although I'm sure most of it scrupulously hand-crafted. A fantastic show, highly recommended.
Mark Thomas: Black and White – Why have I never seen Mr Thomas before? Most definitely a no-Conservative zone, he dishes out brilliant political observations nineteen to the dozen and absolutely left me wanting more. He also has some memorable Barry Cryer and Bernard Cribbins jokes, God bless their souls. I had no idea I'd be singing my favourite music hall song, The boy I love is up in the gallery, by Marie Lloyd. Just a fab hour.
Hal Cruttenden: It's Best You Hear it From Me – Crammed with callbacks, this is a beautifully constructed, very personal and very impressive show, with great audience interaction; probably the best I've ever seen Mr Cruttenden. Perhaps he should have more marriage breakdowns, it would be great for his career!
Mary Bourke: The Brutal Truth – On terrific form, the legendary Ms B talks cancel culture, Britain's Got Talent as well as giving us a massive trauma dump (her words) that she turns to comedy gold. Peppa Pig also comes in for the treatment she so richly deserves. Absolutely brilliant.
Abigoliah Schamaun: Legally Cheeky – Abigoliah shares the ghastly story of her visa crisis with all her trademark upbeat optimism even though at times it's a truly sad story. She has an amazing ability to see sunshine in the rain and she conveys her joyous observations with delightful ease. Fantastic!
Tarot: Cautionary Tales – What a find! Sketch comedy is alive and well and living Beside the Pleasance Courtyard! Tarot are three immensely likeable idiots who have put together just the funniest hour of nonsense. Every night they pick a member of the audience to count the number of laughs (and make other suitable notes) and, you guessed it, it was me. I counted 217 laughs but I definitely missed a few – well, you have to keep these people on their toes after all. Favourite sketches included the Elvis Impersonator and the Never Have I Ever game. Ecstatically funny!
Your Dad's Mum – Your Dad's Mum is a nightmarish comic creation; a social night out, with a grim compère stuck in the 70s and a woeful but feminist assistant who together take us through some deliciously lamentable games and quizzes. And it's all absolutely brilliant! Once you get the joke – that he's deliberately awful and she's trying to do the best she can to make up for it – it works a treat. As the catastrophes pile up, the audience creases up! The audience hurled themselves into the fun and played along with everything that Pat and Cherrie-Ann threw at them. Just don't ask her to do her Christmas Tree routine. Loved it!
Marcus Brigstocke: Absolute Shower – Another show where the subject of stupid people comes up! Marcus Brigstocke is on brilliant form, an hour full of political satire and happy lockdown memories. I particularly loved his observation about consent issues for single people today. Extremely funny, always a pleasure.
Nina Gilligan: Late Developer – Nina specialises in finding fantastic new material on familiar subjects, like the Menopause, sex, relationships and so on. She has a fantastic delivery style, leading you in gently and then hitting you with a killer punchline. An excellent discovery! Loved the pigeon and Chris Whitty material – I'll say no more.
Garry Starr: Greece Lightning – I sometimes wonder how funny Garry Starr could be if he wasn't quite so inhibited. That's a joke, by the way – there is no one on stage who leaps over all the boundaries as much as Garry Elizabeth Starr. Once again the hammy thespian brings us a no-holds barred hour of unmitigated silliness which has to be seen to be believed. Don't think that by avoiding the front row you won't get involved (although if you do sit in the front row you might well see much more than you had bargained for!) Utter brilliance.
Troy Hawke: Sigmund Troy'd – Effortless characterisation, the mischievous Milo McCabe has formed a brilliant, creative set of material for Troy based on a random tweet that caught his imagination. With scrabble values, psychotherapy, magic numbers, shop greetings and pizza dedications, this is an extraordinarily detailed flight of fantasy. I know that by sitting in the front we were asking for it – and we got it. But so did many others! Fabulously funny!
Shamilton – How would this troupe create a hiphop musical about a character chosen by the audience? Brilliant performance and improv with the inspired audience choice of Paddington Bear!! Absolutely hilarious. The Browns needed sexual counselling, and The Queen was called on to prevent Hugh Grant and Nicole Kidman from demolishing their house. Completely nuts and completely wonderful!
Dr Hammond's Covid Inquiry – Dr Phil presents an excellent comedy lecture, packed with fascinating facts and opinions, jokes and observations – it's almost as though Covid has never gone away (winking emoji). It's also interesting to share your own covid experiences and beliefs with other audience members. Very enjoyable!
Joe Wells: I Am Autistic – Always one of our favourite comedians, Joe is on fantastic form with a show that gives rise to pretty much non stop laughter, mainly about autism – and yes I know it sounds unlikely. He's a truly gifted comedian, with a beautifully crafted set, and there's no better way to start your Fringe day!
Pear (Patrick and Hugo McPherson) – "Are there twins in the audience, oh oh, oh oh, are there any twins in?" 🎵 🎵 I guarantee you'll be singing that for ages.
Patrick and Hugo do an amazing double act, with a nicely structured, incredibly silly, beautifully funny show, with perfect callbacks and audience interaction. You don't stop beaming from start to finish! Is there nothing these McPhersons can't do?!
Robin Morgan: Snip Snip Bitch (WIP) – Robin is even slicker and funnier now than he was when we saw him in Leicester a couple of years ago! There's no real narrative thread to his act, it's just observations and memories and quirkinesses, all of which somehow combine together to create a very satisfying whole. He's so very likeable and persuasive; you end up letting your guard down and telling him things you'd normally keep under your hat. Absolutely brilliant!
Foil Arms and Hog: Hogwash – At first we wondered if Foil Arms and Hog had reached their pinnacle, and were beginning to lose their way a little. A very long get-to-know the audience introduction (vital for later material) followed by a too-long sketch based on a ghost story experience, meant that half the show had already gone before we started getting into the really good material, but rest assured it's as good as ever. I loved the suitcases on the carousel, and the long lost reunions were inspired. Three genuinely hilarious guys – you don't get better sketch comedy.
Nish Kumar: Your Power, Your Control – Nish Kumar comes across as a naturally funny guy but also an angry one; years of racism have taken its toll on his mental health, and he shares some of that journey with us – and you get the feeling that the journey is far from over. But it's not all doom and gloom – in fact it's 98% hilarious observations about politics, terrible gigs and how much he loves Ricky Gervais and Jimmy Carr*. An occasionally bruising (and aggressive!) watch, but always rewarding. *not strictly true.
Sooz Kempner: Playstation – Very funny – I thought we might be at a disadvantage knowing nothing about computer games, but Sooz used them as a springboard for lots of other brilliant material, all based on that natural unwillingness to grow up. Extremely funny and inventive, and excellent use of pre-recorded material. Our first time seeing Sooz Kempner, but definitely not our last.
Colin Hoult: The Death of Anna Mann – Perhaps this really is the death of Anna Mann? Whatever Colin Hoult gives her an amazing send-off in this brilliant retrospective of her lives, loves and careers. Turned out very emotional in the end! One of the best comedy shows ever.
Spank! You and Goodnight – The last ever Spank! was the source of a lot of genuine emotion. We've loved this show over the past 8 years and it's brought so much happiness to so many people. A wonderful last night final line up; brilliant acts who all made the night very special.
Just These Please: Honestly No Pressure Either Way – Fast, slick and very very funny! Lovely silly sketches – I loved the one that featured Greyfriars Bobby – all performed to a high standard. What's not to like?
Hamlet: Ian McKellen and the Edinburgh Festival Ballet – Ignore those 2* reviews. They clearly don't understand the concept of Ballet. This is a stunning piece, superb choreography, meticulously danced, that tells the story of Hamlet clearly and thoroughly. The Prince of Denmark is split into two: one, the vocal nervous wreck played by McKellen, the other, the man who moves, played by an extraordinary dancer. I particularly loved Ophelia's dances, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are a delight. Fabulous lighting and sound too. My toes curled with pleasure throughout!
Ballet Freedom of Kyiv – Audience reviews online were about 75-25 in favour of this show, but those who didn't like it *really* didn't like it! We thought it was terrific; inventive, dynamic choreography, danced with joy and skill, frequently very tongue in cheek, lots of dark humour and even a few instances of audience participation (and don't think by not sitting in the front you're safe – you're not!) Invasion by a hostile neighbour was tastefully suggested in a few of the dances. I was very disappointed at the amount of photography and videoing from audience members, which was extremely disrespectful of both the performers and other audience members. But we loved the show!
SPOKEN WORD:
Iain Dale: All Talk with Rory Stewart – Both Iain Dale and Rory Stewart were both on good form. Amongst the revelations was the fact that they both went for the Conservative nomination to stand for the constituency of Bracknell. Rory told some awful stories about Johnson that were ostensibly funny but just showed what an utter disgrace the PM is. Good questions, fascinating answers, and a surprisingly entertaining hour.
Iain Dale: All Talk with Keir Starmer – Iain Dale and Jacqui Smith both grilled Keir Starmer and I must say I was very impressed with the Labour Leader, much more than I expected to be. You can see he's a thoughtful, intelligent man, he listens in full to the question then gives a most considered answer to it. I don't think he suits the world of quick off the cuff comments; he's much more the measured, detailed, considered kind of politician.
In Conversation with… Devi Sridhar – Not entirely sure what I was expecting from Devi Sridhar, but this conversation with sports journalist Graham Spiers revealed her motivations for becoming a public health expert, her background, her opinions on a wide range of subjects and also much of the private person behind the headlines. She's a natural at the Q&A, and it was a fascinating hour.
EVERYTHING ELSE:
Rouge – Sets the bar for all the shows in this genre. Stunning to watch, decadent in the extreme, incredible acrobatics and a silly, adult sense of humour. No more to say!
Adults Only Magic Show – Sam and Justin have put together some amazing magic and framed it within this "adult only" naughty presentation, to the delight of everyone. Very funny, very naughty and very incredible! Not a clue as to how any of it was done.
An Evening Without Kate Bush – I didn't really know what to expect from this show, but you come away from it with a spring in your step and gladness in your heart, as Sarah-Louise Young beguiles you into the world of Kate Bush fandom, presents some of her best loved songs in ways you have never seen before, and makes you desperate to go back to your old LPs before the night is out. She also does a pretty amazing vocal impersonation! Very inclusive and hugely enjoyable.
So, an amazing Fringe – we loved every minute. And who will receive the coveted Chrisparkle Edinburgh awards? We'll have to wait until the committee sits and deliberates next January!
Posted in Circus, Comedy, Dance, Edinburgh Fringe, Theatre / Tagged 2022, chris sparkle, Comedy, dance, Edinburgh, fringe, Theatre / Leave a comment
The Edinburgh Fringe Full Monty (nearly) – Day 25, 29th August 2022
Posted on August 28, 2022 by therealchrisparkle
And we come to the last day of the Fringe! What have got left in store to see today?
Here's the schedule for 29th August:
12.45 – Press, Pleasance Courtyard. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:
"It's the big day. The announcement is in a few hours' time, and two film producers anticipate their prestigious Civil War epic Catch Me Some Freedom will be nominated for plenty of Goldies. Until they learn that the film's heroic lead role, played by a white actor, was in real life actually Black. Fearing a career-jeopardizing backlash, the two frantically try to keep the film from getting any attention whatsoever. Nathaniel Brimmer-Beller's play returns after its 2021 premiere, described as 'genius' ***** (BroadwayBaby.com) with 'a wonderful set-up' that 'delivers in every manner' ***** (TheVioletCurtain.com)."
If this is as good as they say, it's going to be brilliant!
UPDATE: The basis of a really good play but the writing and plot don't quite realise its full potential. Very good performances though, and lots to enjoy. ⭐⭐⭐
14.55 – No Place Like Home, Pleasance Dome.
"Winner of Les Enfants Terribles Award 2022. On a night out in a gay bar, Connor meets Rob. One's a newcomer, the other has been on the scene far too long. But when a kiss leads to a brutal attack – who's the victim and who's the perpetrator? Fusing spoken word, music, dance and video art, No Place Like Home is a tragic odyssey into gay club culture and the places we can call home. Get ready to laugh, cry and dance with somebody who loves you."
Sounds like a hard-hitting play for the final day – hope it's as good as it sounds!
UPDATE: Gripping tale, spellbindingly told, with superb use of video graphics that truly helped the story along. Marvellous acting – great characterisations. A feast of creativity, I'm so glad we didn't miss this! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
17.20 – The Cambridge Footlights International Tour Show 2022: Are We There Yet? Pleasance Dome.
"All aboard The Cambridge Footlights International Tour Show 2022: Are We There Yet? Buckle up as we hit the road for a tour of life itself, visiting more sketch-shaped destinations than a travel agent could dream of. Join five curious tourists for a holiday filled with laughs, quirky characters and sand in uncomfortable places. 'The most renowned sketch troupe of them all' (Independent) embark on their annual international tour with a brand-new show, travelling to London, Edinburgh, Los Angeles, New York and more! You'd be silly to miss it."
In all our years of seeing student comedy, I don't think we've ever seen the Cambridge Footlights – the group with the biggest reputation of all! Time to put that right!
UPDATE: Given that reputation, this was a bit of a disappointment. Obviously a talented troupe, but it's a shame their material wasn't funnier. A few good sketches but too many that weren't. ⭐⭐
19.00 – Just These Please: Honestly No Pressure Either Way, Gilded Balloon Teviot.
"With three five star sell-out Edinburgh Fringe runs, over 60 million views online and a tendency to list things in threes, Just These Please are back with 25 brand new sketches and songs where 'the gags are packed tight and as always the performance is faultless' (Chortle.co.uk). If you're looking for a 'tight hilarious hour of sketch comedy' (BeyondTheJoke.co.uk) with 'solid laughs throughout' (Scotsman) and 'countless highlights' (ThreeWeeks) then you should absolutely get tickets before they sell out – but honestly no pressure either way. ***** (ThreeWeeks). ***** (TheArtsDesk.com). ***** (VoiceMag.uk)."
More comedy sketches – let's hope they do a great job.
UPDATE: Fast, slick and very very funny! Lovely silly sketches – I loved the one that featured Greyfriars Bobby – all performed to a high standard. What's not to like? ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Posted in Comedy, Edinburgh Fringe, Theatre / Tagged Cambridge Footlights, chris sparkle, Edinburgh, fringe, Just these Please, No Place Like Home, Press, This is your trial / Leave a comment
A big day of comedy ahead in Edinburgh!
12.05 – Possibly the Last Chance to See Susan Morrison, The Stand's New Town Theatre. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:
"Susan Morrison is at an age and stage to get some funny stuff off her chest. Mid-life crisis? Nah. This definitely isn't the middle of her life, but she's still having a laugh. She survived the Cold War, shoulder pads and the Osmonds, but time marches on and it turns out the end might be sooner than expected, although she's determined to breathe long enough to get her bloody pension. It's been a funny old life and there's a few things she's learned along the way she'd like to pass on."
This possibly will be the VERY last chance to see Susan Morrison as her show finishes today! It would be a shame not to see her before she gives up!
UPDATE: A show both funny and informative, as Susan takes us through some of us Edinburgh's murkier history, early instances of swear words, and centuries-old sex clubs, before bringing the topics round to her own health and cancer diagnoses – but it's never heavy, always light and funny. A very enjoyable Comedy hour! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
14.55 – Ada Campe: Too Little, Too Soon, The Stand's New Town Theatre.
"Variety artiste Ada Campe decided to do some research into her family history during lockdown – and was delighted and intrigued by what she found! Join her for a show about wonderful women, surprising secrets and amphibian water ballets. 'Very funny' (Guardian). 'Fabulous' (ScotsGay.co.uk). 'Genius' (Sandi Toksvig). 'Extravagantly mischievous' (Chortle.co.uk). 'A marvellous teller of tall tales' (Scotsman). 'Resembles an unhinged supervillain' (DIVA). Winner: 2019 Good Egg Award, Stand Comedy Club. Winner: 2018 Hackney Empire New Act of the Year Show (NATYS). Winner: 2018 Leicester Square Theatre Old Comedian of the Year. www.adacampe.com"
We've never seen Ada Campe before but she looks like she's a right laugh – so hopefully this will be fun.
UPDATE: Mad as a box of frogs, and I think she'd accept that description wholeheartedly. To be fair, there wasn't a lot of content; but what Ada does, she does very well. ⭐⭐⭐
16.45 – Wanderlust Assembly George Square Gardens.
"Hosted by an over-the-top and flirtatious host, this show delivers a dazzling array of exciting and naughty dance cabaret entertainment with frolicsome performers indulging in mesmerizing song and dance, acro, contortion, fire, pole and aerial acts, plus shameless comedic sketches, fostering oodles of audience interaction with hilarious and cheeky moments. It's mischievous, it's naughty and utterly wild! With a killer soundtrack and loaded with comicality, wickedness, killer vocals, hypnotic acts, dashes of nudity, exhilarating dance and so much more… this cheeky dance cabaret will leave you breathless and howling with laughter!"
More comedy and variety to while away a Sunday afternoon!
UPDATE: The last week of this show was completely cancelled, so we had drinks with friends instead!
18.30 – Sindhu Vee: Alphabet, Pleasance Courtyard.
"A show about the hair we want, the friends we have and living the vast difference between virus and viral. Expect 'outspoken, frank and funny stand-up' (Evening Standard) from this Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer nominee. As seen and heard on Live at the Apollo, QI, Have I Got News for You, Sandhog (Comedy Special) on Amazon Prime Video, Would I Lie To You?, Sex Education, BBC Radio 4's Things My Mother Never Told Me (…About Lockdown) and The Guilty Feminist podcast. 'Superior comedy… exceptionally funny' **** (List)."
We've seen Sindhu Vee a couple of times and I love her acerbic style and great material. This should be excellent!
UPDATE: Sindhu Vee also cancelled the final performance of her show, so instead we went to see Basil Brush Unleashed and Uncut. Basil and Mr Martin were on terrific form, with a really funny show, with a great End of term feeling. There was also a very charming and moving tribute to the late Mr Derek. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
21.10 – Colin Hoult: The Death of Anna Mann, Pleasance Courtyard.
"Anna Mann is back! The acclaimed actress, singer and welder (gotta have a back up) returns after five long years to tell the incredible story of her life in the arts in this, her final hour. Visceral, real and achingly brave, Colin Hoult (After Life, Netflix) presents a hilarious meditation on life, death and literally everything in between. You will leave screaming 'f*** off I love it!' 'Funnier than almost all other shows at this year's Fringe' **** (Telegraph). 'Deliciously funny' **** (Times). **** (Scotsman). **** (Time Out)."
I only discovered Anna Mann for the first time last year and she's an absolute scream, so I can't believe Colin Hoult is going to kill her off! Let's hope it's just a title, and not the truth.
UPDATE: Perhaps this really is the death of Anna Mann? Whatever Colin Hoult gives her an amazing send-off in this brilliant retrospective of her lives, loves and careers. Turned out very emotional in the end! One of the best comedy shows ever. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
23.00 – Spank! You and Goodnight, Underbelly, Bristo Square.
"Join the 'best wild night out at the Fringe' (Scotland on Sunday), Spank!, as they celebrate 20 years at The Fringe, and bow out disgracefully with this show-stopping one-night-only finale which promises to be a night to remember! With their favourite comedy and variety performers from over the years, keep an eye on @SpankComedy (Twitter) for the line-up. 'Comedy and legendary party night… if you haven't experienced this night, get down there right away!' (Time Out). 'It's raunchy, raucous and ridiculous. Utterly and absolutely hilarious' ***** (BroadwayBaby.com)."
So it was a no-brainer that we would have to book for the very last Spank of all, hopefully presented by arch-Spanker James Loveridge. I'm really sad that the era is ending, but this should be a great night.
UPDATE: The last ever Spank! was also the source of a lot of genuine emotion. We've loved this show over the past 8 years and it's brought so much happiness to so many people. A wonderful last night final line up; brilliant acts who all made the night very special. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Posted in Circus, Comedy, Edinburgh Fringe / Tagged Ada Campe, Anna Mann, chris sparkle, Colin Hoult, Edinburgh, fringe, Sindhu Vee, Spank, Susan Morrison, Wanderlust / Leave a comment
Would you like to know what we're seeing in Edinburgh today? I thought you would!
12.35 – Practically Perfect! Julie Andrews from Broadway to Hollywood, Greenside @ Infirmary Street. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:
"Practically Perfect! takes a light-hearted and affectionate look at the many aspects of Julie Andrews' career and personal life, exploring the contrast between the public face of this legendary musical and movie star and the intensely private family woman. Filled with comedy, drama, and some of the best-known songs from Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music and many more of her musical and film successes, the play pays tribute to her phenomenal career up until 1997 when, tragically, a controversial surgical procedure deprived her of her four-octave voice."
Who doesn't love a bit of Julie Andrews?! Hoping for good things from this one.
UPDATE: Julie Andrews' life and career make for a super story but this is a curiously underpowered production. Considering we have seen so many shows this fringe that have been loudly over amplified, the singing and some of the dialogue in this show was much too quiet. And there was a strange directorial decision to have the actor playing Young Julie almost constantly on the stage with nothing to do except look bored. However, it was great to be reminded of many of Julie Andrews' greatest entertainment moments – and I certainly wasn't expecting to see her performance of The Physician as in the film "Star". And I was very impressed by the attention to detail in the costumes. But this should have been much more captivating than it was. ⭐⭐
15.10 – Closure, Pleasance Courtyard.
"Why be the bigger person when you can be the last one standing? Ink and Curtains make their Edinburgh debut hot on the heels of their first national tour with this tale of a dinner party with a dark secret. Alex and Laura quickly learn that their friend Mia may not let them all leave alive. Closure wields dark comedy and vicious catharsis to explore feminine rage, women's rights and – more importantly – women's wrongs."
A dinner party gone wrong? What's not to like! This sounds intriguing and fun.
UPDATE: Mrs Chrisparkle and I constituted the full audience! Yes, only two people in but the cast threw themselves into a great performance of a brilliant play, with very serious, challenging material, and a fabulous twist. A good old fashioned thriller, based on sexual violence. Read the trigger warnings first. We talked about it for ages afterwards! Riveting! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
18.20 – Patrick Spicer: Who's This All of a Sudden? Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose.
"Debut hour from one of the most exciting acts on the UK comedy circuit and one of the most pathetic cringing worms (as seen on The Mash Report (BBC2), BBC3 and Channel 4 Online.) Patrick will be recounting his deepest fears and humiliations in a funny and credible way (nominated for both Chortle Best Newcomer and Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year). So if you've ever felt like there's something wrong with you, come and laugh with Patrick. If not, come and laugh at Patrick."
I've enjoyed the few occasions we've seen Patrick Spicer on TV, so here's hoping this live show will pay dividends too.
UPDATE: Patrick has a very likeable persona and some excellent material based on his physical and mental anxieties, a lot of which many of the audience can identify and empathise with, so although he invites us to laugh at him, we laugh with him, which makes for a very convivial experience! Mind you, I think he might be a little jaded with his Fringe experience. Hang on in there, young sir, only two shows to go! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
20.30 – Fin Taylor: Daddy Self-Care, Pleasance Dome.
"Edinburgh's favourite Guardian-approved naughty boy is back! And he's bringing with him a brand-new hour of painfully funny stand-up for 2022. Since his last visit to the Fringe, he's got married, had a kid and watched on with bemusement as comedy evolves into a platform for Generation Z to earnestly discuss their self-diagnosed mental health conditions. So plenty to work with. As seen on Live At The Apollo, Have I Got News For You, 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Mash Report and more. 'Gleefully provocative, explosively funny' **** (Guardian)."
One of the best comics around – I know this is going to be a winner!
UPDATE: There's no doubt about it – Fin's humour has become darker and more divisive since we last saw him. At his best, he's hysterically funny. At his worst, you detect the rancour in his material and it simply leaves you cold, so you sit silently. A few people left during the show; that's their prerogative, but Fin makes an issue out of it that isn't really helpful. A tricky hour; those who loved it, really loved it. I could have done without the Ukrainian joke and the mental health observations, but that's just me. ⭐⭐⭐
22.00 – Karen from Finance is Out of Office, Underbelly Bristo Square.
"Pack your calculators, save your spread sheets and set your automatic email reply because Karen from Finance is heading Out of Office! She's hitting the road and she's hitting it hard. Say goodbye to the 80 hour work week and jump on board the Finance Express for this one-woman journey of self-discovery… and self-annihilation. Beloved Australian drag queen Karen from Finance presents her debut one woman show Out of Office which features all of her trademark high-camp and hilarious mashups, plus all the tomfoolery you can poke a presentation pointer at."
We saw Karen from Finance as part of the Yummy! troupe at the Fringe in 2018 – the show was ok, but I'm hoping that Karen's own show will be better – let's see!
UPDATE: Karen's show is very slick and sassy, with a lot of funny moments and some great lip-synching. Not quite sure what I was expecting, but I think I was expecting something a little more. However, Karen's clients were whooping it up something mega, so she was obviously doing something right! Perhaps I'm just getting too old for some of this stuff! ⭐⭐⭐
Posted in Comedy, Edinburgh Fringe, Theatre / Tagged chris sparkle, Closure, Comedy Striptease, Edinburgh, Fin Taylor, fringe, Julie Andrews, Karen From Finance, Patrick Spicer, Practically Perfect / Leave a comment
A good mix of comedy and theatre arranged for Edinburgh today!
Word of mouth is the most important thing at the Fringe, and friends told us we must see Wilf at the Traverse Theatre. So we're fitted it in this morning!
UPDATE: That rare thing – a comedy that is extraordinarily creative in its subject matter, confronts headfirst disturbing issues like domestic abuse and mental illness, and is also jaw-achingly funny. Beautifully staged and performed by Michael Dylan, Irene Allan and Neil John Gibson, there's no way this play won't have a life beyond the Fringe. Absolutely magnificent! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
14.20 – Sooz Kempner: PlayStation, PBH's Free Fringe @ Banshee Labyrinth. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:
"Twitter sensation Sooz (BBC Radio 4, BT Sport, BBC Radio 5 Live) got a PlayStation, the first adult console, in 1998 and finally felt grown-up. But is she? A stand-up show for anyone who remembers the 90s and had big dreams as a kid. Suitable for gamers and non-gamers alike! 'A new wave of comedy' (Guardian). 'Incredible… it shouldn't work but it really, really does' (Independent). 'Brilliant' (LA Times). Comedy Central Top Shows of the Fringe 2018. **** (Fest). **** (Broadway World). **** (Chortle.co.uk). **** (EdinburghReporter.co.uk). **** (Stage)."
Never seen Sooz Kempner before but have heard great things, so we're looking forward to this one.
UPDATE: Very funny – I thought we might be at a disadvantage knowing nothing about computer games, but Sooz used them as a springboard for lots of other brilliant material, all based on that natural unwillingness to grow up. Extremely funny and inventive, and excellent use of pre-recorded material. Our first time seeing Sooz Kempner, but definitely not our last. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
16.10 – Antiques, Greenside @ Nicolson Square.
"The Griffen Collective present Antiques by Ted Smethurst. Worn out by the city, young couple Sam and Lucy move to the countryside, searching for a peaceful rural lifestyle. They arrive in the village of Little Dickingsworth: picture perfect and untouched by modern life. The villagers like it that way and don't take kindly to change. Perhaps Little Dickingsworth is not as charming as it appears and your new neighbours don't play nice with strangers."
This sounds rather League of Gentlemen-ish, which isn't really our cup of tea, but we're giving it a risky punt.
UPDATE: Should have followed my natural caution on this one. An attempt to recreate a League of Gentleman-type nightmare village with a range of weirdo inhabitants. Not sure if it had any further point than that – and it proves just how hard it is to be The League of Gentlemen. Mrs C slept blissfully through most of it. The sad thing is that you can see a lot of effort went into this; but it really was not good. ⭐
17.50 – Pillows, The Space on North Bridge.
"On a normal bed, in a normal bedroom, two normal university students try to figure out their place in the world – and their place in each other's lives. They've known each other since they were 15. They're pretty sure of that. But they're on the brink of adulthood now – life changes and there's so much that should have been said long ago. A single conversation that drifts between love, sex, Bowie, break-ups and Adam Sandler, Pillows is a new one-act play that wanders through the murky depths of teenage love without leaving one boy's bedroom."
Hoping for some entertaining and thought-provoking drama here, let's hope I'm right.
UPDATE: Amazing flowing conversational acting, an intimate meeting of two people who can't live together and can't live apart. Superb performances from Eve Billington and Aaron Garland – fantastic young actors in the making! If I have a criticism, it would be that the play itself is a little repetitive, and it ends where it begins; I'm not sure if the characters make any real progress. But what an acting feat! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
19.50 – There's No Mystery in Murder! The Space on the Mile.
"Murder has come to Rothersdale, where nothing ever happens. A local councillor is found dead after his plan to build a big supermarket creates unrest. A jaded city detective with an unblemished record for solving crime and an enthusiastic local cop desperate to prove herself must unwillingly team up to crack the case. Will they stop the murderer before they strike again? Northern Corner's four-person cast bring an entire village of unhinged locals to life in this countryside crime caper, a new Yorkshire musical!"
Another comedy murder show – this time a musical, which should make it stand out!
UPDATE: Entertaining and nicely written compact little musical where our gallant Policewoman solves three murders in a sleepy Yorkshire town. The songs are surprisingly good! It's a shame that one member of the cast wasn't quite a vocally perfect as the others; but it was good fun – and I'm still humming one of the tunes to myself! ⭐⭐⭐
Posted in Comedy, Edinburgh Fringe, Theatre / Tagged Antiques, Beak, chris sparkle, Cocktail Boys, Edinburgh, fringe, Pillows, Playstation, Sooz Kempner, There's no Mystery in Murder / Leave a comment
Lots of comedy arranged for Edinburgh today!
12.00 – Joanna Neary: Wasp In A Cardigan, The Stand Comedy Club 2. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:
"One-time Riot grrrl, witch, illustrator Joanna and her volatile alter egos explore life and love. Punchlines include fry-up, arsehole and Xmal Deutschland. 'One of the most naturally funny stand-ups around' (Stage). 'Inherently funny' **** (Chortle.co.uk). 'Most striking is the contrast between the big-grinned, scatty sweetness she has when she's being herself, and the surgical precision with which she skewers her characters' foibles' (Independent). Edinburgh Award Newcomer nominee. Best Actress, Brighton Fringe. Best Show nominee at Leicester Comedy Festival. Judith in BBC's Ideal. Featured in Time Trumpet, Man Down, Wife On Earth Podcast. joneary.com"
Joanna Neary is a name new to us but I've heard good things, so fingers crossed this will be fun.
UPDATE: Quite a curious show. Nice, but niche, characterisations – including Celia Johnson, whom I saw in the west end 50 years ago but the vast percentage of modern comedy-watchers wouldn't know from Adam. If you don't know southern Cornish references, or don't get the finer aspects of a Merthyr Tydfil accent, you're left to admire, if not actually enjoy, much of the show. Great Kate Bush imitation – again, 40 years on; and some nice material but a lot of it doesn't quite work and there was an embarrassing moment when she accused an audience member of being on their phone when in fact he was just holding hands with his girlfriend. This one didn't quite do it for us. ⭐⭐
15.10 – Eh Up, Me Old Flowers! Pleasance Courtyard.
"In the 1970s, the biggest comedy show on television was ITV's The Comedians. It made Charlie Williams the first black comic to become a household name. Perhaps his material would nowadays be considered questionable. But perhaps if you'd lived his extraordinary life in a white man's world – coal miner, professional footballer, cabaret singer, comedian – you'd have done the same. Now in retirement, Charlie faces an uncomfortable visit from a mysterious stranger who demands that he justify himself… By Chris England (An Evening with Gary Lineker) and starring Tony Marshall (Casualty, Life on Mars)."
I'm expecting this to be great. I remember Charlie Williams very fondly, always used to love his TV appearances – and actually saw him at the Palladium once. This will be a mixture of nostalgia and a bit of a challenge.
UPDATE: An excellent portrayal of Charlie Williams, by Tony Marshall; and the play itself is full of great storytelling, and ultimately is remarkably moving. You don't have to remember Charlie Williams from the 70s, but it helps if you do! The play posed fascinating questions about whether Williams was complicit in spreading racism, or did he pave the way for the likes of Lenny Henry or Gary Wilmot? I was really surprised to find I had a tear in my eye at the end. Way better than you might possibly expect!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
18.10 – Emmanuel Sonubi: Emancipated, Underbelly Bristo Square.
"Sonubi has only been on the comedy circuit for what feels like five minutes and he's already garnering himself a reputation as the one to watch out for, having gone from open spot to closing BBC's Live at the Apollo in an incredibly short space of time. He has also performed at many of the largest clubs and festivals across Europe. He made his TV debut on Comedy Central UK and was recently on The John Bishop Show for ITV1 and the Stand Up Sketch Show on ITV2. 'The bloke has got funny bones' (Romesh Ranganathan)."
We saw Emmanuel Sonubi at a Spank show a few years ago – I described him as intimidatingly funny. Let's hope he's got a great show for us this year!
UPDATE: Big-hearted Emmanuel gets great material out of the difference between his imposing appearance and his true personality – he's a bit of a softie really! A very funny hour packed with thoroughly entertaining stuff about kids, his heart issues, and musical theatre! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
21.15 – Jesus L'Oreal: Nailed It! Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose.
"Halle-berry-lujah! Your sassy, dyslexic King of the shoes is heaven scent in a cloud of Febreze to tell you how he came to be the fabulous influencer that he is whilst setting the record straight about events of his life. Be it stories about being born in a barn surrounded by ass or simply tips to shift a stone doing Pontius Pilates, the ultimate lifestyle guru has a high-octane hour of song, dance and interactive Jehovah's Fitness to help you flex those Pentecostal muscles all the way to the kingdom of Hosannadu. It's sacre-licious!"
One of those delightfully tasteless shows that Edinburgh always throws up, I'm looking forward to sharing in the blasphemy for an hour or so!
UPDATE: Jesus L'Oreal fronts an hour of fitness, self-help and sermonising, whilst revelling in a very funny script jam-packed with song lyrics, for the fun of it. Plenty of audience participation, and he even turns water into wine. Nothing earth-shattering, but very good humoured; not for those of a serious religious persuasion though! ⭐⭐⭐
Posted in Comedy, Edinburgh Fringe / Tagged Charlie Williams, chris sparkle, Edinburgh, Eh up me old flowers, Emmanuel Sonubi, fringe, Jesus L'Oreal, Joanna Neary, Spank / 2 Comments
A heavy day of drama in Edinburgh today!
11.20 – Words Without Consent, Greenside @ Infirmary Street. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:
"Following a tour across England, 2Gal are bringing their four-star political satire to Edinburgh Fringe. Words Without Consent tells two stories: an out of control debate, and two gals getting ready to go out (like, out-out.) Using both well-known political faux pas and those that have been swept under the rug, the play invites the audience to laugh at the ridiculous state of the current political landscape. But while a BoJo meme is well worth a share, should we be asking more from our leaders?"
A political start to the day – no idea what this will be like, but let's hope it's good.
UPDATE: Verbatim text of women in interviews combined with politicians' comments on the role of women in society and the dangers faced daily from men. Extremely well staged, great use of video projections and two first rate performances. Take note of the trigger warnings; many of the things said in this production shake you to the core. A thrilling, appalling and vital work. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
13.25 – In Her Defence, The Space on North Bridge.
"London, 1947. A man is dead. His wife has killed him. As a court hears the evidence leading up to the murder, you'll witness the disintegration of the couple's marriage and discover the real, surprising truth."
This sounds like a good old-fashioned court drama, and done well they can be unbeatable. So this could be great!
UPDATE: This Christie-style thriller has all the elements of a deceptively simple tale; extremely well written and pretty well told. It's all taken at a leisurely to moderate pace, but that gives you time to try to solve the crime before the trial wraps up. You're invited to spot all the Christie references in the plot – I got 4, but some of them are very loose! Good fun and engrossing. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
15.50 – Candy, Underbelly Bristo Square.
"Do you believe in love at first sight? Will has fallen hopelessly in love with the seductive singer, Candy. The only problem: she's his best mate in drag. As Will struggles to make sense of his newfound feelings, his life crumbles at the fringes. Should he seize life by his bollocks and tell Candy how he feels? Can he ever be with her? And what does loving her really mean? The sell-out London comedy-drama returns to the Fringe after a special online performance last year. 'A raw exploration of love and identity' ***** (Indiependent.co.uk). 'Truly captivating' **** (TheatreScotland.com)."
A funny twist on an old tale – this could be excellent. Here's hoping.
UPDATE: Brilliant storytelling, both in Tim Fraser's riveting play and Michael Waller's spellbinding performance. At first, I thought the content of the play was going to position itself as some kind of analogy or symbol. But then I quickly decided it wasn't that, it was just a straightforward story about a man falling in love with his mate, but only when Billy presents himself as Candy. Fascinating, thought-provoking, at times hilarious, at times deeply sad. We absolutely loved it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
17.55 – An Evening Without Kate Bush, Assembly George Square Studios.
"Howl with the hounds and dance on the moors! Kate's not there, but you are. Following its sold-out 2019 Fringe premiere, touring and a Soho Theatre season, this smash-hit, award-winning show returns! Sarah-Louise Young and Russell Lucas pay glorious homage to the music, fans and mythology of one of the most influential voices in music. 'You don't need to be a Kate Bush fan to be transported into something very special' **** (Scotsman). 'Reinventing the tribute act' ***** (Stage). 'Joyful' **** (Daily Telegraph). 'Magnificent' ***** (Attitude)."
We had tickets for this at our local theatre and then Covid had other ideas. So I am delighted finally to be able to see this show, which I've heard is great.
UPDATE: I didn't really know what to expect from this show, but you come away from it with a spring in your step and gladness in your heart, as Sarah-Louise Young beguiles you into the world of Kate Bush fandom, presents some of her best loved songs in ways you have never seen before, and makes you desperate to go back to your old LPs before the night is out. She also does a pretty amazing vocal impersonation! Very inclusive and hugely enjoyable. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
21.00 – Nish Kumar: Your Power, Your Control, Assembly George Square.
"It has been a period of upheaval and uncertainty with COVID and the political situation. You will be amazed by my capacity to somehow take all these things personally. Your Power, Your Control is a new show from the former host of Late Night Mash Report and one of The Guardian's Top Top Fifty Comedians of the 21st Century. 'Political zingers delivered with fizzing energy' (Independent). 'Kumar is the smartest, and often the silliest, political comic we've got: acute, furious and often the ridiculous fall guy of his own jokes' ***** (Guardian)."
Another big comedy name that we're finally going to be ticking off the list! It will be interesting to see if Nish Kumar is accomplished live as he is on TV.
UPDATE: Nish Kumar comes across as a naturally funny guy but also an angry one; years of racism have taken its toll on his mental health, and he shares some of that journey with us – and you get the feeling that the journey is far from over. But it's not all doom and gloom – in fact it's 98% hilarious observations about politics, terrible gigs and how much he loves Ricky Gervais and Jimmy Carr*. An occasionally bruising (and aggressive!) watch, but always rewarding.
*not strictly true. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Posted in Comedy, Edinburgh Fringe, Theatre / Tagged Candy, chris sparkle, Edinburgh, Evening without Kate Bush, fringe, In Her Defence, Nish Kumar, The Coven, Words Without Consent / Leave a comment
The Edinburgh Fringe Full Monty (nearly) – Day 19, 23rd August 2022
Wanna know what's scheduled for today in Edinburgh?
Here's the schedule for 23rd August:
11.30 – Death of an Author, Greenside @ Nicolson Square. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:
"What if your favourite characters didn't quite like the way they were written? What if they decided enough was enough? When an unnamed author is found dead, his characters are brought in for questioning. And they all have motive. Death of an Author is a celebration of untold female stories and a murder mystery like nothing you've seen before… come solve the crime in Edinburgh! Will you catch the killer?"
This sounds like a fascinating play – I often think that it's the characters who are in charge of a book. It will be interesting to see if this play agrees with me!
UPDATE: A very clever premise, excellent performances, extremely well written, and surprisingly moving. Lots to think about – and truly intriguing for literature buffs! I shan't reveal who murdered the author…. but no jury would convict! I also liked how the detective did a spot of mansplaining! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
13.40 – Man of 100 Faces, Gilded Balloon Teviot.
"One performer. 100 characters. One hour. Impossible? Not for The Man of 100 Faces. This is the unbelievably true story of Sir Paul Dukes. A child runaway who, with just three weeks' training, was made head of MI6 in Russia during the bloodiest year of the Revolution. He's the man that nearly defeated Lenin. The man that first brought yoga to the UK. He's a master of disguise, the original inspiration for Bond and the only British spy ever to be knighted. But can The Man of 100 Faces unmask who he really is?"
This could be brilliant – or it might be a bit iffy. Only one way to find out!
UPDATE: The story of Paul Dukes. Never heard of him before, and he sounds like one helluva guy. But it needs a larger venue for the loud and physical performance that Saul Boyer gives. In the middle of the front row, we felt uncomfortable, were sprayed with sweat, and constantly bellowed at. I'm sure that three or four rows back it would have been much more enjoyable. Tremendous commitment from the performer, but our own personal experience was not one I could recommend. ⭐⭐⭐
15.55 – Messiah, Underbelly Bristo Square.
"Jesus tells his disciples: 'the Messiah will never come, so we have to create one'. An intense and darkly provocative retelling of the myths and realities surrounding the rise and fall of Christ. Fusing realism and surrealism, history and the present, poetry and vulgarity, we enter a beguiling picture of the last days of Jesus' life and those that surround him. A cast of four play multiple characters, moving between ensemble, monologue and song. Includes nudity."
This is another intriguing show – a blank canvas on which anything could be written. Let's hope it's good!
UPDATE: Very good, thought provoking play, as you would expect from the pen of Steven Berkoff. We particularly enjoyed the brainstorming session on how to make the resurrection really work! Very good performances, lots of fourth walk breaking, well worth seeing – and deserves a larger audience. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
18.00 – Rosie Holt: The Woman's Hour, Pleasance Courtyard.
"Social media sensation and Chortle Award winner Rosie Holt debuts an hour of character comedy based on her hit satirical videos. A right-wing "opinionist" distorting the news, an MP desperately defending a failing government, a left-winger wanting to say the right thing but scared of getting it wrong. These characters and more come together when their creator accidentally becomes the news, as they try to speak their truth whatever the facts. 'If she can stay in character long enough, she'll have a Telegraph column and a seat on Question Time by teatime' (James O'Brien)."
Can't wait to see this. Rosie Holt's tweets are a thing of genius. This is going to be amazing!
UPDATE: Will the real Rosie Holt stand up? Very good use of video, and virtually 100% new material, which I wasn't expecting. I liked the confusion of who is Rosie and who isn't, super interaction with the audience, and all in all an extremely funny hour. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
21.15 – Foil Arms and Hog – Hogwash, Underbelly Bristo Square.
"Ireland's top sketch comedy group. With over 500 million online views the internet sensations return to McEwan Hall to premiere their new show, Hogwash. A mix of sketch comedy, audience participation and improvisation. Best reviewed show at the Edinburgh Fringe 2018 and 2019. Sold out 2009-2019. 'Quite simply, a sensation' (Edinburgh Festivals Magazine). 'Very funny show' (Rowan Atkinson). 'Hilarious lads' (Kevin Bridges). 'An effervescent hour of fast-paced gags, fizzing with energy, invention and great lines' (Chortle.co.uk). **** (Times). ***** (Irish Examiner). ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). ***** (Metro). ***** (EdFestMag.com)."
Foil, Arms and Hog are another of the terrific acts that bring us back to Edinburgh year after year. They're always fantastic, and know they will be again.
UPDATE: At first we wondered if Foil Arms and Hog had reached their pinnacle, and were beginning to lose their way a little. A very long get-to-know the audience introduction (vital for later material) followed by a too-long sketch based on a ghost story experience, meant that half the show had already gone before we started getting into the really good material, but rest assured it's as good as ever. I loved the suitcases on the carousel, and the long lost reunions were inspired. Three genuinely hilarious guys – you don't get better sketch comedy. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Posted in Comedy, Edinburgh Fringe, Magic, Theatre / Tagged chris sparkle, Death of an Author, Edinburgh, Foil Arms and Hog, fringe, Luke Oseland, Man of 100 Faces, Messiah, Rosie Holt / Leave a comment
The Edinburgh Fringe Full Monty (nearly) – Day 18, 22nd August 2022
Let me tell you what we've got lined up in Edinburgh today!
Here's the schedule for 22nd August:
10.20 – 50 Ways to Leave Your Employer, Laughing Horse @ City Cafe. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:
"The Great Resignation? We call it The Great Escape! Join hilarious Brits abroad Jess Bauldry and Sharon VS to hear how they broke out from the 9 to 5 and their musings on the meaning of work. There's also a ukulele. Good luck! This is stand-up for grown-ups that shows that adult themes doesn't have to mean dick jokes. Our show re-examines the workplace through the female gaze. It is uproarious, educational and cathartic."
Sounds like a fun and refreshing way to start the day!
UPDATE: A bright and funny start to the day, with two stand up sets and a career change clinic added for good measure. Lots of great material; a very good morning laugh. ⭐⭐⭐
12.50 – Hotel Elsinore, The Space on the Mile.
"Denmark. 2am. A hotel room. Three weary travellers, an unexpected will and a production of Hamlet to rehearse before morning. Tragedy and humour blend in this new play about the challenges of family, forgiveness and Shakespeare. Written and performed by award-winning actor Susanna Hamnett, featuring her son and daughter, Joshua and Lily MacGregor. Susanna Hamnett: 'A virtuosic performer' (New York Times). 'A mighty theatrical force' (Press and Journal). Joshua MacGregor's The Teeth of Haros: 'One of the best-written theatre scripts I have seen during my time at the Fringe' (BritishTheatreGuide.info)."
Yet another way of putting a new twist on Shakespeare – but I'm up for that, no question!
UPDATE: A mother with issues, two tired teenagers and Dad's ashes in an urn turn up at a hotel in Denmark at 2 am, then receives phone call inviting them to perform a production of Hamlet the next morning. An all-night rehearsal follows. I won't tell you the final plot twist, but it completely bamboozled me with its sheer oddness. Sometimes you just "get" a play, and sometimes you don't. I didn't get this at all. Not to say there aren't some nice moments, but I couldn't see the point of it. It all felt like an exercise in futility. If they'd simply decided to do a three-person Hamlet, it could have worked really well. But embedding it inside a framework of visiting Elsinore with some ashes is pure distraction. Not for me, this one. ⭐⭐
15.00 – Olaf Falafel: STOAT, Laughing Horse @ The Pear Tree.
"Olaf Falafel is the holder of 'Dave's Best Joke Of The Fringe' but more importantly he is also the holder of 'Person Whose Show Description You Are Currently Reading And Are Tempted To Book Tickets For'. Olaf guarantees two things – it will be stupid and it will be funny."
It isn't Edinburgh without Olaf. He's one of the funniest guys anywhere! I think I've already worked out what STOAT stands for.
UPDATE: I was right about the meaning of Stoat! I won't tell you the twist to Olaf's tale but, sadly it's something of a downer, even though he tries his absolute best for it to be something positive. In all the appearances we've seen him before, this is the first time he hasn't just sailed through on a sea of delightful silliness. Still loads to laugh at, of course, but it doesn't quite hit the spot in the same way as previous shows. Don't let this put you off though! Four stars is a very good rating! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
20.30 – Robin Morgan: Snip Snip, Bitch (Work In Progress), Laughing Horse @ The Counting House.
"Robin Morgan (as seen on Mock The Week) has an hour of new jokes and stories. Writer for The Mash Report, 8 Out of 10 Cats and Have I Got News For You. Tour Support for Ellie Taylor, Rachel Parris and Iain Stirling. Warm-up for The Graham Norton Show. 'Bloody funny. He must surely be on the verge of nationwide fame' (Chortle.co.uk). **** (Sunday Times)."
We saw Robin Morgan at the Leicester Comedy Festival a couple of years ago and his was the best show we saw – so I'm hopeful for something great!
UPDATE: Robin is even slicker and funnier now than he was when we saw him in Leicester! There's no real narrative thread to his act, it's just observations and memories and quirkinesses, all of which somehow combine together to create a very satisfying whole. He's so very likeable and persuasive; you end up letting your guard down and telling him things you'd normally keep under your hat. Absolutely brilliant! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Posted in Comedy, Edinburgh Fringe, Theatre / Tagged 50 Ways to Leave your Employer, chris sparkle, Edinburgh, fringe, Hotel Elsinore, Lee Brophy, Olaf Falafel, Robin Morgan / Leave a comment
The Edinburgh Fringe Full Monty (nearly) – Day 17, 21st August 2022
Have I got some Edinburgh shows for you? Yes, I have!
Here's the schedule for 21st August:
12.15 – Mat Ricardo: The Extraordinary Gentleman, Gilded Balloon Teviot. From the Edinburgh Fringe website:
"A unique, hilarious and unmissable one-man show from the worlds most critically acclaimed variety artist. Scalpel-sharp wit and astonishing skills honed over three decades travelling the world's stages, streets and spiegeltents come together to create an unforgettable hour of big tricks and big laughs for all ages. 'One of the greatest variety artists working today' (Scotsman). 'The most talented man at the Edinburgh Fringe' (BroadwayBaby.com). 'Breathtaking' (Evening Standard). 'Terrific' (Guardian). 'The Derren Brown of juggling' (LoveFringe.com). 'Mat Ricardo is amazing!' (HRH Prince Charles)."
I've seen Mat Ricardo a couple of times as part of the Burlesque Show that used to come to the Royal and Derngate in Northampton, and he was always superb. It'll be good to see him in a full show by himself!
UPDATE: Good to see Mat Ricardo again – his juggling skills are second to none. A few gasp out loud moments – he said there would be. Whilst he's technically brilliant, I'm slightly less sure of his ability to host a complete hour with his presentation style, but that's just me. Nevertheless, it was thoroughly entertaining, and the hour flew by. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
14.05 – Fritz and Matlock, Pleasance Courtyard.
"In a Sheffield basement, two men try to bury the bodies of their past to find a hopeful future. With no way out, will Fritz make it to his wedding? Will Matlock get away with murder? Or will the police finally raid the marijuana grow in the attic? A new dark comedy with a fresh take on men's mental health, the care system and addiction. 2021 Offie nominees for Lead Performances and Most Promising New Playwrights. 'Reminiscent of the works of Beckett and Pinter' ***** (TheReviewsHub.com). **** (Stage)."
As well as Beckett and Pinter, this sounds rather Ortonesque, which is what drew my attention! Fingers crossed that it works well.
UPDATE: Definitely Pinteresque; not so much Beckett and definitely not Orton. Two excellent performances in an intriguing play with a clever twist that I certainly didn't see coming, and I definitely won't tell you about! Not sure that the plot was entirely watertight, and there were a couple of scenes that weren't sufficiently clear for us to understand. But the acting certainly carries the day, and the play is definitely worth seeing. ⭐⭐⭐
16.00 – Afghanistan Is Not Funny by Henry Naylor, Gilded Balloon Teviot.
"In 2002, whilst researching a comedy, triple-Fringe First winner Henry Naylor and two-time Scottish Press Photographer of the Year Sam Maynard, went to the Afghan war zone. An extraordinary tale ensued in which they were threatened by a war criminal, captured by the Mujahideen and nearly blown up by the Taliban. Performed by Naylor himself, the show takes us back to the start of the modern Afghan tragedy. It comes direct from the Adelaide Fringe, where it won twelve five-star reviews and two major awards. European Premiere."
This sounds like a truly fascinating mix of dark comedy and true tragedy. But it's considered a hit, so that's good enough for me!
UPDATE: A fascinating and very personal account of Henry Naylor's time in Afghanistan, coupled with some extraordinary photographs that speak volumes, are at the heart of this slightly unbalanced show. Whilst everything to do with Afghanistan in this hour totally captures your interest and imagination, the framework surrounding it, with his dealings with the Gilded Balloon, and his psychotherapist, largely miss the mark. But it's a very intense and thought provoking show. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
18.00 – Tim Vine: Breeeep! Pleasance Courtyard.
"Tim Vine returns with his new stand-up show. A mountain of nonsense. One-liners, stupid things, unlikely songs, wobbly props. (Plus utter drivel.) Tim's like the manager of a sweet shop where all the sweets are replaced by jokes, and he serves them in the order he chooses. So, it's like a sweet shop where the manager just throws sweets at you. Winner of Dave's Best Joke of the Fringe 2010 and 2014. Star of The Tim Vine Chat Show (BBC Radio 4) and numerous TV appearances. Enjoy the foolishness. Then leave. 'A symphony of silly' ***** (Times)."
It's been the sin of omission that we've never seen Tim Vine live before, so I'm sure this will be magnificent!
UPDATE: Having realised we've only seen Tim Vine in short spurts on TV we became concerned that a full hour of him might be too much. And so it proved. The relentless silliness quickly palled with us, and whilst others guffawed throughout, we only chuckled occasionally. As Mrs C noted, she wasn't expecting it to be quite so *infantile*. Not for us, but I completely accept that he went down a storm with others! ⭐⭐⭐
21.00 – Ballet Freedom, Pleasance @ EICC.
"Spectacular world renowned ballet company journey from Kyiv. Freedom Ballet celebrate their 20th anniversary in Edinburgh with 14 incredible dancers. An outstanding dance collective. Their intimate, sensual ballet is astonishing. This adaptation of their hit show Boudoir is about the moment of life, when knowing yourself, your love and your loss, you can truly see yourself in the mirror. Credits include performing with Franco Dragone, legendary director of Cirque de Soleil, and sharing the stage with Dita Von Teese, Queen of Burlesque Cabaret. Sold out tours in more than 30 countries with over 5,000 performances."
Given the appalling situation in Ukraine I can only believe that this will be a truly emotional performance. I'm sure it will be a rewarding dance experience too.
UPDATE: Audience reviews online were about 75-25 in favour of this show, but those who didn't like it *really* didn't like it! We thought it was terrific; inventive, dynamic choreography, danced with joy and skill, frequently very tongue in cheek, lots of dark humour and even a few instances of audience participation (and don't think by not sitting in the front you're safe – you're not!) Invasion by a hostile neighbour was tastefully suggested in a few of the dances. I was very disappointed at the amount of photography and videoing from audience members, which was extremely disrespectful of both the performers and other audience members. But we loved the show! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Posted in Comedy, Dance, Edinburgh Fringe, Magic, Theatre / Tagged Afghanistan is not funny, Ballet Freedom, chris sparkle, Edinburgh, fringe, Fritz and Matlock, Henry Naylor, Mat Ricardo, Tim Vine / Leave a comment
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Up early this morning. Early for me, anyway, and off I went to the Yeguada de la Cartuza. Twelve years ago, as part of a workshop I was teaching, we went there, not knowing what to expect. In addition to the guided tour of this stud farm for the breeding of the Royal Carthusian Horse. I got tons of good research, and was so taken with the whole show that I rented a car and stayed over a week, so that I could attend a second time the following Saturday. I've been dreaming of a third visit ever since.
Afterwards, I drove on down to Medina-Sidonia, one of the Pueblos Blancos, or White Villages that are the other reason for this trip. Lunch, there, was a half order of venison, then I drove to Vejer de la Frontera to spend the night, stopping along the way to shoot a few photographs, and to revisit an old Roman bridge.


Those of you who are regulars in the forums or who read the Newsletter will know that we recently invited comment on our proposals to modify the Lifetime Member award scheme. A change is necessary to ensure the long term viability of the service as a whole. A whopping 15 page thread ensued (see here) and the consensus was overwhelmingly supportive.
We have now decided on how the service will change moving forwards and so, from 1st November 2012, the subscriber reward offer will be changing as follows.
Qualifying camera reports from that date will receive a one year subscription, added on to their existing subscription.
Subscribers will be able to accrue rewards subject to a limit of one award per subscriber per week.
It will be a condition of any award that a subscription is active both at the time of the report and at the time it enters the active/live database.
Only reports made by users with full PocketGPSWorld web-site subscriptions will be eligible. This excludes reports made via our CamerAlert iOS apps where the subscription is an Apple in-app type.
Reports for change of camera type for fixed cameras will no longer be eligible for the reward.
A large number of existing Life Members were supportive of calls for us to revoke all those Life Memberships already awarded. However, we believe such a move would be would be unfair and consequently existing Life Members will remain Life Members. Instead we will be launching a donation option allowing Life Members the ability to make a contribution. Donations will be entirely voluntary and open to all PocketGPSWorld readers allowing anyone to make a donation if they wish to.
Updated award criteria can be viewed here.
�Subscribers will be able to accrue rewards subject to a limit of one award per subscriber per week.
therefore subscribers only have to report a minimum of one new camera or change per year and effectively remain life members, even better rport 3 in a year gives 3 yrs membership, also with all due respect to the diehard members who have used the donation facility will this be purely a gesture more than a long term income support, peronally i would have liked a maximum one year benefit because i think the present subscription is not excesive and should survive.
Just a wild guess, but I would have thought the Darren and co. would have given this a little more than a 10 second passing thought before deciding on the new policy, and they do have access to all the figures on which to base their decision.
I accept no responsibility for swearing, drinking, motorcycle riding or your pregnant teenage daughter.
You could use Renew Subscription Here.
That's answered in the link to the award criteria in the second post above.
The first subscriber to report a new Mobile site.
NOTE: because mobile sites are very difficult to verify it should be noted that validation may take significantly longer than for other types of site. Reports that re-activate an existing Mobile Camera site that has been de-activated due to inactivity is classed as a 'Seen Again' report and so does NOT qualify. The Free Subscription will only be added after both verification (once it goes 'active' in the database) AND further independent reports have been received.
Indeed it could take months. It requires further independent sightings.
Just to add to Darren's reply... As mobile sites are that much harder to verify and there is a longer delay getting them onto the main CamerAlert database, PGPSW introduced the optional "pMobiles" download.
Subscribers can add the pMobile details to their main data on their satnavs to alert them to any potential/unverified mobile sites as well.


I have created a custom design matrix: 4 factors with 4 levels, and 4 factors with 2 levels (all categorical). There are some combinations that I need to disallow; however, I can't seem to get this to work.
I am using the ordinal value of the level instead of the name of the level, as the DoE Guide states.
When I then 'Make Table', the constraint is not incorporated. It doesn't work with the value label either, or using any other numaeric and boolean combinations.
I have attached an image of the procedre for clarity.
If I dropped all of the two-way interactions that involve the two factors being dissallowed, namely IS and ID, from the model before attempting to generate the design then I found that no error message was generated and the design that results respects the desired dissallowed combinations.
Hi - thanks very much for checking on this for me. I tried this design on another mac also running 8.02, and still couldn't get it to work. So it's something I'm doing wrong.
I only specify 'disallowed combinations' once the design matrix has been built. If I try to do it before I click the 'Make Design' button, I get the error message: "Could not find a valid starting design. Please check your constraints for consistency."
1. After the design matrix is created, I click on the drop down menu Custom Design.
2. Under 'Disallowed Combinations' I enter my restrictions.
3. I then click the 'Make Table' button.
4. Both the matrix gets re-made, and a table is created, both still featuring the combination I wish to disallow.
I'm not certain where I am going wrong.
2.) Then under the red triangle I choose disallowed combinations (IS==4 & ID==2) Click "OK"
Verify by Analyze Distribution of IS and ID that the disallowed combinations have been respected.
Not sure why you are getting the error message? I would re-enter the factors and try again from scratch.
Here is the verification after Making Design that the dissallowed combination constraint was respected.
Thank you so very much for trying this out for me in more detail! I, too, get the same results as you when specifying main effects.
My problem was when I tried to disallow combinations when I specified 2nd order interactions - I suppose it is not something one can do when investigating higher-order interactions.
I apologize for not stating this in the original query. However, you have done a great deal to help me understand the entire process, and its verification.
Yes!! That works! Well done. Thank you!
I've tried to drop the interactions like you suggest, but run into the same error. I am probably not dropping the right ones. I've tried different combinations but no luck.
Any thoughts? Although please don't feel the need to continue helping - you have already done so much!
I was able to get 2 dissallowed combinations to work. I pulled out all 2nd order terms with IS, ID, SS & SD included.
Excellent work. I can't thank you enough for your help.


text:
Eunice fimbriata är en ringmaskart som beskrevs av Grube 1870. Eunice fimbriata ingår i släktet Eunice och familjen Eunicidae. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Havsborstmaskar
fimbriata

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Will Kimmel ever apologize to Melania?
Image Credits: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty Images.
A petition to boycott late night host Jimmy Kimmel after he mocked First Lady Melania Trump has reached over 180,000 signatures.
The petition, which now seeks 200,000 signatures after reaching its initial goal of 50,000, calls on people to boycott The Jimmy Kimmel Show after the host appeared to bully Melania over the way she read a children's book during Easter.
"On Monday night [last Monday], left-wing host Jimmy Kimmel showed his true bigotry by mocking the way our First Lady was reading a children's book during the annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House," the petition reads.
The petition, which has been picked up by several news outlets including Fox News, will be delivered to ABC/Disney Studios in Burbank.
Kimmel responded to Hannity during a segment on his show and continued his attacks on Twitter, where he made a homosexual joke at the expense of Hannity and President Trump.
Hannity called on Kimmel to issue an apology to Melania, but it never came.
On Sunday, Kimmel issued an apology – to the gay community.
It remains to be seen whether the late night comedian will ever apologize to the First Lady.


The beautiful marble gleams in the orange-coloured light as it rolls across the floorboards. Four pairs of eyes watch it intently as it rolls aimlessly, slicing through the other marbles as it bounces off them and spins around, twisting and turning as it does so. Everybody holds their breaths, even me, for the final outcome and when it does come, the tense atmosphere collapses as Matthew and Peter break out into an uproar. Mother Martha and I sigh tiredly. I sit on my favourite wooden rocking chair with my mother Martha, our gaze drifting back to our knitting after holding our breath for a few apprehensive seconds of the game. I rock back and forth on her chair as mother explains how to knit a scarf using different balls of wool. After a while I sigh again; it's very hard to concentrate when I have two little loud brothers squabbling over a pointless marble game.
"Be quiet, Peter!" I hear Matthew groan. "I am white. My white marble has hit exactly thirteen of your black ones. Your black marble's only hit seven of my white ones. Thirteen of yours and seven of mine are out. Now we play round three." He blew his fringe by sticking his bottom lip out and blowing. "Simple!" I block my ears as a reply echoes out. "That's unfair!" Peter wails. "I am not playing! Mother he's cheating!" And, within that mother and I both sigh again and she goes up to them and tells them to be quiet and gives Peter and hug and… THUD, THUD! My heart thuds in my chest at the sudden sound. Then a though strikes me and I calm down. It must be father back from a long day of work in the farm. I glance at mother, Matthew and Peter. I smile. The two are still debating over the game whilst mother is trying relentlessly to get things settled. "Why don't you two play a different game instead then," she says gently. "Like the wooden train track your father bought you two the other day." I just about hear groans of reply as I go to open the heavy wooden door. "But it's old and tattered…" "Mother, that's boring…" A face looks at me after I open the door. It is father standing in the doorway. He's got dirt smeared in patches around his face and clothes. His boots are old and tattered and I can just about notice that the soles of his boots are wearing off and when he takes his big boots of that his skin is coarse and some of it is slowly peeling away. I shudder as I see the pale pink skin sitting beneath the peeled off skin. As he comes in, he takes a seat on my rocking chair and rocks back and forth. He sees my two brothers and gives them a wink as if saying 'hello'. But behind his cheerfulness I catch some nervousness. Matthew winks back but Peter doesn't seem to notice. He's sitting on mother's lap, eating pottage made from the little pieces of lamb that mother had saved and a few vegetables. I smile as I see Peter's mouth full with the food and bits of vegetable spread across his face. It doesn't really matter I tell myself; he's only six. Father suddenly says something which makes me and mother jump. He takes us into a corner of the room, the wooden floorboards creaking beneath our feet, and tells us something really very bad. "You know Farmer Joe," he begins. Mother Martha nods. I don't know who he is so mother tells me that he's a farmer living down the road, a friend of father's. Then I nod too. "He told me this morning while we were working on the farm that the plague has spread out into London again." Mother gasps and cups her hands around her mouth. Her eyes are round and fearful. I don't know what's going on and so mother tells me that it's a deadly disease that killed her parents in 1636 when she was a baby. But when I tell her that it's 1665 now, she tells me to listen and be quiet. She tells me that there are two types. One of them is caused by fleas and rodents and it's when big lumps appear all around your body, some the size of an apple. She says it's called the Bubonic Plague and it's very deadly indeed. It kills people in a matter of days. She tries to tell me the other type called the Pneumonic plague but I refuse. Now I gasp too. It's dinner time and it is bread and cheese again with small beer for a drink. No one's speaking around the table. There's this kind of eerie silence around the room. It's never ever been this quiet. Peter can't stand the quietness so he's kicking Matthew under the table to provoke him into saying something. Matthew's quiet too. He knows something's up. After dinner I lay a linen sheet down and settle down to rest with Peter and Matthew beside me. Mother and father are wide awake. I see their eyes wide open, their minds whirling in thoughts. We're all squashed in one room. This is our living room, our dining room, our bedroom and even Matthew and Peter's playroom. It's the room I love most of all because it acts like mostly everything to us. It's where we do almost everything. It's the centre of our everyday lives. I look left and I see our tiny kitchen, just big enough to fit a few cooking pots, a little stove and a small larder. And as I peer ahead of me, I see a tiny privy where a large pot is kept to excrete our waste. I think about how fortunate I am to at least have a place to live unlike those poor beggars on the streets. Suddenly, I feel deeply sorry for them. I look around me and spot mother and father still wide awake. I try to close my eyes in order to sleep and finally I do. Before I know it I'm whisked off into a world of fantasy.
Shafts of light are streaming in through the window just enough to awake me from my fantastical dream. I yawn as I spot mother chivvying Matthew and Peter up to get ready for their Petty school. As she tells me to get up, I gently take my hand in hers and tell her not to send Matthew and Peter to school because of the outbreak of the plague. She sighs. "I know, my dear Catherine," she tells me softly, her voice quietening down to a whisper. "But your father has told me that the plague has taken place in the west of London, far away from London. It says it in the newspapers too. It will surely not affect Matty and Peter." I give her an uncertain look. She sighs again. "Don't worry, sweetheart. Just remember not to tell your brothers anything about this." I open my mouth to protest but then close it again. I have a feeling mother is right. She's always right.
As my brothers head off to Petty school where they learn basic numbers and words, I help mother sort out the things in the larder and then go off to practice my sewing and knitting the way mother always does. I manage to finish off the scarf mother half-finished yesterday and I proudly go and show mother. She hugs me and kisses me gently on the cheek. She tells me that it can be a present for Matthew on his birthday and I give her a smile and tell her that it is a wonderful idea. Then, mother teaches me how to make pottage and I realise that cooking is just as fun as knitting, sewing and playing. She teaches me how to cut the vegetables up using a small knife and how to make the soup bit of the pottage. After it's cooked completely, she lets me taste a little. It feels like heaven as the warm soup trickles down my throat and it warms up my body, making me fall into an ecstasy into a dream-like world… THUD! THUD! THUD! The sudden sound shatters my trance like a piece of glass. Mother notices me startle and laughs and then goes to get the door. I stare at the pan at the bowl of pottage and start slurping some more down my throat, totally oblivious of what was going on at the front door. Then suddenly, I hear screams and I run desperately towards mother, the bowl of half-filled pottage still clutched in my hand. Then I see it. The exact thing I was fearing of since yesterday. My bowl drops to the ground in a crash as my eyes meet my fate. There before me is father lying there with a pool of blood around him. I drop to my knees and shake father and take hold of his hand and find father wheezing heavily. I see Farmer Joe behind him, his linen shirt dyed in red blood. Mother is screaming and other people are beginning to crowd round our tiny home. They are gasping, gossiping and some are even running away at the sight. Mother desperately orders Farmer Joe to go and find a barber-surgeon as they were called. Farmer Joe does as he is told and within seconds a man arrives inside with his whole body covered up. He tells us that we all had to move away to avoid the disease spreading. Everyone backs away as mother and I run to Farmer Joe's home as he lives nearby. I can feel my heart booming in my chest mainly because of the terror, fear and nervousness of what has happened. Tears are rolling down my mother's cheeks and mine as we sit there in their hallway in anticipation. After a few hours, Matthew and Peter return from school, tears flooding down their cheeks. Mother tells me that father has caught the Pneumonic plague and Matthew overhears. She says through tears that the plague must have arrived earlier into the east side of London than predicted. Matthew tells us the fact that he had noticed father coughing up blood in the night and then he begins to cry. I immediately find myself screaming at Matthew. "Why didn't you tell any of us, then?" I yell. He begins to sob. "I thought it was just a thing that everybody did when they were old like father," He cries. "I didn't realise then that he was coughing up blood." I turn to mother but I see that she isn't there. I tell Matty and Peter to stay here until I go and get her but they refuse. I pick Peter up and take him into my arms. Matthew squeezes my hand tightly. We walk towards our home and I see the door open. I gasp. Mother is in there, lying against father, resting her arms on father's chest. I decide to go in even though I'm not allowed to but the doctor comes out instead. What I hear almost makes me faint. "Your father is dead," he says, his voice sharp and piercing. "Your mother died of shock." And within that the three of us stood there, heartbroken, terrified. Alone in the open world.


Nikon D500, Nikon 400 f/2.8G ED, Nikon 1.4 converter.
D700 & 70-200mm f/2.8G VRII @ 70mm 1/640s @ f/5.6 ISO 2200.
msmoto I am going to try that super saturation monster and see what happens..
D700 & 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII @ 70mm 1/640s @ f/5.6 ISO 1250.
Bald Eagle Watching Days. Release of a rehabilitated Bald Eagle.
"You looking at me.............I said you looking at me?
D700 & 70-200mm f/2.8G VRII @ 200mm 1/1600s @ f/2.8 ISO 200.
Another one from a couple days ago.
Bald Eagle Watching Days, Prairie du Sac, WI. This is a mature female Bald Eagle that was rehabilitated from Lead Poisoning. She nearly died. Here she is being released back into her natural environment.


Please Note: We have group rate from local hotel for our students traveling from outside San Jose area . Once you register to IDEA Contest Preparation program at San Jose, you will get the hotel reservation information in your account.
What Designed for students focusing on the American Mathematics Contest (AMC), these classes feature mock tests and problem solving strategies tailored to the appropriate exam . In addition to learning important mathematical concepts and problem-solving skills, the students will also develop critical test-taking skills, such as learning how to work under time pressure and avoid costly mistakes.
The classes will be organized by the specific contest level from AMC to AIME to USAMO and each class will hold several mock exams that closely track the difficulty of the respective contests. Moreover, the mock exams are targeted to the parts of the test most likely to improve students'scores based on their level. By taking these exams and discussing them with their peers afterwards, the students will not only improve their test-taking performance, but also further their mathematical knowledge and problem solving skills.
Despite the program's intensity, we wish to emphasize that the contest preparation is not a viable substitute for the other (year-round, online or summer) IDEA MATH programs: the contest preparation program is meant to complement the other programs, not replace them. Due to the limited time we have, the program will not be as comprehensive or holistic as the other programs, and will instead be more focused on contest-taking. Thus, we strongly advise students of the contest preparation program to also enroll in either the year-round programs or the summer program.
Why? IDEA MATH provides in-depth enrichment in important mathematical areas, particularly in the fields from which contests problems are drawn: algebra, combinatorics, geometry, and number theory. We believe students learn best by discovering, rather than simply memorizing, essential theorems and techniques. Our process puts students at the center of the classes, as students work together to develop their ideas. Our instructors lead this process by teaching vital ideas, giving meaningful examples, and guiding students through the problem-solving process.
What are some unique strengths of IDEA MATH that distinguishes it from other (school entrichment/math challenges and contest preparation) math programs?
The first and one of the most critical and unique assets that IDEA MATH has is its curriculum and teaching materials. IDEA MATH's print-outs, practice tests, and other teaching materials are inspired by a compilation of over a decade of training materials of Phillips Exeter Academy math team, one of the nation's strongest. Not only does the material cover a wide breadth of topics, it is also structured in a clean and thoughtful way, optimized by years of teaching and training. From the basic topics, such as introductory algebra, counting, and geometry, to complex and deeper materials at the Olympiad level and beyond, IDEA MATH's unique teaching material provides the firm groundwork for instructors to design a more effective and structured curriculum.
The second and equally unique asset is IDEA MATH's strong team of experienced teachers. IDEA MATH's instructors consist of front-line teachers, math team coaches, and former students of the program, all of whom have taught middle school and high school students for several years. As a testament to the flexibility and strength of our teaching, IDEA MATH does not have an entrance exam: we are confident that we can find an appropriate place in our extensive curriculum to fit any student, regardless of his/her background. Our teaching staff is attentive of each student's unique learning style, and will work to tailor each class depending on his or her specific needs. For more information about IDEA MATH's instructors and their credentials, please visit IDEA MATH Staff page .
Finally, the third unique asset of IDEA MATH is its emphasis on culture and well-being. While learning mathematics is the primary focus of the program, it certainly is not its only goal. Instead, the program pays special effort to cultivate in each student an attitude conducive to learning. It is our philosophy that in the long run, cultivating a good mindset far outweighs the benefit of learning a specific material. Simply put, when a student learns a mathematical knowledge, it will serve him/her throughout his/her school years. When a student learns how to be a good learner, it will serve the student for the rest of his/her life.
Concretely, IDEA MATH instructors guide students not to brag about their achievements and rush ahead, but rather to develop patience and maturity. Students are expected to, at the guidance of the instructors, become teachers themselves by helping their peers. This way, not only does the student develop a deeper understanding of the material, he/she also gains leadership and maturity that will enrich his/her learning experience.
IDEA MATH Contest Preparation program is designed to sharpen the students' skills for upcoming nationwide middle school and high school mathematic competitions. We offer a series courses for students of varying mathematical backgrounds. As the winter program spans but a week, the courses will have a focus on the application of mathematical concepts and problem-solving to competitions. To that end, the different levels of courses will be aligned with the AMC/AIME/USAMO competition series; through participation in and discussion of mock exams of these difficulty levels, students will develop contest-taking habits along with mathematical knowledge and problem-solving.
Some courses might run multiple sections -- we do our best to make sure our classes are small in size.
Starting in early December, we review enrolled students' academic backgrounds and work with them on course placement. The purpose is to group students with similar backgrounds together, and our teachers will find proper materials to work with each group/section. It is important for each student to input detailed and updated information (age, grade level, math courses taken, OFFICIAL contest scores, etc.) into their student accounts. This information will help us to make initial course placements. During the winter program, each class has multiple mock tests daily. Based on students' work on the mock tests in the first day, we will adjust students' course placements. Based on students' work through the program, we might make further limited fine adjustments on students' placements. Note that IDEA MATH staff will make the final decision on each student's course placement.
To register, please click the following link Register to 2018 IDEA MATH Contest Prep Program at San Jose.
*Registration is ONLY completed when tuition is paid in full.
**The tuition payment is due on this date. Enrollment after this date will depend on space availability and a late fee ($100 or more) will be applied to the tuition.
Please note - The tuition payment is independent to student's course placement because the tuition is for the program, not for a specific course. IDEA MATH staff work with students on course placement by reviewing their academic backgrounds, assigning placement test levels, reviewing placement test work, and more. IDEA MATH staff make the final decision on students' course placements. All tuition refund for withdrawing will be processed based on the refund policy.
To request a refund and withdraw your student, please send a complete request in writing to info@ideamath.org. You must include the payee name and mailing address matching the information in the student's account in order for your request to be deemed complete and submitted. Please include "Refund Request" and the student's name in the subject line. The amount of the refund will be based on the time that a complete request is submitted; incomplete requests will not be deemed to meet deadlines for withdrawal.