Step into Davina Leonard’s world,a charming and very funny world. A one woman show where she enacts the pit falls of being a struggling, beautiful and talented Wonder Woman of an actress and comedian. Entertaining and captivating. Manipulating her auditions with grace, a grace that can only be shared if you have it. She Has it and is Making It.
For Divine, it was the love scene of Romeo and Juliet, that shed away the pretension that she was anything other than an actress on the rise. Another tiny venue, so book your tickets soon. FOUR STARS
Felicity Ward has had many successes in her career to date, since first making a break on her native Australia’s comedy scene in sketch show The Ronnie Johns Half Hour in 2005, having received international critical acclaim for the run of her show The Hedgehog Dilemma.
Having heard such good things I had prepared myself for disappointment and perhaps an unpolished performance, being so early on in the festival run, but I was pleasantly surprised and impressed! Ward attacked the show with gusto, and quickly made the audience relax, with a mixture of self depreciating stories and hilarious insights into some unusual traditions in her home country Australia mixed with personal experiences about perception and perspective, the theme of her show.
She intelligently trod the line between childish humour and intelligent wit, with many points resonating with the audience judging by the empathetic laughter from the crowd. For those who think they have seen all Ward has to offer and especially those who is often hear saying there is no such thing as a funny female comedian, I highly recommend you let Felicity Ward alter your perspective, she isn’t without surprises and will leave you questioning your own perceptive ability in a charmingly bemused and sharp way. Felicity successfully proves that your first impression of the tip of the Iceberg often belies the truth beneath. FOUR STARS
Pete Firman is so likeable that he could smile that radiant smile of his whilst sticking a sword through your throat … and he does just that to an unsuspecting member of tonight’s audience. A firm, Fringe favourite (this is his eighth year), tonight’s preview audience has almost packed the Pleasance Beyond to its capacity and small wonder. Throughout his hour-long, crowd-pleasing set, rapid-fire puns and one-liners are dealt out, audience members are picked upon and picked out to participate and of course there is the magic … Firman’s illusions are something to behold.
Widely regarded as a master of close-up magic, his routine tonight covers a range of traditional card and production tricks, but also includes elements of escape, prediction and daredevil stunts such as ‘Middlesbrough Roulette’. (NB – It does what it says on the tin!) It’s all impressively delivered and slick as hell. His charismatic, energetic stage persona seems to be an extension of how you would imagine Firman would present in real life. Funny and undoubtedly talented, he is exactly the type of fella you would want to be sat next to at a wedding. Like you, but not like you. He is a class act. Go see him! FOUR STARS
Sarah Kendall made a nice opening with an anecdote about a Dutch lady she met prior to the show, who had been expressing her lack of English language skills with a highly sophisticated English. Then, Sarah started to reminisce about her teenage life, with its moving mixture of emotions and anxiety; from here, we are presented with a series of anecdotes, such as the story of how she ruined her relationship with her friend Abi after a remarkably bonding, but ultimately unsuccessful love experience.
When Sarah began to speak about her mother – in an amazingly witty way, by the way – I found myself absolutely captivated. This, & all of Sarah’s stories, were interesting and well constructed. She is an excellent storyteller; who engages the audience for the whole show, A definitely enjoyable & rather watch-able performance I recommended to anyone. FOUR STARS
Maybe this is my personal opinion, but you can’t go far wrong in a comedy sketch show when playing ‘Happy’ by William Pharrell as the patrons arrive to take their seats…
This four-piece comedy act deliver a slick, passionate, highly inventive sketch show of the weird and wonderful and somewhat bizarre plots ever created during one hour. We meet a talking pony, bears at a graduation, clone scientists, policemen looking for Barney Rubble and magical bakers! They perform a crazy selection of stories that eventually come beautifully together. There is so much energy in this show, I’d even go as far to say they are a bit hyperactive, as they gulped down energy drinks and throw handfuls of coffee granules down their throats between sketches. There’s some low level slap stick, musical moments, delightful daftness and non-stop entertainment. Each member compliments the other with their snappy script and individual characteristics. No wonder they are Chortle Award nominees, stars of Radio 4’s Sketchorama and have had sell-out Edinburgh Fringe shows over the past five years!
These writer-performers John Henry Falle, Adam Blampied, Richard Soames and Guy Kelly are also taking on solo acts throughout the festival. So if you like this, look out for The Beta Males Sessions in Richard And The Story Beast or Adam And Guy both in the Free Fringe. Work out who is really is the master duo behind this clever quartet?!
So get yourselves along to the Pleasance to see this funny high paced showcase, if only for a glimpse of the package behind the Union Jack, for this truly is a magical show, just be careful what you wish for though, or you might find yourself Brown Bread! …And for the record I was indeed ‘Happy’ by the end of the show! FOUR STARS
The joy of reviewing for The Mumble, Is like being one of Charlies Angels, Divine waiting for the telephone call and the mission of the day. The quality of all the Fringe shows I have seen so far have been of an excellent standard.(And it is nae officially open till tomorrow). Moving me to tears on more than one occasion. Tonights magic phone call was no exception. Celia Pacquola, took to the stage in a packed house. To deliver a performance that blew me out of the water. She was beautiful,Very Very funny and a Psychic. How do I know this?
Well as she interpreted a tale of heart break and loss in the bitter sweet circumstances of a broken heart that had neared a completion of healing. She asked the audience if they thought psychics were bullshit or not. Well, as you can imagine, being genuinely psychic myself. This ruffled my feathers, I had a dillema. Do I bite my tongue or do I offer wisdom and become part of the show. I had business cards in my pocket so I held up a business card. Miss Pacquola looked at me and said. “Why are you holding up a love heart?” I replied “I’m not, its a business card. I’m a Clairvoyant” (The audience erupted with laughter) To which she replied, “What does a Clairvoyant do? I replied ” Clairvoyance is the ability to perceive that which is out of ordinary perception and interpret it in a tangible way!” “Oh my god” she said. “I have never had a Psychic in the audience before. Do you have a show at the Fringe.”No” I replied. “I,m reviewing your show for The Mumble.” Again the audience erupts with laughter.
The rest of the show had us laughing loud, It does have a happy ending she just has nae got to it yet. Tonight was a stepping Stone in the right direction though,
This show will sell out. Get your tickets while you can. Divine rating.4/5. A work in progress. Good Time.
After his debut back in 2011, the Fringe welcomes back Benny Boot & his peculiar, wide-eyed brand of slightly offbeat, very nail-on-the head observational comedy (read his interview here.) What’s on offer this year is what it says in the title, a compendium of classic gags, one the best of which is his take on an old chat up line, as in; ‘Did it hurt when you fell from heaven, ‘cos you look injured!’
Another highlight was his chat about seagulls getting away legally with people’s chips, which should just about describe where the guys coming from. Its tricky to get going at the beginning of the run, & I could feel that in his performance, & on another day he’d probably get four stars, Still, he’s entertaining enough & i’m sure he’ll be hitting the comedy heights soon enough this August. THREE STARS
As my first review of the season I went in fresh, not yet jaded with the trudging through the meandering festival crowds and eager to be entertained.
As I walk into the theatre the cast are already in character in a (neurotic) family scene around the fire. A Grandad telling stories to the grandkids…. The show starts by asking members of the audience to choose elements of the storyline to come; character names (Ali Khan), something they have kept secret about themselves (that Ali Khans head is actually a hat – this was provided by a child in the audience), the setting (Darkest Bohemia down a drain) and the title of the show (The Velvet Crevice). The cast, within seconds, start the show and masterfully and hilariously manage to stitch these items together, costumes come from the dressing up box and we are then treated to sharp dialogue with the cast setting each other up for a fall in the dialogue but each time the quick thinking of their opposite numbers pulls a joke out of the bag or clever side-step out of the bag.
The web weaved is that Ali Khan is to help a bohemian couple find love again, through their shared enjoyment of the Velvet Underground. Andy Warhol has reincarnated and this time wants to own his art and turns despot pointing to and owning everything he sees. The Velvet Underground has reformed as The Velvet Crevice due to copyright issues. It’s daft and tripped out but then that’s the joy of improvised comedy. It’s particularly fun to see how the actors improvised ways out of tricky situations that the dialogue throws up (how is that actor going to play both parts when they meet?) and the cast prove to be masters of their art. This group have been performing at the fringe for a few years now and their skill and experience is apparent as they stitch together the plot effortlessly. There’s joke and sly humour in abundance and they get laughs from all ages in the crowd. They even manage to fit in why Ali Khan might have a hat for a head. A five star on my opening festival show – The bar has been set high for 2014.
Five comedians graced the Stand’s hallowed stage on Friday 6th of June. Among them Brendan Dempsy, Paul Currie, a female comic and my brother’s mate. The whole evening was hosted by one Raymond Mearms, who has been on the telly and that. Raymond himself was excellent, and though his format was the familiar interaction and goading with the crowd (where are you from?, what do you do? etc) He did it with exemplary wit and good humor. Carefully treading the thin like between comedy gold and the potential outbreak of violence.
‘
‘
All the other acts were also excellent but for me the stand out two were Paul Currie and Brendan Dempsy. Paul Currie is about as far away from conventional comedy as you can get with his tape measure trumpeting and mass luck dragon riding. He seems to have added in some fine new material as well since I saw him at the fringe last year. Despite it being a classic it was something of a relief not to see the monkey Deer Hunter Routine. A true master of nonsense.
‘
‘
The same can not wholly be said of Brendan Dempsy who takes his cues far more from the world of the traditional pub comedian than the likes of Monty Python or the Mighty Boosh. But he is none the poorer for it. Delivering his keen observations and well crafted jokes with all the charm of your kindest of kind uncles. Dark, dry, and occasionally absurd I can see him soon rising to be a giant of the comedy world. Physically as well as metaphorically.
‘
‘
So all in all an excellent night of comedy with all the acts to be highly commended, but if you’re asking for one specific tip I’d say look out for Brendan Dempsey at a Never Mind the Buzzcocks / 8 out of Ten cats / Would I Lie to You? near you. FOUR STARS
![unnamed[1]](https://mumblecomedy.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/unnamed1.jpg)
![Aaaand%20Now%20For%20Something%20Completely%20Improvised%20-%20Hi-Res[1]](https://mumblecomedy.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/aaaand20now20for20something20completely20improvised20-20hi-res1.jpg)
Mumble Comedy 