Spotlites : 6th Aug – 14th Aug

Material : Delivery :  Laughs :

Dr Ahmed is displaying a very creative idea he had on how to be alive, while dealing with death in ones life. So, really, you can say that this show is suitable to every single human being on Earth. Unless you have worked out how to avoid death? Which if you have, well, congratulations to you! For content reasons, I would recommend an adult to accompany folks aged between 13-16 yo, and would say that the material is not suitable for anyone younger than this. Death is an intense subject for many to wish to even think about, so further discussion after this show between friends and family, maybe something that you would need or want to do. But don’t worry, I doubt that anyone would leave this show feeling sad. In fact, if you have experienced death in your lifetime, you will most likely find the performance very refreshing.

The Dr uses a mixture of industry practiced techniques, self taught, in order to communicate a beautiful message. Being a real doctor allows for perspectives not often shared on stage; if it does not make you giggle and consider altering your medical visits, then you must never have been to the doctors before.  As he walks us through his own learnings, we see diamond performance potential shine through. If you are not touched by the reason Dr Ahmeds works to be himself as a character for the purpose of teaching what he has to share, well, then you must not be human.

Ahmed is not perfect – his comedy timing needs slight attention, as potential funnies are swirled through a sea of energy; being lost within the time it takes for the bookends of the punchline to knock up on either side; The audience needs wee bit more of a chance to recognise and register sometimes, especially with puns. I prescribe two beats of silence on either side of the punchline. The singing needs about 10% more confidence, 8% of which should definitely be delivered through gently observing eyes; an optical drift, just long enough to catch a soul, before sweeping on again. I think if that were applied, the very last and most subtle of vocal jitters could smooth out and the sound would be worthy of a much larger stage show. I would love to see this Doctor find himself through his performances more, and would really like to watch him explore different expressions, like circus performance; as well as spoken word, poetically beat between operatic explosions. Definitely more performing please Dr Ahmed, but maybe less in the way of a stand up comedy style, in my opinion, as I think cabaret has your name written all over it.

My guest loved the experience and laughed regularly before summing up with words like “wow” and “this is the best show I have seen in the Fringe, ever! Actually? Yeah, no, actually, it is!” I would also love to see normal life doctors behave more like Dr Ahmed does on stage! Sometimes a dryness of character, displayed as professionalism is difficult to read, while people are not being academic and are being emotional.  Which I guess is the kind of emotional intelligence we all need to interact with, when dealing with grief in ourselves or in another person. I feel like grief is an effected emotional state of pure disorganisation, caused by emotions which are too strong to be put behind our own thinking, of how we feel. It is like we feel to much to be able to think. We learn out of it, but not without great effort and practise, usually over much time. Confusion can be invented between human beings, while there is a delay in empathy between emotional communicative transactions. I think both parties need to be in a state of feeling, thinking, acting, then both feeling again etc, before learning and healing to occur; at least this is what I discovered during my own experience of living with death. Feeling first, then thinking about how to act in order to communicate that emotion, helps us with being. It is nice to see Dr Ahmed shake off the stiff upper lip and get more loose with his expression. It’s nice to know how people are thinking while they talk to you, and with professional type figures, well – it is just a pure joy to see them be in an emotional state too.

Lovely show, and thank you for the support you are providing towards Macmillan Cancer Research, Dr Ahmed. Keep inspiring man!

Reviewer : Bobbi McKenzie

Pleasance “This” Venue / 3-18th Aug (15.30)

Material : Delivery :  Laughs :

The setting of Samantha Baines’ contribution to the Edinburgh Fringe 2016 is rather more interesting tahn your standard stand-up –  because if you arrive early, you may be placed in charge of dinging the Pun Master’s Bell. I liked this idea as puns are often missed without due care and attention, particularly if crafted as slickly as they are by Sam.  Some of her material is cheesier and more obvious than the glaring moon, don’t get me wrong. But I must admit, there were a few puns that would have slipped past my own gaze, if it hadn’t been for the ding – which invariably lead to an  “ahh”  followed promptly by a  “doh”!  But it can make you feel only human when a pun slips by you, especially when Sam needs to also prompt the bell master, into dinging the dong in the first place.

In any case, Sam spat jokes out like a leakage of matter from a blackhole of complete banter and the faces Sam pulled were like watching a dance off between opposing gravitational forces. Tickled my ribs like a martian with twelve arms and little sucker punch blobs for hands, so it did. Perhaps, in future, some David Bowie music could be measured in? Just to add a little third dimension to the equation, you know? It would make for a good entry/exit soundtrack and could also fill the subtly awkward silence during the reading of the thesis, which otherwise I thought was a great segment. Gives a justified reason to break out those dance moves too Sam, which I could see were already being contained like a nebula about to turn super nova!

I love that this woman uses her brain to think outside all boxes, and that her face becomes a canvas for the constellation of her emotion to explode. Sam applies a great use of sarcasm with excellent timing and slightly self deprecating appreciation of her own ego. The oxymoron is genius.  Not entirely sure whether this is a purposeful technique or just a very honed natural ability, but it certainly works for a strong delivery.

Heckle at your own peril in this show, cause the girl will beam you up like you were desperately seeking to be probed then leave the audience laughing at you, through a trans-code of pity and confusion; until you wonder to yourself, why seeking for attention while you were meant to be observing, was ever an idea that you forgot to actually think about, before your brain let it take off from your tongue, at a speed fairly slower than light.

Would love to have a pint with this woman, and would feel more than delighted to take my own Nanna or any other family member to see Sam’s show again. This act is one of my favourites this year so far, and the venue organisers have nailed the timing at which is appears. Just what you might fancy between a spot of lunch and your dinner, to heat you up into interconnected bi-lateral thinking, which can then help shift your dimensions of observation into the right gear, for taking in more festivities over the remainder of your evening, on planet Earth. Samantha Baines – Rock Solid mate! Shine on you crazy diamond.

Reviewer : Bobbi McKenzie

Bannermans (Venue 357)

Aug 6-9, 22-28 (1.45pm)

Laughs:    Material:    Delivery: 

Having been to see ‘Showstopper! The Improvised Musical’ last year, it was a real treat to see Pippa Evans in her solo show ‘Same Same but Different’, which is part of PBH’s Free Fringe. We felt sure we were in for a great show of music and comedy. Pippa played to a packed Bannermans and was well received from the onset, with anecdotes and musical numbers interspersed with moments of audience participation that were great to watch, if not a little personal for those chosen few!

We laughed heartily at the detailed recounts of ‘cringy’ first time fumbles and being dressed in Laura Ashley as a young tomboy and sang along with the closing number “You’re Awesome” as we came to terms with the fact the hour was over. We were transported to the ‘wild’ as Pippa took on the role of Bear Grylls and had the audience in the palm of her hands. She is an accomplished vocalist, improv performer and comedienne and this show only affirms this. Stand out moments included her song ‘Roles I’ll Never Play’ when it became clear to us all that you can’t play Fagin with tits(!) and her fond talking about her Mum and her growing awareness that she was always right!

Although there was a script, Pippa’s skillful ability to improvise was woven through the show as she learnt more details about certain audience members as the hour progressed (Caution! Sit in the front row at your own risk!). Someone close by was ‘serenaded’ for a whole number as he resembled an ex-boyfriend… it could have been tense, but it was just hilarious. Her small but perfectly formed band was great, and they moved seamlessly through the planned and improved numbers. She handled huge topics with a light touch and tiny topics with a toothcomb. She knows her craft for sure and with humility she holds her humanness and frailties and has the ability to laugh at herself. It’s impressive, that is for sure.

Pippa had this way of putting us at ease and making us feel included, just before she said or did something that made us think a little more deeply. She had a lovely take on not judging one another with some witty interspersed judgements! Then we all found ourselves singing ‘I won’t judge you’, to her, to our friends and then to the room, it was touching. She did this kind of stuff quite a few times and she did it extremely well. Jokes, flipped into something poignant or serious or potentially ‘sugary’; but it wasn’t, she meant it and so did we. Pippa Evans makes the world a better place; she is good for the soul. This is a performer who deserves the upmost respect.

Great stories, great songs, great human humour… It’s fairly simple, go and see this show! It’s free to get in but you will definitely want to pay for this golden hour of entertainment, and if your not convinced, the finale will have you reaching for your purse! People, queue round the block if you have to, she really is worth it. Pippa Evans – You are awesome!

Reviewers: Ali Bell and Denise Borland