#Review by Lou of Adele Cliff: Adele, Adele, Adele… Cliff It Isn’t The Consequences Of My Own Actions #AdeleCliff @JTTedinburgh Just The Tonic #EdFringe #Comedy

Adele Cliff: Adele, Adele, Adele… Cliff
It Isn’t The Consequences Of My Own Actions

Review by Bookmarks and Stages – Louise Cannon

Just The Tonic 13 – 24 Aug 17:05 1 hour

Adele Cliff is a stand-up comedian and has been to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival a few times. She has previously won Dave’s Funniest Jokes of the Edinburgh Fringe 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 (Dave, unfortunately is no longer doing this for 2025), UK Pun Champion 2020. Leicester Comedy award nominee – Best New Show 2023.

This was the first time I saw Adele Cliff and I was glad I did. Once she, and the audience warmed up, the show improved. It’s good, more or less, clean, inoffensive comedy you can truly chuckle at. She also, rather refreshingly manages to avoid a “poor me” attitude that you get with some other comedians.

After her groan of a cat joke at the beginning, she found her stride and got off to a better rhythm that got increased audience response. Her anecdotes and stories have good humour about Spec-Savers, Gillette, her family, living arrangements, funerals, her gigs and more… Each story, even the cat one has relatability, so connects, on the whole, well, with the audience.

What is clever is the way how she puts something original in-front of her audience and then later on, picks it up again and links things up and creates new connections with ideas too.

You’re pretty safe on the front row, she isn’t a comedian who particularly picks on her audience.

All in all, it’s pretty feel good comedy and a nice way to spend an hour.

For an evening of laughter, check out more details here: Adele Cliff

#Review of ChristBride by Bebe Cave #BebeCave @ThePleasance #EdFringe #CHRISTBRIDE #Comedy

Bebe Cave: CHRISTBRIDE

review by Bookmarks and Stages – Louise Cannon

Is she a witch or not? What has made Batilda face this predicament she now finds herself in?

Set in Medieval times, Bebe Cave holds her audience in a bubble of laughter and draws you in with her gaze and compelling performance for an hour.

History and modern times is intelligently blended together in a powerhouse of energy of a performance by Bebe Cave, who comes across as absolutely fearless on stage whilst playing Batilda, Knights of the Realm and more characters… She does this with fun, farcical, caricature type comedy, but grounds it with elements of truthfulness and realities that people can also relate to nowadays.

Batilda is at that stage of life where she wants adventure and to break free of the shackles of what is expected of her as a woman. She is coming of age and has strong desires to be different from the rest of her family. She also wants big, radical change in herself and to become a Christbride, which throws up some interesting conversations between her and God and so much more…

To find out what happens to Batilda and if she is a witch or not, check out the Edinburgh Fringe Festival link here: ChristBride

Synopsis

In the dark, deathly world of the Middle Ages, one (annoying) woman strives to find the light. Join Christbride, a female mystic in a world of male dullards, as she escapes from a life of monotony to a life of devotion. Bebe Cave presents her debut character comedy show. In a time where people believe anything, Christbride is a wild historical farce about what happens when you believe in yourself a little too much. Previous Praise: ***** (Everything-Theatre.co.uk). ***** (TheRecs.co.uk). ***** (BookmarksandStages.home.blog). ***** (@theatrebab, Instagram). **** (List). **** (EdFestMag.com).

#Review by Bookmarks and Stages – Lou of The Uncrackable Case @FrontRoomProd @theLBT #EdFringe #EdinburghFringeFestival #TheUncrackableCase @ThePleasance

The Uncrackable Case
By Front Room Productions
Lawrence Batley Theatre

Review by Bookmarks and Stages – Louise Cannon

Was Humpty Dumpty pushed or did he actually just fall? Is Jill from Jack and Jill fame innocent or guilty? That’s the question being answered in this humorous, fun courtroom musical. Meet Red (Little Red Riding Hood) and the Big Bad Wolf, one on the defender’s side and one for the victim’s side. The witnesses from various childhood nursery rhymes and stories are then brought in at various points.

The way tech is used to create some tension and surround sound is used to great effect. This and the courtroom scenes are where this musical has its strengths, compared to some of the flashbacks created, although the bridge between the past and the present is succinct.

The songs are mix genre with great harmonies and lovely voices.

Interestingly, although the audience rating is 8 plus, the audience when I saw this was mostly made up of adults of all ages. There’s something for everyone in this from the fun songs to a bit of satirical humour and social commentary, which creates interest for the adults, as well as a being a piece of nostalgia with a twist.

You can see this play at the Pleasance Courtyard and find the details here:
The Uncrackable Case

#Review by Bookmarks and Stages by Lou of It’s Not Where You Start by Scott Kyle @ThePleasance @INWYSBook #ScottKyle #EdFringe #SpokenWord

It’s Not Where You Start
Performed, Written By Scott Kyle

Review by Bookmarks and Stages – Louise Cannon

Scott Kyle is an award-winning Scottish actor who has worked with many of the greats on the likes of ‘Outlander and even Harrison Ford in a Whisky ad and more… He is also known for ‘Singin’ I’m No A Billy He’s A Tim’ and ‘Angel’s Share’.

It’s Not Where You Start is spoken word with a difference. It is a mix of Scott Kyle, the creator and who’s life you hear about through his spoken word on stage and through some animation. It’s a different way of showing and telling about life.
The animation elements carry Scott Kyle’s life story along with depth, firmly gives a sense of time and place, conveyed natural articulation in both the voice-over and when he, himself enters the stage. Together, it becomes a compelling talk for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
I will mention here that the animation and voice-over has won awards between 2024 and 2025.

Animation wouldn’t work for every spoken word show, but for this, it does. It brings a different perspective and a depth in which people can truly visualise and imagine certain times in, not just his life, but what was happening socially, especially in Glasgow. You really see how the city has changed since the 70’s/80’s. When it comes to elements of his own life, you get a feel of emotion, which backs up what is said, in-person on the stage, which adds an even stronger. emotive element to this show. There’s also nicely injected humour that gives the deepness and dark times a lift.
The animation is smartly put together, with meaningful words being highlighted in quite an effectively punchy manner. It makes me think of the graphic comic genre in some ways, but with movement.

Scott Kyle gives a brave and assured performance talk, but comes across as very grounded about all his achievements and tells it in a way that shows that you can share achievements, without being precocious or big-headed about it. That you can start in a certain position in life and end up in a completely different place, in this case, a better place than how it all began. The talk is impassioned and heartfelt, which in turn becomes compellingly emotive and inspirational as he talks about his challenging upbringing, discovery and huge changes in his life path that’s created a positivity for this working class guy.

He has a book out called It’s Not Where You Start… which is sold at the show, where you can get it signed and in major bookshops.

He also has other shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, including ‘Singin’ I’m No A Billy He’s A Tim’.

You can see find more details here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/it-s-not-where-you-start

#EdFringe News: Luigi: The Musical – A Dark Comedic Musical With A Viral Response #Theatre #Comedy #Musical #Political #LGBTQ+ #EdFringe

LUIGI: THE MUSICAL

ANNOUNCES EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL RUN AUG 19-23

Dark Comedic Musical With A Viral Response Performing 5 Shows At Just The Tonic / Just The Club / August 19, 20, 21, 22 & 23 at 8pm

Age: 18+ Cost: £10.00

RUN-TIME: 90 minutes

-FRINGE TICKET LINK-

Written by Nova Bradford, Caleb Zeringue, Arielle Johnson and Andre Margatini

Music by Arielle Johnson, Lyrics by Johnson and Bradford

“Truly excellent satire… nearly too hot to touch.” – The Independent

“Hilarious in its irreverence and uncomfortable in the truth-telling under the jokes, Luigi has rightfully drawn the attention of media outlets across the country.” – Broke Ass Stuart

“Luigi: the Musical digs at some of the questions facing American culture today” – SF Gate

“Terrible.” – San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco, CA – Aug 5, 2025 – Luigi: The Musical, the dark comedic musical which has evoked a resounding, viral response since its announcement and has sold out every single one of its performances to date, has decided last-minute to bring its acclaimed show to the Edinburgh Fringe for 5 shows at Just the Tonic/ Just the Club. In many conversations, the team says they’ve been asked many times if they’re going to the Fringe and finally after being offered space and dates, they’re going for it. “We’re thrilled to be making our international debut at the legendary Edinburgh Fringe Festival! We just hope the hash brown humor translates across the pond,” said co-writer and one of the stars of the show, Caleb Zeringue.

The show is a darkly funny one-act musical where healthcare, tech, and celebrity collide in a Brooklyn prison cell. Inspired by the true fact that Luigi Mangione, Diddy and Sam Bankman-Fried, three high-profile public figures were held simultaneously at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, the show is set in a prison cell shared by the disgraced crypto mogul, infamous media executive, and the viral Italian sensation and accused assassin, guarded by one confused Sergeant. What starts as chaos turns into a surreal plan for freedom and unexpected fame. From fan mail to absurd schemes, Luigi discovers what happens when broken people become icons in a broken world. Wild, satirical, and complete with original music, this show asks who we choose to believe in when our institutions fall apart.

Imagining the events of the short time that all three were in the same prison at the same time, Luigi uses absurdist humor and original music to explore corporate greed, public spectacle, and the creation of viral folk heroes in the internet age. Said head writer Nova Bradford, “the show really shines a light on the cultural obsession with downfall and redemption, as well as viral fame and the way violence is packaged and sold to us.” The show has quickly drawn mixed attention from news outlets both excited, inspired, confused, and outraged by what they might imagine the show to be, but now the press can come experience the show for themselves.

-FRINGE TICKET LINK- Cost: £10.00 RUN-TIME: 90 minutes

#Review by Lou of Jess Robinson – Your Song @jessrobinsonofficial @ARedinburgh #GeorgeSquareGardens #PiccoloTent #YourSong #EdFringe #EdFringe25 #Music #Musical #Comedy

Jess Robinson – Your Song

Jess Robinson is known for being on tv programmes such as Dead Ringers and The Last Leg.

Jess Robinson has divas in her head just desperate to get out to sing the tracks of her life, which come from her love and admiration of Elton John. She’s a powerhouse as she belts out songs that pay homage to him, but in various “divas” voices from Billie Holliday to Kate Bush to Britney Spears to Amy Winehouse to Billie Eillish and more…
There’s even an amusing duet involving “Katherine Jenkins” and “Mary Poppins”. As surreal as it sounds, this is a very well put together show, which shows a large range of her impressionist talents. There’s also a bit of funny satire smartly put in there too. When she sings a song straight, she actually has a very listenable singing voice. Whether its her own voice or impersonating someone else’s voice. she has a large vocal range, whether its a popstar or she’s hitting the highest notes of an opera singer.

If you want to see what many female divas sound like singing Elton John songs, then check out more info here for Your Song

Jess Robinson also mentioned she has a book coming out soon. Published by Harper Collins, this biography tells the story of a member of her family in war times and also weaves Jess’s life in here and now in modern day Britain.