#Review of Rob Auton: Jupiter – Comedy with storytelling. @robauton #Comedy #storytelling #theatre #EdFringe

Rob Auton: Jupiter

Review written by Louise Cannon – Bookmarks and Stages

Rob Auton brings hope and humanity in his deadpan style of comedy.

His storytelling is original and thought-provoking as well as very funny. There are many laughs to be had in this hour of his unique stand-up comedy style.

Rob Auton takes you on quite a rhythmic, sharply observed journey as he takes up the position a unique estate agent as he is trying to sell reasons to be on earth to a couple of extra-terrestrial beings from Jupiter. It touches on the surreal, with quickfire jokes and clever rhythm in his story-telling that sets them up. He’s quite the wordsmith as he stands stationery at the mic. It suits his style of comedy to do this rather than go for the physical comedy as the pace is slower, but the messages he is getting across are memorable and feel important and this adds to the meaningfulness that intertwines the interesting surreal of the estate agent concept. It also fits well with the intimate staging at The Assembly Roxy as there’s a feeling of his words drawing you closer into something you want to listen to.

The deadpan style and the word rhythms he adopts give Rob Auton great stage presence with his words penetrating into the mind, almost a bit hypnotic in a way in the manner in-which it is paced. He clearly wants you to take away his messaging as well as the laughs and mull them over. The style seems quite intelligently and intentionally done.

By the end, what can be felt, apart from the good endorphins from laughing, is also a sense of how important earth is and how truly privileged we, as humans are to be living on it, more than what is often realised as lots gets taken for granted ie the human condition. It was fantastic that it brings this to the forefront of minds.

Jupiter truly is profound throughout the comedy elements and a must see!

#Review of Max Fulham’s Monkey Business – Family Show – Gilded Balloon 11:50-12:50 #MaxFulham #GildedBalloon #EdFringe #Comedy #ventriloquist #familyshow

Max Fulham’s Monkey Business

review by Louise Cannon

Max Fulham’s Monkey Business is one for all the family. It’s the show where both kids and adults end up in stitches of laughter and join in, some more than others, and become part of this Monkey Business. This ventriloquist from just down the road from Edinburgh in Linlithgow is one to watch!

Max Fulham is a ventriloquist with a lot of comedy up his sleeve, or perhaps that’s coming from his employees in his new found office, Monkey Business. It isn’t like any office you’d have seen before. It isn’t dull and far from bland. This is the most fun office with the strangest array of staff you’re likely to come across. The business is serious, but this is Monkey Business after all anything can happen with the departments you would expect in an office, but with unconventional staff.

Meet a monkey in management ready to do a presentation like you’ve never seen before, a dog on reception, an old man called boring John in finance, a squeaky mouse from IT department, are his employees and its the law to wear a tie. This brings on lots of humour at different levels, so he well and truly is aiming at both kids and adults rather skillfully. There is also a fun game that every audience member participated in. There wasn’t anyone who didn’t look like they were having fun on some level.

It is refreshing that this truly is for many ages with the jokes on-point for the entire audience demographic.

As for his, now rare, art form of ventriloquism, he has nailed it! Watching incredibly closely and could not see his mouth move and each word was audible, clear and easy to understand.

The “employees” in this office are also the kids, those who want to join in. The adults also have a few jobs to do. What is a thoughtful touch is the gifts handed out to participants. There’s also a fun craft done on stage, along with a randomly chosen child. For all the kids, bubbles magically appear.

I think it’s worth pointing out, Max Fulham truly ensures his Monkey Business “employees” are comfortable and having a good experience, especially those junior human ones who join him on stage.

With a whole lot of monkeying around and exceptional skills this is one all the family can truly enjoy.

You can catch Max Fulham’s Monkey Business at:
Dining Room at Gilded Balloon Teviot
11:50 – 12:50

Check out more here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/max-fulham-s-monkey-business

There is also an adult show called Memory Foam, that’s also worth checking out.

#Review of The Devil Wears Primark @Raquelitafantastica #EdFringe #TheDevilWearsPrimark #LeMondeHotel

The Devil Wears Primark

Stand-up Comedy at Le Monde Hotel

Devil Wears Prada meets Primark and hits menopause and dating sites.
Stand-up Comedian, Rachael Milne is one to watch!

Have you seen both films, The Devil Wears Prada/The Devil Wears Primark 2? Well, it’s more than those films, however, walk into the auditorium and the songs played will remind you of them. It’s an entertaining start even before, not Meryl Streep, but stand-up comedian, Rachael Milne takes to the stage. She is glitz and glam… not Prada, but the other P’s – Primark and Polyester, as she introduces herself. As soon as she began with sharp in wit and observation, the laughs came and kept coming.

She moved from the witty film references to the many dating sites, relationships and being menopausal. She has clever usage of gentle psychology in the way she gently coaxes the audience to be part of the conversation, if they want to be, never putting pressure on.

The audience proved this isn’t just a comedy for women, plenty of guys were in the audience too. Everyone found the humour in ageing. She also made light of ex-pats of which she is one and more…

I went in hoping for a good time and that’s what was delivered and any reservations disappeared from the start. There were a few jokes that weren’t quite as strong as others but the better ones outweighed them and became more memorable and talked about.

The stage may have been small but her stage presence was big and so are the laughs.

Check out The Devil Wears Primark on edfringe.com

#Review of Rory Cargill – On TV – Comedy @EdFringe #RoryCargill #comedy #rorycargillontv #edfringe

Rory Cargill – On TV

review by Louise Cannon – Bookmarks and Stages

Step back in time in the world of tv, before journeying through the decades of tv and also be part of a gameshow audience, a tv audience and more…
It takes audiences from nostalgia to present times.

Rory Cargill takes on the role of a tv presenter through the decades who he has named Beau Creme. There are cheesy catchphrases and prompts are fun and reminiscent of times gone-by, but after a while, does attract a few groans. It is, however a well constructed performance, that, although dips, does get better as it goes on. There’s even a catchphrase. Mixing nostalgia and present day relevancy nothing is left out in this high energy performance.

In the background are sweet bits like Andy Pandy, sitcom actors, later kids tv like Zzzap! gameshows and reality shows such as Big Brother and more… Clips of Rory Cargill’s incarnation of Beau Creme are shown on screen from time to time as well as in-front of the audience on stage, which is creatively seamless.

There is a vulnerability in later years in Beau Creme when he isn’t as popular as he once was. You can see and feel the desperation and how it affects him.

It’s a mixed performance of highs and lows, a bit like the fictional Beau Creme’s career. Certain jokes being a bit groan like after a while, with a flat feel in a high energy atmosphere with Cargill having great stage presence.

The concept of Rory Cargill – On TV as a whole is intelligently constructed but with highs and lows in the comedy of it.

You can find more info on the Edfringe site here:

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/rory-cargill-on-tv

#Review of Gyles Brandreth – Up Memory Lane @GylesB1 #HarrietJaine @edfringe #comedy #memories #UpMemoryLane #Rosebud

Up Memory Lane
By Gyles Brandreth and Harriet Jaine

review written by Louise Cannon – Bookmarks and Stages
photos by Andy Robinson

Feel the warmth and end up laughing loads as you go Up Memory Lane, the place where both poignant and fun memories flow. The place where stage and podcast collide with the most enjoyable results for a fun-packed late afternoon.

Memories and treasures are what Gyles Brandreth and his Rosebud podcast producer warmly encourages the audience to think of what or who is dear to them as they impart this information. It’s revealing, sweet, sad and very funny as they look over the years, including their earliest memories.

Harriet Jaine, who is the producer of his critically acclaimed Rosebud podcast joins Gyles on stage. Things get particularly humorous as she tries to keep him under control and says a bit about her job, which seems to also entail giving instruction to Gyles, who may or may not obey… She has her work cut out as is demonstrated in rather a jovial manner.

On a table, there are objects that are precious to them both, one of which is Judi Dench’s teddy bear. There are also shared tales of other bears, including Winnie the Pooh and some sweet, fun singing from them both and a solo from Harriet. Memories aren’t just linked to objects as Gyles reminisces about actors he has met in the past, some alive, some dead. He makes a very important, poignant and touching reason for also naming dead actors. She is warmly encouraged to talk about family, the happy and the saddest of times.

The mix of seriousness and fun is a great combination for this show and keeps it feeling authentic and highly enjoyable as well as interesting.

Between the stories and the jokes, there is song and a bit of sort of dance, some that create laughter and one which is dear to their hearts and anyone who is a fan of a particular bear will hold everyone silent for a moment.

There are games to be had with a small, friendly bit of audience participation, but only if you catch Harriet’s ball.

What is clever throughout is the encouragement for the audience, when they go home, is to reflect on their treasures and memories. In turn, by the end, this show becomes a treasured memory for all the enjoyment had.

You can see this delightful show for a fun-filled hour at:

Gordon Aikman Theatre – Assembly at George Square

4pm to 5pm Gyles Brandreth Up Memory Lane

Happy 20th Birthday to the Underbelly’s Violet the Inflatable Cow Venue in George Sq Gardens at #EdFringe #Underbelly Now Open! #Comedy #Music #Musicals #Drama #Acrobats #Dance #Sumo #Theatre and more… #followthecow

It was an honour to be invited to the launch party which doubled up as a 20th birthday party for Violet, the purple cow. It’s an iconic Edinburgh Fringe Venue, which can be found at George Square Gardens. There are also other Underbelly buildings in Cowgate.
I first went to pre-blog to see comedian, Ruby Wax in this big cow. You walk under the udders to a fantastic space filled with seats and a stage. It’s the most unique stage at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which we were informed has travelled to Brighton and further afield, which is just amazing!
In the venue over the years, and this year of 2026 is no exception, it hosts musical, dance, comedy, acrobats and a whole lot more… This year, for a Fringe first, it is also hosting sumo-wrestling.

The Underbelly as an organisation supports original work, provides spaces for new up and coming performers and established performers, such as the aforementioned and Su Pollard to try out new, original work in front of live audiences.

This year check out Sammy J – Hero Complex House of Life, Heated Rivalry, Liberace and Liza Minelli Tribute, Sumo and more…

Watch short films of some of these acts, the brilliant and highly original birthday song written by Sammy J. who reminded me of Victoria Wood in his talent, via instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DbsqszfF68j/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Check out more of what you can see in this link and below: https://underbellyedinburgh.co.uk

Happy 20th Birthday and here’s to 20 more years!