Fringe Comedy
Gayle Anderson
Stuart Mitchell
Pleasance
Four stars
Scott Gibson
Gilded Balloon
Four stars
Burnistoun
Gilded Balloon
Three stars
WHEN life gives you lemons... incorporate them into your comedy show. In Dealt A Bad Hand, Stuart Mitchell demonstrates how to belly laugh in the torn-scone face of misfortune.
Childhood accidents, medical complications, family bereavement - it's fair to say that the Glaswegian comic doesn't possess a luck loyalty card. But in a set full of dark, dry humour the only moans to be heard are from the audience when he announces it's time to wrap up.
Endearingly self-deprecating, he talks us through his quite-a-lot-less-than-perfect childhood. There's a real warmth and honesty running alongside the clever wordplay and sharp one-liners. Stuart has a wonderfully relaxed stage presence that hints of great things to come. Ad-libs with the crowd are especially funny. His "courtesy dog" idea was truly inspired and shows off a razor sharp wit. Other highlights include wonderful anecdotal tales of gigs in HMP Barlinnie and his paid impersonations of a famous serial killer. He ends the show by reading from a genuine medical form that had been completed by his late father. It's poignant proof that comedy talent most definitely runs in this family.
Until August 28.
EVERYTHING isn't always what it seems. A quick shufty round the room at Scott Gibson's Life After Death show tells me that the audience are mainly male and mainly double pinted. This is going to be a lad-style gig, I thought. Top heavy with testosterone, I thought. You know what thought did. Admittedly, he kicks off with the story of a stag do in Blackpool. Strippers and scuzzy digs both receive (dis)honourable mentions. So far, so blokey. But then things take a surprising and brilliantly-crafted turn. This is Glaswegian, Scott's first Fringe and it's a big, bold belter of a debut. Wonderfully self-deprecating and with his heart firmly super glued to his sleeve, he takes us all along for the ride on his own remarkable road trip. Riotously funny and at times painfully raw it centres on the life-changing event that inspired Scott to finally follow his dreams and choose a career in comedy. It was the right choice. His storytelling skills are undoubtedly degree level standard. (Bachelor of Banter?) There's a wonderful tempo to his tales with each anecdote building up to a loud, shouty crescendo. An uplifting and life-affirming, set from Scotland's newest "ranty-hero".
Until August 29.
BURNISTOUN, the much-loved BBC Scotland sketch show follows a sell-out live Glasgow shows by taking a wee trip, Up Eh Road to Edinburgh for their first-ever Fringe. A sell-out crowd greeted all their favourite characters like old friends. They were willing them to turn the patter up to 11. Unfortunately, the dial seemed to get stuck at the halfway point for most of the performance. Iain Connell and Robert Florence are undoubtedly talented writers and performers however the quality of sketches on show here was sadly nowhere near the standard of their TV show. Too many started off all-guns-blazing and simply fizzled out like a damp Festival firework. Things began well. The Polis were, as ever, Quality. Even a moustache malfunction couldn't take the shine off a genuinely funny sketch. Similarly, the silent disco was brilliantly choreographed and hinted at great things to come. Unfortunately, yoga instructor and misogynist clothes manufacturer routines were both punchline light and seemed to drag on indefinitely. The loudest laughs of the evening were reserved for Burnistoun's favourite radge resident, Jolly Boy John. It was great to see him and the rest of the gang. Just a pity that some of them forgot to pack their funny.
Until August 14.
Gayle Anderson
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