Tiger Paws Junior

Review: Bristol Revunions ****

Bristol Revunions **** 4 Stars

The Caves, Just the Tonic

This sketch comedy crew are funny…and the Caves are one of the nicest venues to perform in in Edinburgh.

Their material is tight, they work well together and they make the audience laugh.

It’s like they sat down and all read ‘How to do comedy in Edinburgh and get a good reaction’ book together.

In the show there are some strong personal performances and as an ensemble, they are tight. Their director and producer (both Will) really want to make it a success, so I was getting emails about 7 days before I actually went to see them. Time constraints limited my previous attendance but I’m really happy I came.

If they continue together after university, they will get much better as a whole and the potential is all there for the audience to see. They break the fourth wall on many occasions and value audience participation which is always nice to see.

They’re comfortable with each other too and I hope they are appreciating Edinburgh for it’s other shows. A little more research into how other comedy troupes (Such as The Beau Zeaux’s) work their magic and there show will dive into a new depth.

An all round good show, thank you for inviting me.

Tiger Paws Junior’s Stories 4 Stars

Review: Frenchy: Live’n’Lanky *****

Frenchy Live’n’Lanky ***** 5 Stars

Guilded Balloon 22.30

“Great to see ya bro, thanks for coming man…” Frenchy said from his stage as myself and Neil walked in, about four minutes late for his show….”Fucking late though aren’t ya mate. It’s alright, you just missed some Glassy talk.”

And so began a funny as comedy gig…

Frenchy is an Australian observational comedian. He’s cheeky, foul-mouthed and he loves telling sick stories… My kind of comedy show to be honest. Him and a few of his boys are killing it on YouTube and their channels have hit way over one million followers each. Friend-zoned is probably his most popular video at the moment.

The show itself is a dry show, the material is tight, his instincts are great and he’s pretty chilled on stage, something that new comedians really struggle with. He describes being kicked out of the teaching profession in Oz, being a Glassy in a nightclub and having to clean the toilets, and even tries to speak Spanish to an audience member. ‘Tequila…ahhhh…Nachos …ahhh…That’s all I got bro’. It was funny as hell.

We went for a pint in the Loft after and he said to me ‘Ahhh mate sometimes I’m too chilled, fucking lose where I was in the story don’t I.’

What a great guy with a good show. Gonna catch Neil and hopefully Shooter’s show this week too. Gonna be fun!

Tiger Paws Junior’s Stories 5 Stars

Arthur has become European Champion!

He did it!

Yesterday Arthur Lanigan O’Keeffe (@ArthurLOK1) became European Modern Pentathlon Champion in Bath finishing the competition on 1,487 points and streets ahead of his closest rival from France.

He absolutely nailed the horse riding, smashed the fencing and shooting, and placed well in the running and swimming giving him a final points tally of 11 points ahead of his nearest competitor. It’s such a great, allround sport that all athletes work so hard on, it’s not surprising the level of respect that they hold for one another. 5 disciplines is far greater than one and to reach it’s pinnacle is a great achievement.

We spoke to him after his semi final and he said he jogged the last bit to secure fourth place and his place in the final. He also Facebooked us last night with the message ‘I did it! I’m European Champion!…BOOM Rio baby!’

Such a nice bloke deserves every bit of success he’s getting. Fair play to you mate…tough slog but so worth it now.

We’ll post his new vlog when it’s edited.

You know what that means…We’re also going to Rio too to cover the story until the end! Delighted about that one.

Review: Al Porter *****

Al Porter ***** 5 Stars

21.15 Guilded Ballon

This won’t be a long review. You guys prefer it that way. I could blab on about the talent and skill of this young Irish comedian but you wouldn’t read it anyways. That’s why I focus on photographs to grab peoples attention. So here are photo’s of Al and I in the Loft in Guilded Balloon.

Al’s show is great, that’s all I need to say. He is in a good place in his career at the moment, working with Colm Hayes in 2fm in Ireland from 5-7pm on week days (which I love – Celebrity Fish click click), he gigs around the country and abroad and he seems to maintain a level head throughout.

He is personally ambitious too which is always nice to see. Hunger is important as long as no Machiavelli comes out to play from the team around him. I think he has a good team around him though…I think.

Is his show any good?

Yes of course it was, that’s why it’s a fiver review. He has worked hard and developed his material well, he plays to his personality strengths which is an honest perspective and he’s a nice guy offstage too who delivers his material well. That’s all there is too it. Him and Karl Spain are buddies so that’s always good to have a seasoned professional around to keep him in check lol.

Go see the show. It’s cheap now and he’ll only be bigger next year so get in while you can. Extra dates have been added. Here’s another photo of Al and then of fire, just to make you read this.

Tiger Paws Junior’s Stories 5 Stars

Review: The Beau Zeaux ****

The Beau Zeaux **** 4 Stars

Pleasance Courtyard 17.45

The Japanese have a philosophy of three faces. The face one shows to the public, the face one shows to friends and family, and the face you have personally (cheeky Oxford comma there – Nice). This last face is the face that you try to suppress, the face that conjures your darkest thoughts therefore your most honest face. It is this face that is the most pure and truthful. Performing allows the creator to show this face if the writing allows her…that’s why Philip Seymour Hoffman, Heath Ledger or Daniel Day Lewis are and were so bloody good. They showed the audience what the character would actually do if they were faced with the pressure of a certain situation.

The Beau Zeaux’s are all brilliant performers. They let the audience into their minds and show them with their bodies how quick a thought process can be, should the right offer come along. That’s what improv does. The quicker the reaction and the more truthful the response, the funnier it is.

Thom Tuck, Rachel Parris, Marcus Brigstocke, Brendan Murphy and narrated by Deborah Francis White (The Spontaneity Shop and author of The Improv Handbook) have all been working individually individually for years and together individually for many more. They know each other well enough on stage to trust the other completely and say yes to an offer of another. There is also a rotating cast which includes Pippa Evans, Ed Coleman and Milly Thomas.

The show itself, that I witnessed yesterday, was a great but tired one. Edinburgh is the best place in the world retrospectively but fuck it it’s tiring and stressful when you are here. Evans asked me if I had a show up here for the full run, I said Yes, and she then replied he is too tired to plug his own show. So honest but so true.

They ask the audience for a setting and create three different story-lines and plots around it in the hour allowed. One was a husband and wife (Tuck and Murphy), one was a German couple (Brigstocke and Parris) and the third was an elderly man who came out to his two gay friends. Each story was developed in scenes and became quite moving as well as hilarious.

Ordinarily I would give this show a 5 Star, but I saw it on an off day I think so it’s a 4.

All the performers are seasoned Edinburgh-ians and all have other shows here too. Brigstocke has two others, Tuck has one (which is supposed to be awesome) and I’m sure they are involved in as many other things as their PR staff allow them to be. Are they enjoying it honestly with their personal Japanese faces, I doubt it a lot… But they are in a bloody good show.

Tiger Paws Junior’s Stories 4 Stars

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