Tiger Paws Junior

Johnny and Alex

Nice to see Johnny Vegas and Alex Brooker. Twas a good laugh

Nicholas Parsons

What an honour to meet Nicholas Parsons CBE. At the ripe age of 91 he was in nothing but brilliant form, strolling through Pleasance. Such a gent and a pleasure to meet him.

Review: Spencer Jones Heroes at the Hive

Spencer Jones Presents: the Herbert in Proper Job

Tiger Paws Junior’s Stories ***** 5 Stars

Heroes @ the Hive 21.00 Reviewed by Jabe

11 August 2015

It is quite possible that a human being could not spend a more delightful hour of their life than in the company of The Herbert. This is the return of the Clown.

In the bowels of cavernous, labyrinthine The Hive (venue 303) on Niddry Street a small miracle happens. Spencer Jones has created a character of such idiocy, childishness and endearing enthusiasm that the audience is swept along in a tidal wave of laughter.

The Herbert is unable to function as a proper grown-up; he finds useless uses for everyday objects and acquires useless rarities with which he finds fascination, much to his wife’s frustration.

As he shows off his collection, there is barely a chance to catch your breath between laughs. Endlessly intrigued by these things which he finds around him, he makes them come alive with an almost innocent excitement.

We then begin to meet his family all played exquisitely by Jones’ variation on half-masks. Each one a full character.

The Herbert is a 38 (39?) year old man who has to get a job. A proper job. When he does, things only get worse but his optimism keeps him going, blindly convinced that everything will be alright.

No matter what is thrown at the Herbert, nothing keeps him down. Even when his most expensive acquisitions fail him he shrugs it off as just another thing to have happened; nothing is either good or bad.

It may seem strange to read, but the sight of a man trying to play a musical instrument has surely never been funnier.

He creates so many images out of almost nothing – we are in an underground arch, he only has a few props and his body, and yet we see the whole world in which he exists with clarity.

That a character this absurd, this unreal, can seem so believable is all down to the technical skill, natural instinct and warm charm of Jones himself. It takes a great deal of hard work to make a show look this easy.

There is work in here which is reminiscent of Hoipolloi at their best, also of Mr. Bean & Frank Spencer and even bits of Ken Dodd (I’ll let you decide which bits). But these are unfair comparisons as he is his own, theatrical self, brilliantly wrought from both tradition and innovation.

The show remains a triumph throughout.

There are quite a lot of effects, goggle-eyes and very mild use of the audience in this inventive hour but I don’t want to give anything away so will just say that if you like your comedy in a pure and joyful state: this is for you.

Clowning at its best.

5 stars

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/spencer-jones-presents-the-herbert-in-proper-job

Day 8: Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Day 8 started early. The girls in our apartment convinced me to go to bed early the night before so I wasn’t surprised to find myself wide awake at 5.45am feeling bright eye’d and bushy-tailed. The sun was sneaking through my window, so I thought feck it, let’s climb the bloody mountain and take the camera for a spin!

It really is magical up there. I brought my iPod and the Canon 70D and left my phone at home. The streets were as quite as I’ve ever seen them in Edinburgh. Seemingly that’s one of the only sleeping hours for the festival goers over here.

Then as the mist and drizzle rolled in an unbelievable rainbow formed over the city. I was struggling with the climb until I saw the rainbow. It was pretty special and a few of us crazzy people up that early stopped to witness the beauty.

It was just so beautiful. The sun decided to come out so when I reached the submit at around 8.30am and after taking about 700 photos, it was just amazing. I also made a TPJ sign in rocks up there. Sure what else is there to do!

I then walked to Pleasance and tried to organise a few shows to see that evening. I really do love that venue. That and C Venues have been great to us. Assembly keep on calling us Tiger Prawns Junior’s Stories. I’m half offended and half laughing histerically.

I was then asked to attend the dress rehearsal of a beautiful dance piece by Booking Dance Festival taking place in Edinburgh International Conference Centre (bookingdance.com). It really looks like an amazing piece and I can’t wait to see it. Here are some snaps:

I then went to the new Robert Carlyle film which was brilliant and grabbed a quick two Corona’s with Matt Forde and friends. I had seen his show a few days ago (review to follow) which was hilarious so it was nice to meet him again.

The two pints were a little too nice and I ended up being late for Roughs (For Radio) at 20.30 in C Nova.

The review is below in another post (4 Stars). It was so hot in there that I came out sweating and a nice girl called Lucy escorted me to my next show.

We headed downstairs in C Nova, which is swiftly becoming one of my favourite venues, and went into Modern Robot. This show is great. We sat next to each other with about thirteen other people in the show and watched these two lads play live music (drums and electric guitar) while watching a 1926 silent movie about the devil controlling people. The music brings the film to life and one almost forgets that their is live music playing as the two players are also watching the film and feeling the emotions of the characters. Edinburgh is awesome! Full review to follow.