Day 2 Summary

I saw the following shows today:

Success Story 5/5
Rogue Male - Adam Riches 5/5
Regret Me Not 2/5
The Motherwokfantastic - Daniel Rigby 3/5

Nik Coppin - Liquatious - see below.

I cant remember seeing three 5* shows in a row, but the first two today were both great adding to the joy of Hugh Hughes last night. Full reviews will follow, I'm trying to cram in as many shows as possible at the moment so it's inevitable I'll fall behind.....

Success Story is a great play, with a fantastic young good looking cast and well worth going to see.

Adam Riches is on his way to getting a 5* review despite humiliating me on stage three times. Never sit in the front row - I made a huge school boy error thinking "It's a charachter show - he won't be picking on people". I was a whole new level of wrong. Think Michael Fish in 1987 and you're close. Maybe it's got something to do with his beautiful assistant throwing herself at me but despite being used and abused the whole show I still enjoyed it.

Regret Me Not will be getting a similar review to "Almost 10". Charming actress - slightly dull script - raised a few smiles but all out laughs were rare. Another talent who would highlight her skills better with some on stage interaction.

I'm still undecided about Daniel Rigby. He came across as slightly arrogant at first... but did win me over by the end. Performers getting the giggles can sometimes add the show - but you have to be careful not to do it more times than the audience - and Rigby and his sidekick weren't far off crossing that line. I thnk he's pretty new and he will develop in to a great comedian/performer over time - I was pretty tired by this point so he's maybe a bit unlucky I saw it at the wrong time.

Nik Coppin is staying with me this festival so any review would be biased and I don't want to compromise my integrity. But take it from me he's a funny guy and as well as doing his own show he is also the brains behind "Shaggers" the late night show where three guest comedians get on stage - with the only condition being that they have to talk about shaggin'.

I banged on about how great Shaggers was last year so check the archives if you want to read the old reviews (there's also a review of Nik's show from before I knew him - which I don't know if he knows about yet). No doubt I'll be making plenty of trips back to Shaggers this year which is at a bigger venue this year in the Counting House. Great drunken fun and it's part of the Laughing Horse Free Fringe so it doesn't cost you anything)!!!

Other thoughts on the Fringe in general - I'm pleased that the bar prices at the Pleasance are reasonable. £1.50 for a 500ml bottle is rather fair so well done to them for being sensible.

One thing I did notice that due to the nature of the staff's job they spend most of their time outside and therefore think it's OK to just stand there smoking or rolling fags! You don't see Policemen, or Zoo Keepers or even Street Cleaners doing it so I don't understand why Pleasance staff think it's OK - just because they are working outside. They are meant to be there to interact with customers. It just looks unprofessional.

Anyhoo... I'm off to bed. I'm hoping to get one if not both of the two plays about Charles Darwin in tomorrow! After that it's anyone's guess.