DAY 3
Somehow I managed to get my hands on a ticket for a special extra added date to the next show, which is a miracle, as they normally sell out in about 10 seconds flat.
Paul Merton’s Impro Chums:
Paul Merton, Richard Vranch, Suki Webster, Mike McShane and Tim *Someone* made up the crew, and by hell was this one of the funniest shows I've seen in a while. The Tim bloke, who was the only one I'd never heard of before, was amazingly good, if not slightly rude for a mid-day show. Paul was on wonderful form too, and I found out he's now married to Suki. Pity! (Just kidding).
Now for my first (and only) mistake of the whole weekend, I went to my next booking.
The Oxford Imps:
I was sold to these people by a friend of a friend, as I'm a fan of Impro comedy. Yes, I normally am, and I think if I had seen them any other day or any other time other than an hour after I had seen the king of impro comedy that is Paul Merton, they would have been quite good. A couple of them were very funny, the keyboardist was very good. The others (especially/predictably the American) were making up for lack of talent with an abundance of enthusiasm. This just didn’t cut it for me. Also, they stole, and I do mean word for word, a game from Pauls show (The game was a challenge to tell a story on the spot, if they stopped even for a second or stumbled over their words (No hesitation, deviation or repetition, hang on, that’s stolen too) the audience had to shout DIE very loudly at them. Which I did quite happily. Because they should be hung for stealing ideas)
Seeing as it was raining non-stop (Welcome to Edinburgh) and I was trudging my home/backpack round the place with me, I thought I'd sit in a cafe and let the world go by for a couple of hours. However, I totally forgot that it was a Sunday, and I'm sure the cafe wanted to close about 3 hours before I arrived. Meh. Either way, I killed enough time to get in a series of free shows before Karaoke Circus.
OCD – Truly Madly Neatly
Turns out free doesn't mean rubbish, as this show was hilarious, if not making me look slightly harder at the "quirks" I have and decided that I probably am quite OCD. Meh Meh. I was quite happy to throw a few quid in the bucket on the way out.
Robin Ince Vs The Moral Majority
Defiantly not rubbish. In a room hotter than hell itself, this whole show was brought about by the Guardian writing a what’s hot and what’s not column and "Comedians who attack the Daily Mail" were not hot, take note Marcus Brigstock and Robin Ince. So he decided to attack the Guardian instead. I have to agree with Robin on most things, I can't open any paper without yelling at most of the articles, even in my local one, too many things are ridiculous if you look at them in depth. Also made me wish I'd seen his science show earlier on in the day, there’s some books I defiantly need to get my hands on. Or his book club show. Or his Bleeding heart liberal show. And I would be seeing him later on in Karaoke Circus. That man isn't going to be happy till he's killed himself. Still, all in the name of comedy.
After the show, I was hanging around to see the show directly after it, and ended up talking to Peter Buckly-Hill the founder of Free Fringe, and Robin came up too, trying to convince Peter to come along, without really know what time it was or what venue it was in. So I flyered him for it, and told him I'd see him later.
PBH:
I learnt my lesson last time, and plonked myself right by a fan for the next two hours. Peter, was very funny, playing a few songs on his guitar, and although I can't remember a huge amount about the guests he had up (other than the Aussie who broke one of the fans in the room, (luckily not the one I was near or he'd have got it) and an American who pretty much was the anti-Kilstine routine, which needless to say I didn't take on board too much). Also had a chat with him, and promised to have a look at helping him out next year, I don't mind volunteering my help to a good cause.
Karaoke Circus:
Finally! Such a cracking line-up, I don't know why everyone who came to see comedy over the month wasn't there, there really was something for everyone.
Robin Ince started off the night, as promised, with Barry Mannilows Copacabana, turns out he's quite a good singer.
Someone else was next murdering Beautiful, originally by Christina Aguilera
A open mic spot filled by someone doing Video Killed the Radio Star, and sounding a carbon copy of the original
Simon Amstell. Meh. Hero. Meh. For someone who hosts(ed) a music quiz he really was quite bad.
Pippa Evans
Pappy's Fun Club
Andrew Collins – I remember lipstick.
Another open mic – Come on Eileen
Carry Quinnilan – Born to run
Tom Stade and someone else
Someone else
Open mic of Eternal Flame (*Growl* My song)
Richard Herring – This town ain't big enough for the both of us (Strangely being the singer of a Sparks song whilst looking like the keyboard player *shrug*)
Someone else doing a duet
You can tell by this point in the night, I was getting quite drunk, there was a few other songs, none of which I sung. I did warn Martin, I'll keep turning up like a bad penny till they let me sing, then realised, that’s not a very serious threat for someone that wants to sell tickets. Lets hope I can make to the next one after all that. Oh and I did get a hug, which according to a few people, is a rarity. I shall treasure it.
So, there endeth the weekend (which was Monday morning by this point) and I went directly to the train station with the full drunken intention of falling asleep in the train station for a couple of hours. Instead I managed to wrangle my way onto an earlier train, so I slept on that instead. Almost missing my stop, and actually leaving my booky wook behind. Now I shall never know if he dies at the end.
Next stop, Cromer Pier!
(Because that can really compare)
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