Edinburgh Fringe Bucket List & Reviews *UPDATED*

Edinburgh Fringe 2012 Bucket List:

Latest review:“Freedom Family Circus”

Poet Spoken Word:

Mark Grist – “Rogue Teacher”  Reviewed: 03/08/2012

Mixy – “Contenet” Reviewed: 13/08/12

Cabaret:

Freedom Family Circus – “Xtreme Sideshow” Reviewed: 15/08/2012

Comedy:

Adam Hill – “Mess Around”

 Andrew O’Neil – “Easily Distracted” Reviewed 11/08/2012

Daniel Sloss – “The Show”

Jason Byrne – “People’s Puppeteer”

Bronston Jones – “life’s short im not” Reviewed 11/082012

Theatre/Play:

Rasing Eddie

Eccentronic – “We wont rock you” Reviewed 14/08/2012

*** This is A wish list of sorts and will be updated with more as the month goes on: Please feel free to mae any recommedations in the comment section if you feel I should add anything!***

Now to the meat of these Blog posts, the reviews: I will do this in Chronological order give the links and info for all acts plus my own little review plus things like twitter etc!

 

Name: Freedom Family Circus

Act: Xtreme sideshow

Type: Cabaret/burlesque/stunt

Venue: Gryphon venues @ point hotel

Cost: £10

Time: 10.15 PM

Rating: 4/5

Xtreme Sideshow, is the ronseal of this years Fringe, It does EXACTLY what it advertises, This rag tag bunch of performers from across the states with hundreds of hours of performances and dozen of tours with other companies under their belt, have banded together to form their own unique act that will not only amaze and shock but horrify and probably have you laughing throughout.

The group is full of energy and passion and it seeps into their show, Not only are they immensely talented, performing tricks that genuinely had the audience picking its jaw off the floor only for it to hit the floor again but They also bring a positive energy to every show, and every trick is laced with humour and some clever crowd interaction.

Whether they are doing an ode to Shakespeare ( with deadly juggling to boot), insertion and removal of pointy objects or showing you the filthiest and crudest things you thought NOT possibly with everything from balloon animals to rubber bands this is a class act that will leave you genuinely impressed. They may be personable fun loving guys but they are by no mean slack, a group of highly trained professionals that love to push the envelope and continually change their shows up to not only grow their own talents but to make the show better for audiences.

Finally they do a slightly(read as a severely) less filthy show for kids that is a lot more family friendly and just as entertaining during the day.

A genuinely great act that got more and more outrageous and absorbing as the show progressed. A fairly new company that will continue to grow into something big if they continue to work with so much passion, dedication and hard work and of course hilarious slapstick as well as a bit of filth!!

Tickets can be purchased here http://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/cabaret/xtreme-sideshow

or on the door of the venue (see above for venue).

P.S this fringe act even did some crazy stuff including climb up on the Olympic rings, I was lucky enough to grab some photos!

 

 

Name: Eccentronic

Act: We won’t rock you

Type: Play/Comedy/Musical

Venue: Espionage

Cost: FREE

Time: 7.30 PM

Rating: 4/5

Eccentronic’s “We won’t rock you” Is at the heart of it is a parody, steeped in Irony, self deprecating humour and cheese toasties.

The Two people act, take the audience on a high paced, fast moving, loud and probably the most crowd interactive show I’ve ever seen. The main plot is about creating a commercially successful musical that isn’t about “socks and Doctor Who”. It’s as much of a parody and look at how artists have to balance mainstream success with artistic intent/integrity. While also poking fun at the whole thing Including the modern “conventions” all hit musicals MUST HAVE. “The comedy musical stool – with added lemon”.

The act itself is highly entertaining but most certainly out there, the songs are unique and quirky and many of the references will be lost on some viewers but for anyone who knows their pop culture, or understand the phrase LOL-cats you’ll be giggling along at the clever lines and sometimes even just the absurdity of it all. The show features such future hits as “Loves Boring” and “Cook like common people”.

The act won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, (or flask) as the case may be. If your in to not so serious musicals, a bit of parody infused with very likeable characters and amazing personalities sprinkled with lots of humour and finally getting involved in the play yourself, and most importantly there is most definitely #NOUKES in this show . Then this is the show for you.(and if nothing else there’s always the chance of a free cheese toastie).

Their run at the fringe may be finished but they are most definitely an act to watch out for next time!

Climbing into the crowd and performing

Follow Eccentronic Twitter: @eccentronic
Follow Me : Twitter: @conor_strife

Name: Mixy

Act: “Content”

Type: Spoken word/Rap/Poet

Venue: The Royal Oak

Cost: FREE

Time: 2pm

Rating: 5/5

Mixy is known for being one half of the smash hit double act “Dead Poets” with Mark Grist. Can his solo stuff come as hard?

Mixy is back at this years Fringe with his new show “Content”, Mixy’s High energy and swagger shines throughout his performance, even through the lows. Occasionally laying his words over deeply hypnotic trance beats that pulsate through the venue, which comes to be an engrossing and intimate gig, I found myself smiling deliciously hanging off of every word, nodding along not just rhythmically to the beat but also a feeling of understanding as personal memories floated to the surface, from the depth of the Dead poets words. From Falling in love and breaking up to self loathing and anguish. From a chance meeting of Mixy’s past to his eventual redemption.

This one hour show take you through the highs and lows, much like a real relationship You’ll be introduced, laugh, flirt, share intimate moments and stories, fall head over heels, feel the pang of lost love and heartbreak. Then realise the other persons flaws and reach that eventual end point where you are told “it isn’t you it’s me”.Mixy’s personal account of his experience with education will echo with much of today’s youth. A class act, clever, funny intense and bags of charm and perfect comic timing, Mixy is a tour de force in his own right.

TLDR: A journey through the mind of an intelligent, creative MC that slipped through the cracks, turning negatives into positives and expressing himself how he does best.

Climbing into the crowd and performing

 

 

Folllow Mixy

Twitter: @mixyric

Follow Me

Twitter: @Conor_strife

Name: Branston Jones

Act: “Lifes short, I’m Not”

Type: Comedy

Venue: Meadows Bar

Cost: FREE (TIP IF YOU ENJOY)

Time: 11.45pm

Rating: 5/5

Bronston Jones is a 6ft 7 American Comedian who spends just over an hour Telling hilarious and filthy stories about his life, Covering his battle with alcohol and his “Interesting” romantic interests spattered with political views and some brilliant crowd Interaction. A genuine funny comedian at an unbelievable price (FREE). Stories of pornstars  on cocaine and how hotel hookers look down on sluts as well as the mad things we all do for love are just a few of the things you’ll hear as the night goes along. If you’ve ever dated, or fallen in love you’ll find yourself nodding along to Bronstons preachings and stories . A truely fantastic hidden gem of the free Fringe and a genuinely “Stand up guy” as well as probably the smoothest flirt you’ll ever meet. Bronston is worth checking out, be careful about taking your girlfriend with you though, because Bronston is packing some of the greatest chat up lines EVER.  YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

The link to theshow listings can be found here http://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy/life-s-short-i-m-not-free

Twitter: @Bronicus

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Name: Andrew O’Neil

Act: Easily Distracted

Type: Comedian

Venue: Pleasance Courtyard

Cost: £12.00/£10.00

Rating: 4/5

Time: 10:45 pm

Cross dresser and Self proclaimed ADD sufferer Andrew O’Neill Is most definatley the werid brand of comedy. A bit of a underground legend with almost a cult following (which is oddly ironic seeing as his last shows were entitled “Occult Comedian”). Andrew’s show is funny, Insightful and a little out there, but is worth checking out for anyone with an open mind. For anyone who likes the fast paced intelligence of Dara O’Brien or Ed Byrne combined with the quirky clever-ness of Tim Minch Then “Easily Distracted” is well worth it’s money. Be prepared to here about the norse pantheon, why the royals are pants and of course how his ADD which used to be a blessing for creating comedy has now become a huge distraction for writing full length shows! A personal favourite comic of mine and as someone I have seen twice now I can’t recommend this man enough, not everyones cup of tea but most definatly one of a kind.

Tickets can be bought here: http://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy/andrew-o-neill-is-easily-distracted
Twitter: @destructo9000

Name: Mark Grist

Act: Rogue Teacher

Type: Spoken word

Venue: Underbelly

Cost: £10.50/£9.50

Rating: 5/5

Two years ago Mark Grist Left his Nice secure job as an English teacher to pursue his dreams of being a poet. Tough times and hilarity ensues before eventually shooting to internet and international stardom after rapping and winning 8mile style in a “student vs teacher” rap battle on Youtube. Through Comical stories and clever and witty spoken word Mark Grist takes the audience on a wonderful journey through his personal voyage of the last few years. The self proclaimed Dead Poet regales with stories of his past, and some of the events that led him to his current situation. The self proclaimed “Dead poet” has an abundance of charm and his happy go lucky attitude and occasional self deprecating humour shine throughout the course of his show audiences are completely immersed lost in the natural rhythm and flow of his work. Not only will you laugh but you will get a fantastic insight of someone who’s been through the looking glass of Secondary education along with his views on the media and perceptions of youth and youth culture. A vastly talented yet humble poet who is a true gentleman and I had the pleasure of finally meeting. HE IS A MUST SEE.

Tickets can be bought at :http://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/spoken-word/mark-grist-rogue-teacher or purchased from the Fringe box office.

Mark Grist can be followed on Twitter under the guise of @montygristo

Check out Mark’s viral Youtube battle here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp4wEewrQdU

Dead poets website: http://www.deadpoetry.co.uk/

My personal Favourite Mark Grist poem can be found here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWwXJT4LA5A

I personally love it it really hits home and the situation is very much one I have been in before!

I will just update this page as Each review Comes.

~ by conorstrife on August 3, 2012.