Bad Santa and the Angry Elves

And that was the end of another one

bruceonthefringe 2026, Absurd comedy, Bands, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Fringe 2026, Fringe Awards, Magic at the Fringe, Sooo fringe, Stand-up comedy, Theatre Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Oops! Hello, I kinda dropped out there. It’s been a whole week since the Fringe fizzled out for another year and even longer since I last tapped out any musings (oh, I’ve mused plenty but failed miserably to get anything done, bad moose). Ha, even just now I manage to distract myself thinking, I’m sure it didn’t used to fizzle out so pathetically, I should look back through all my Fringe planner calendars and see if there’s anything obvious …. much time later, maybe I should get back to writing about the end of this Fringe?! (the fizzle factor can wait for another time)

Ah yes, last thing it was Friday night, start of the final weekend and I was going to see Bad Santa and the Angry Elves and then the Moanin’ Bones; such a fine evening, but so glad I remembered my earplugs, Bannermans is LOUD, kinda to the detriment of the music for me, but that’s the way they like it in there. The second time I saw the show there’d be a few changes, this time the band was purely rocking out sans storyline (hmm, did I mention that I’d seen the show again? well, I did), oh boy, was that fun! Certainly hope they make it back again sometime. Whistlebinkies wasn’t mentally busy, the Bones were great as per usual, but I headed home before the final set, left the loons to it (it was a full moon to be fair).

From having a number of magic shows in my pile of possibilities I only saw one, picked as I’ve never seen him before though he’s been playing the Fringe for years, Charlie Caper, obviously very popular as he’s in the Liquid Room Warehouse (it’s BIG); mind, that really doesn’t equate to whether I’ll enjoy an act. Reader, I loved it, I liked the vibe from him and he’s so good you can’t help but wonder if it really is magic!

I also hadn’t seen much in the way of absurd theatre, or anything at theSpace@Surgeons Hall (which is unusual for me) both remedied with Don’t Flush Me Yet. Gent goes to the toilet (an enormous one onstage) and poos a large sentient poo. Why? How? Who’s that chasing after the man and his poo? A silly, surreal, madcap, absurd caper, I thoroughly enjoyed it, though probably not for everyone.

One show that appeared on the Half Price Hut list most days was Louise: The Last Dance, I started looking out for it, oh, go on then. Wow, what a fascinating show! A one woman show telling the life story of Louise Weber, more famously known as La Goulue the original cancan girl at the Moulin Rouge (and a muse to Lautrec and Renoir), she led a full life from rags to riches and back again. A great asset to the show was the screening throughout of portraits and photographs of her and the area she lived and worked in; and to cap it all, there’s old film footage from 1928 when, at 62 and destitute living in an old caravan in Montmartre, she danced for a documentary filmmaker. A story worth telling and well told; I do quite like shows on interesting historical characters (you may have noticed).

I have mentioned in the past that compilation comedy shows are not always all they make themselves out to be (especially those with titles beginning “Best of …”). I’m a tad wary these days, but I’ll always get to Stand-up Science at some point, it’s fine, there’s Matt Hobs hosting, Alex Farrow as permanent guest and one more science-nerdy type stand-up, yup, guaranteed laughs and the occasional interesting fact. Did I mention seeing Stand-up Philosophy earlier? Well, I did. The lovely Mr Farrow hosts, two other stand-ups, and some philosophy in the mix.

On the last Sunday night I didn’t stay up late enough for the ACMS Awards but earlier in the evening I did attend The Spookies: Horror Awards, it was mentioned in the Wee Blue Book (PBH’s Free Fringe programme, a must). I’d not heard of it before, ah, just in it’s third year, awards to recognise and support horror theatre, and why not? As a niche, it can get lost in the hugeness of Fringe, I’ll admit I didn’t know most of the nominees but had great fun cheering on those who attended in the hope of winning.

As I said, not a late late night for me, just late enough to end the weekend with a right couple of clowns, that would be the very talented, sublimely funny Dan Lees and Tom Curzon: The Sonic Joy Orchestra. Anything can happen and probably will with these two, but it will be ridiculously, wonderfully silly (honestly, you’d have to have a heart of granite not to warm to the pure joy and playfulness here). A fitting finale for my Free Fringe this year, it really doesn’t get fringier than than this pair.

What could possibly follow that on Monday?! Let’s see, the last day of August, hmm, august, a Thom Tuck double bill! How To Fringe: a chat show with Thom Tuck (for a second time), then a quick snack on the way to Hoots’ other Yurt at the Potterow Underpass for Heartwarming Animal Content (WIP). A most convivial way to finish a Fringe, and so interesting to hear anecdotes about past Fringes that I would never have otherwise heard (fifty pence pieces from a door bucket lined up on a pool table so that folk could play for free, yes! a true gent); and hey, I’ve been fringing for so long I could place each reminiscence within my own fringeframe.

And time to finish this post, methinks, it’s very late and a mouse just ran past me, nope, not caring right now. I’ll think of a title with a fresh head in the morning.

Toodle pip!

Friday night, then the final furlough

bruceonthefringe 2026, Edinburgh Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe 2026, Half Price Hut Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

The end is nigh! Okay, so the final weekend of the Fringe is here (it’s Friday evening just now). So far it seems a tad quieter than final weekends usually start, mind, I reckon this Fringe as a whole has not been as busy as it could be. There’s even been room to move on the Royal Mile!

Tomorrow the wind down starts with plenty of shows finishing up (and a few venues totally close too), of the rest, the vast majority end their Fringe on Sunday (sob!), just a few continue to the bitter end. Huzzah, Thom Tuck has a couple of PWYW shows in Hoots venues on Monday, of course he has! There’s a number of shows I quite fancy catching, so this weekend could be pretty busy, if I can get my act together. Oh, and that’s after another very late night of Bad Santa and the Angry Elves in Bannermans at midnight, then a trot up to Whistlebinkies for the Moanin’ Bones until chucking out time, erm, four, I think?! Oh hey, it’ll be the last late late night of my Fringe, well, for now, unless something turns up, of course.

While there’s shows I’d still like to see, and I’m sure there’ll be a few more spring to mind just as it’s too late, hey, I’ve enjoyed the vast majority of what I have seen, so I won’t dwell on what I’ve missed (a previous bad habit of mine). I say the vast majority, there was one real turkey and a couple just not good, hey ho, you take your chances. Of course, there are those I’m still hoping will appear on the Half Price Hut list, you never know; I have a scan through every morning after ten, just in case.

Top Gunchained has been regularly on the HPH list, definitely worth getting a ticket (five stars from yours truly). A couple more that I’ve seen a few times that I haven’t previously mentioned are Strange Face: Adventures with a Lost Nick Drake Recording… The Story Continues, phew, so many long titles this year! A very interesting show this and, despite it saying continues no knowledge of what the first show contained is necessary, also, liking or even knowing who Nick Drake was is not essential either. It’s show about the effect music can have on folk, about one man setting himself a quest, and how quirky coincidence can be. I enjoyed it – I bought the book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another show that has popped up on the HPH list in the last few days is Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities: A Toy Theater Atlas and no I haven’t spelt Theater wrong, they’re from America. This is a table top production, so yes, it’s small but there is projection and the venue is well tiered, phew. How to explain this show? It’s unique, utterly charming, beautifully detailed; cities, landscapes appear out of boxes and tins, evolve and return again. I know that sounds bizarre, it is! It’s fringe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Before I head out, one more quick mention, I caught it early yesterday evening Vampires of Mississippi a one man show at the Banshee Labyrinth, a fitting venue for a tale of horror and despair. It sure chilled me, didn’t matter the ending was kinda obvious, the telling was really well done and the changes in lighting set the scenes so well. Yup, glad I finally got round to seeing it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Now I really must dash. Toodle pip!

Musings, music and a movie

bruceonthefringe 2026, a rant, Bands, Cinema, Comedy, Edinburgh Fringe 2026 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Yesterday evening I took myself off to the cinema to see Casino, showing as part of a Scorcese season at Cineworld, oh boy, such a brilliant film, so full-on and powerful (and a great soundtrack). Walking back along towards the Grassmarket I was definitely in need of something light and fun, it was very nearly eleven o’clock, so I took a right at Hoots @ the Apex and went to see Beatlesjuice again! Yay! Okay, so Rob’s voice is starting to go a tad from the nightly singing, but for one, it’s fine for Beatlesjuice’s raspy tones, and second, with his exuberant performance it’s kinda endearing (to this moose, anyway).

《Edit Oops, I thought I’d written a review for Beatlesjuice when I saw it last week, nope! Well, it’s so brilliant I went back for more, nuff said ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️》

Afterwards, heading down the Cowgate it occurred to me that it would be possible for someone out Fringing to see Bad Santa and the Angry Elves which finishes at eleven at the Caves, to then walk smartly along to the Apex for Beatlesjuice at ten past. Honestly, ten minutes is enough, and besides the first five minutes is, Hello, has everyone seen Beetlejuice? Does everyone know the Beatles? Even the more obscure tracks? Like the ones by Ringo? And a bit more banter before starting proper. It’s doable, and wow, what a double bill!

Yesterday was one of those Tuesdays, so I headed up Niddry Street to Whistlebinkies and the Scat Rats for a couple of hours, sweet. I’ll be finishing off tonight in there as well, it’s Louis Crosland and whoever he’s rustled up to play bass and drums. Friday midnight sees Louis back in there with the Moanin’ Bones to bring in the weekend, yeah, the English bank holiday weekend and start of the Fringe fizzle down. Actually, a thought occurred to me the other day when yet another person asked how long the Fringe would be going on for, people, it always ends on the English Bank Holiday Monday, well, the few final bits of Fringe finish up. Why not, instead of a fixed ending, fix the start instead? Have it so that 241 Monday in the first full week is on the Scottish Bank Holiday Monday, ergo, more local and Scottish folk generally to come and see more shows and spread the word on what’s good? That way the end will be three sundays after that, no silly sad Monday leftovers. And breathe.

While I’m tapping away here I suppose I might mention a few more shows I’ve seen. It’s been some years since I saw Felicity Ward so I popped along to Cabaret Voltaire for an entertaining hour, and she says at the beginning it may be in the afternoon but some content is well, more for evening after a few cocktails with the girls. She is funny, just not as much my cup of tea anymore, palates change you know (still some howling funny moments for sure). Maybe if I’d had a cocktail on my way in ⭐️⭐️⭐️½

Mind, I was also not long out of God’s Longest, one of the most darkly funny improvised comedy sketch shows I’ve seen. I went twice last year, this year they’re across from last year’s venue, in Supercube Cowgate, it’s one of those creepy karaoke room places (well, I think they’re creepy). Yeah, following that, Ms Ward had her work cut out. Yeah, this is one weird bunch, just hang on and enjoy the ride, oh, they have no clue where they’re headed either but they’ll go there and beyond. It’s part of the PBH’S Free Fringe so no particular prior planning is needed, Cowgate at half two. Yes, it’s ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ again.

If you’ve been paying attention you’ll know I went to see Will & Noah: Dinner Dinner Chicken Winner after chilling in the Park yesterday. Sadly Peregrine were just closing up as I went past, so I didn’t get to have a cake, dammit, but I did make it to George Square Gardens in plenty of time. Will and Noah play off each other well, obviously having fun with the material, then they’d pair up together against some unfortunate audience member, haha. No no, they’re gentle with them, although it was hilarious how an audience member interpreted the sketch he was pulled into; note, I kinda picked up on it at the time so was not as surprised as Will and Noah, but I wasn’t surprised that the sketch had never been taken that way before (nope, I’m going to leave you wondering!). I think they’re trying new areas and pushing their boundaries, and why not, but for me it didn’t always land as well it might. Oh, I did enjoy it aside my niggles, these guys are very funny together and their interactions with the audience are brilliantly played out; the show has won an award, so why not check it out for yourself? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Anyhoo, I’ve been tapping this out through the day, time for Binkies again. More musings tomorrow.

Toodle pip!

If you have metal in your heart…

bruceonthefringe 2026, Christmas, Edinburgh Fringe 2026, Fringe reviews Tags: , , Leave a comment

It’s the start of another weekend, well, Friday night. No, I’m not stopping in, just taking time to write some more, I’m aware that I saw a great show this time last week but never got to mentioning it (at least I did a couple of IG stories). Time to rectify this, before I’m allowed out for any more fun. A warning though, there’s three Santa themed shows in the Cowgate area, I have no idea about the other two, the one I totally recommend to anyone with metal in their hearts is Bad Santa and the Angry Elves, no, I don’t mean people with heart valves, I mean those who love heavy metal, hard rock from the seventies onwards. Oh, it’s on at Just the Tonic in the Caves, at half nine, and not just an hour, this baby’s ninety minutes long, yay!

Oh, other people will have a great time too, but anyone who used to let loose at the local Rock Night back in the day, but then, somehow, life left all that behind, this show is for you! So many rock classics are in there with brilliant parody lyrics telling the story of how Bad Santa was banished from the North Pole (honestly, he’s not bad, just misunderstood) along with his posse of elves; blasts from the past like AC/DC’s Big Balls – three chords in was when my grin went full loon mode, stayed that way the rest of the night!

Bad Santa bares his soul

A wonderfully bonkers concept, yes, but Santa has one helluva band in those elves; all great musicians! You will be up dancing before the end, you won’t be able to help yourself! And there is quite a story to the narrative, the guy was done wrong, Bad Santa pours his heart out to us to make us understand what happened, this guy testifies!

A magnificent show, loved it, and yes, I fully intend to see it again! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Now I must away, Louis’s playing at Binkies in ten minutes. Toodle pip!

I’ve made a start, finally

bruceonthefringe 2026, Edinburgh Fringe 2026, Edinburgh Fringe Programme, Fringe Venues, Music, Musicals and opera Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

I didn’t start at the very beginning, instead I decided that Music was a very good place to start, it’s the dark orange edged segment in the middle of the Edinburgh Fringe 2026 programme. Starting the cutting up possibilities stage is similar to initially figuring out scoring levels watching the Eurovision Song Contest. It would be easy to go silly and cut out every remote possibility, some years I’ve started quite harshly and had to go back through with a less critical eye. There is a balance, and once the Fringe gets under way there’s always going to be shows previously skipped over that bubble up to the surface; I just have to trust my Fringe-dar to point me right.

Of course, The Blueswater are back for just five late night shows at The Jazz Bar, while Nicole Smit and Jed Potts are in there for five midafternoon shows. I notice that two bands playing Stramash are listed, these are appreciation shows for the music of the Allman Brothers and of JJ Cale; yeah, I get why they’re in the programme. Just down the road at The Caves with a full Fringe run is Bad Santa and the Angry Elves, I’m amused and intrigued! It says musical theatre and rock, maybe I’ll wait to see some reviews.

Across the road in Bannermans Fringe stalwarts Attila the Stockbroker and John Otway are reviving a show they did together back in 1991, Cheryl – A Rock Opera (I didn’t see it myself but I can think of a few old acquaintances who I’ll bet did) it’s a PBH’s Free Fringe show, I’d say its a fair possibility I’ll rock up one afternoon. Meanwhile back at The Jazz Bar on drums, guitar and electric trombone (!!) there’s Soundbone plays Led Zep, just two shows, but hey, electric trombone, I’m tempted.

I’ve cut it out, I love the name, Dancing Mice – The Truth are playing in the sweatbox that is Leith Depot. See, that’s a lesser possibility but worth cutting out, the blurb says “irresistibly weird pop, crooked grooves….full of joy”, further investigation required. Trotting back up Leith Walk to Valvona & Crolla, incredible year round Deli and each August a Fringe music venue, has Sekoya (Carl’s incredibly talented backing band) for two shows at the end of the Fringe.

Next section in the programme is Musicals and opera, it’s a short one, just two caught my eye long enough to warrant the scissors. The Bloody Ballad of Bette Davis, ha, love the title, it’s down as physical theatre and horror, it’s at Assembly Roxy, usually a good bet and it’s a full Fringe run, nice. Lastly, labeled as dark comedy and hilariously bleak is The Spy Who Came in From the Park, I liked the picture, my Fringe-dar says yay.

Of course, these are all just possibilities, but hey, not a ridiculous number. Next time, a flick through three more categories. You know, I think I’m starting to feel that Fringe buzz 😊

Toodle pip!