Hey, the first Monday of the Fringe, I took myself into Holyrood Park this morning, up along Moose Ridge, on to the Nether Hill and down the steps, such a beautiful day for it! Nicely warm with a balmy breeze, and it’s set to get warmer this week, sweet. Here’s hoping Fringe venues have good air-conditioning or at least plenty of ventilation. Fringe Tip: say yes to a sturdy flyer for use as a fan. Oo, also beware of having a large lunch – a warm, dark room, smooth, relaxing tones, nodding off is deceptively easy (so make that a two shot coffee).

Anyhoo, six of what, who’s best, huh? Or have I been a very naughty moose?! And why plus one? As Fringe starts go, this has been brilliant for me, and, well, I don’t reckon (though I would love to be wrong about this) I’ll see anything that will knock these shows down my list of favourites. Okay, so I have two coming up this week that will definitely be joining them (oo, then one more will complete my top ten), but these are Fringe gems to this moose.

First off, proving my Fringe-dar is working fine, A Foot is Not an Appropriate Prize for the Tombola was delightful romp that starts when a dismembered foot is discovered in the tombola stall at the village fete. Lydia is determined to get to the bottom of it, despite being told to leave well alone by the local policeman, things soon escalate in unexpected ways! The audience participate a lot in this, but hey, tombola prize for all those do! I was at the second preview, still a bit shaky and Lydia (Daniel McVey) did refer to the script, ahem, the fete schedule a fair bit, but for me it all added to the hilarity; McVey was brilliant, he’s created a true piece of Fringe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Crimes of Pete had me grinning from the start, authors being hauled off by the state (black comedy, btw), the purgatory of each other’s company and the reason Pete was taken; dark, sharp humour all round. Then a chink of hope appears for Pete from an unlikely ally, but what about his cellmates? Another hour of pacy writing and great performances from Tinned Laughter; definitely worth seeing, Shepherd-Cross is in danger of becoming a Fringe institution! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So good to have Tom Neenan back at the Fringe, it’s been awhile. The last time was in 2018 with It’s Always Infinity still sitting high in my Hall of Fringe Favourites! Since then Neenan has taken up painting, there’s regularly new portraits on his Instagram, so the topic of this year’s show isn’t too surprising, Tom Neenan: Portrait of a Tom as a Young Neenan with a self-portrait as the publicity shot. I could listen to him for well more than an hour, an amusing wit, he moved almost seamlessly between his two narratives, never losing his audience, a thoroughly lovely show ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

Hudson Hughes: At Your Service is a completely different kettle of kippers, a wickedly funny show, silly with a big dollop of horror. Of course, there was going to be plenty of props and animatronics (and Aidan Pittman turning up on video), did it matter that there were technical difficulties? Nope, for one, it was second preview so it’s allowed, almost inevitable, and second, watching Hughes keeping his composure and artfully keeping everything on track was an extra layer of hilarity, he done good! It’s a very silly, full-on hour of ridiculous. Totally Fringe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

I’ve never cared for the film Top Gun, never particularly liked Tom Cruise, but as Top Gunchained is by the guy behind Yippee Ki Yay, oh yeah; and he’s back in the Wine Bar at Gilded Balloon Teviot, one room that looks pretty much as it did. Richard Marsh has created another great double narrative, the (unauthorised) retelling of a film, and healing familial issues. There’s plenty of effects and props, audience participation (all good fun), big laughs and heartfelt moments, and all done in verse. Most excellent ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another unauthorised retelling, another very long title, Goodbye Horses: An Unauthorised Solo Retelling of The Silence of the Lambs. Ye gods, this was intense! Michael Kinnan‘s portrayals of Starling and Lechter are brilliant, but especially the sense of Lechter’s dark calculating humour. The atmosphere created was so creepy, so tense; it’s been a while since I saw the film, parts only coming back to me as it unfolded, but I wonder what it would be like to see this without ever seeing the film (or read the book). Oh, and you might need to go have a drink afterwards, a nice chianti, perhaps? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Last one, but definitely not least. I knew this would be good, the new play by the Voloz Collective (another long title), REDACTED: The Cover-up of a Cover-up of a Cover-up everything about it is a sheer delight, not least the incredible synchronicity between the actors, physical theatre surely doesn’t get any better than this?! An action-packed comedy thriller, with an elegance and style like some classic Hollywood movie, especially with the accompanying live music. Magnifique! Possibly the best thing I’ll see this Fringe! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (⭐️)

Really, I don’t know how the rest of my Fringe can measure up to a start like that. Anyhoo, my bed is calling. G’night!