Friends at The Fringe

Hi folks

Regular readers (greetings!) may remember that I love the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and that I try to get through at least once during August to see some of the mayhem that goes on there. Well, this year is going to be no different and I'm going to be going in Edinburgh for a few days - something I am very much looking forward to.

However, before August arrives there is the now annual search of the Edinburgh Fringe programme to find what shows I would like to see. As always there are the shows done by those I have heard of or seen on TV, the shows done by those that I've never heard of and then there are the shows by the people I know. These are the ones that I'd like to point you in the direction of just now.

Before I get into the shows and the descriptions, the links that you will see as the show's title takes you directly to that show's particular page on the Edinburgh Fringe website where you can book tickets for each show.

The first is "Ali Cook - A Touch Of Vegas" at the Gilded Balloon Teviot (13 Bistro Square - 0131 668 1633). This is Ali's first show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Here's what the Fringe programme has to say about the show:-
Award winning magician, Ali Cook Live! Star of Channel 4’s "Dirty Tricks" and Five’s "Monkey Magic". "Immensely Funny" (Daily Telegraph). "Entertains with wit, skill and intelligence" (Evening Standard).
Preview: Jul 30-Aug 2: 21:15 (1hr) £5.00
Aug 3-7,12-14,18-21,25: 21:15 (1hr) £9.00 (£8.00)
Aug 8-10, 15-17,22-24: 21:15 (1hr) £10.00 (£9.00)

Next up comes Ian Kendall's "The Golden Age of Magic" (www.goldenageofmagic.com) which will be at The Zoo (140 The Pleasance – 0131 662 6892). I'm not allowed to tell you how long Ian has been performing at the Fringe for (apparently it is covered by the Official Secrets Act!), but I can tell you what it says in the Fringe programme:-
Ian Kendall returns with a brand-new magic show. Be astonished by classic effects and stories from a time before camera tricks and creative editing took away the wonder. Sell-out show 2006 and 2007.
Aug 1-16: 21:00 (1hr) £8.00

After Ian finishes his run, Magic To Get Girls By with Kevin McMahon and Alan Hudson will be entering the fray at The Zoo (140 The Pleasance – 0131 662 6892). Here's what the Fringe programme says about the show, which sounds like a lot of fun.
Magician geeks Kevin and Alan try, but ultimately fail, to impress the ladies with magic. Magic is cool, and there’s nothing sexier than a card trick. “Funny and, at the same time, baffling.” (Paul Daniels)
Aug 17-25: 21:00 (1hr) £8.00 (£7.00)

And last, but in no means least, is The Expert At The Card Table by Guy Hollingworth, being performed at Assembly @ George Street (Assembly Rooms, 54 George Street – 0131 623 3030). I wrote about this show after seeing it at last year's International Magic Convention in London (you can find what I said in the paragraph under the last of the pictures of the Apollo space capsule). Here's what the Fringe programme says:-
Contains deception, betrayal and cheating at cards. Renowned conjurer Guy Hollingworth performs dazzling exhibitions of card chicanery and incomparable legerdemain whist unravelling the mystery of its enigmatic author. “Extraordinary talent! I love this show!” (David Blaine)
Preview: Jul 31-Aug 2: 15:35 (1hr) £5.00
Aug 3,5-7,12-14,19-20,25: 15:35 (1hr) £11.00 (£10.00)
Aug 8-10,15-17,21-24: 15:35 (1hr) £12.00 (£11.00)

Some excellent performers doing what I am certain will be excellent shows. Sure, there are a bunch of other magicians on at the Fringe (and don't forget the Street Performers!) but I wanted to make a point of highlighting these shows in particular.

Whether you go to any of these shows or not, if you can get to Edinburgh in August, go! You won't regret it - even if it's raining!

Speak soon.

The Cardman :-)