Edinburgh! Sunshine and No Rainy Day!
What’s going on with the weather? A whole week now and barely a spot of rain! I’ve not packed well for this situation at all. My galoshes, ponchos, kagools and Wellies are still in my suitcase. I’ll have to hit the shops on my day off and stock up on funky summer wear so watch out Edinburgh as I’ll not shy away from shorts and a singlet!
This has to be the busiest first weekend of the Edinburgh festival ever. The city is chock full of happy people gleefully running around and seeing shows. I’ve not been able to get a ticket to see any of my favourite comics as they’re all selling out! Good news for the festival. Let’s hope it lasts till September.
I’ve been rushed off my feet this year as aside from my regular show I’m doing a full on period drama with big wigs, swinging canes and plenty of double entendres. The show is an 18th century ‘Comedy of Manners’ called School for Scandal and with a cast of ten comedians and comic actors, directed by the fabulous Cal McCrystal, all tripping over each another and generally behaving in a very silly manner. I will have to do everything in my power to steal all the scenes that I am in.
We’ve got Marcus Brigstocke as the affable drunk, Phil Nichol as the manic schemer, I’m camper than Christmas playing a character called Sir Benjamin Backbite, the nephew of Sir Crabtree played by Paul Foot and we’ve even got Lionel Blair to play the lord of the manor. My favourite at the moment is the larger than life Mrs Candour, played to great effect by Ela Kenion. Sometimes the off-stage antics equal the laughs in the play and Lionel Blair is constantly regaling us with tails of old in his showbiz heyday and tap dancing to the bar after the curtain comes down.
Never ever did I think in my life that I would be on stage with Mr Blair, him telling me stories of working in Vegas with Sammy Davis Jnr.
As usual the venues up here are hot hot hot, I’m staying on the top floor of a lovely flat that is up 9 flights of stairs, and the cobbles/hills get me every single time. I am sure I have already lost 2stone. Looking on the bright side, it does mean my slight beer induced belly has disappeared.
Next week, when all shows are up and running, I will take my pen, go through the guide and decide what other shows I am going to see. For some reason, I am drawn to musical theatre. It’s probably because popstars Omar and Anthony Costa from Blue are also in town appearing in different shows.
With 7 nights sell out at the start, I am looking forward to a good run at the fringe which will set me up for the tour which starts mid October and goes all over the UK, ending in February at the Hammersmith Apollo in London.
So, if all goes to plan, I’ll be 5 stonelighter, but with strong calves and my liver transplant would have taken place by early next year!