Nick Hennegan's Bohemian Britain
Lifestyle tales from the city
Edinburgh at 3pm @edfringe. And FOUR of the last five at the end of today’s Edinburgh Literary Pub Crawl are from BIRMINGHAM – Britains Second City! (Well, B’ham Alabama in one case. But THREE from Kings Heath!) What is the chance of that, bab…!
Join us every day at 3pm. you don’t need to be a Brummy!
Rating: 🛟 🛟 🛟 🛟 Four lifebelts out of five!
Alice Fishbein. Gilded Baloon. Patter House – Dram. 22.00 (60 mins) Until 15th August. TICKETS HERE.
Who doesn’t remember the film Titanic, James Cameron’s 1997 epic. Alice Fishbein’s self-penned Titanic-themed parody, Leo Still Dies in the End, sails into the biggest open Arts Festival in the world like a rogue champagne cork. This is a show that knows exactly how ridiculous it is — and absolutely revels in it.
A self-professed Titanic obsessive since the age of six, Alice spends the hour poking fun at what, in retrospect, was perhaps fairly cringe-worthy dialogue and somewhat unbelievable plot twists from the 1997 epic. (There may indeed be reasons why Titanic didn’t get an Oscar nomination for best screenplay…)
Fishbein plays… well, everyone. One minute she’s Jack, the windswept dreamer sketching his “French girls” on a budget sketchpad from Poundland; the next she’s both young and old versions of Rose, a fiery socialite whose corset is held together with cable ties. In fact we are promised that she is willing to portray ALL of the 2200 passengers aboard the original sailing!
Adding a delightful streak of unpredictability, each performance is shaped by her onstage “Wheel of Fortune,” a gaudy, spinning contraption that determines key plot twists, alternate endings, and occasional absurd intrusions. Although on the night I went, it was apparently playing up. Not that it really mattered! The glorious result is that no two nights are ever the same — and the cast of characters in Fishbein’s head never get too comfortable.
Fishbein’s sheer enthusiasm, hard work, and energy carries this fast-paced show, cleverly directed by Ryan Lind. Her writing is sharp and daft in equal measure, peppered with references that leap from James Cameron’s 1997 weepie, to pop culture oddities, including a cameo from Celine Dion’s disembodied voice. Her American roots give the performance an effervescent, almost Broadway-style gloss. With the use of some hilarious props, including her 7th grade (?) gym medal (which doubles as the famous ‘heart of the ocean’), we are taken on a whirlwind tour of this iconic film.
It’s also commendable that she’s not afraid to slip in a sly comment about class divide, both on the ship and in our own times, without it feeling heavy-handed. If there’s a tiny niggle, some gags run just a beat too long, and the final sentimental turn, though sweet, feels almost at odds with the preceding absurdity. Having said that, I personally loved it and of course, by then, Fishbein has already won us all over!
And I speak as someone who nearly had Leo – yes, THE Leo, performing in one of my plays in a Pub in Birmingham, England until Titanic became the huge hit it became… and turned him into a suddenly unobtainable commodity!
So it was an especially emotional night for me…!
But for everyone else, Leo Still Dies in the End is like a drunken history teacher recounting the Titanic disaster while acting out every role in a one-woman panto. Bonkers, charming, and brimming with affection for its source material — even if, yes, Leo still dies in the end.
This show will go on…!
Brilliant. Brutal. Beautiful.
🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 – 5 out of 5 glasses of fine wine! (Or what ever YOU think it should be! Stars? 5 stars then. Love them! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️)
Blind Faith Theatre. Edinburgh Fringe. Gilded Balloon Patter House – Doonstairs. 20:30 (60 mins) 30 July – 24 August (not 11, 19) Tickets here.
Kylie Westerbeck and David Calvitto. Photo: Cameron Soeparto
The shame and the shock of the ‘Me Too’ movement, quite rightly provoked a plethora of plays aiming to explore, explain and expose its true legacy of control. And initially, with its young attractive female on a bare stage and a suave, businesslike, besuited middle-aged man greeting us in the auditorium, I was expecting a perhaps traditional tale of male control and abuse. And I am also aware that I am a male of a certain age too.
But cleverly, this piece, devised by Melanie Stewart, who directs, John Clancy who wrote the text and Kylie Westerbeck who performs, adds much more to the whole debate of control, power and choice.
We, the audience, are part of the action. As we are greeted in the auditorium by the pleasant gentleman, it appears we are part of the team choosing… the what? The actor? It begins like a traditional actors audition, although the pleasant gentleman seems to almost know us and often refers to us in the process of his control. Are we there to help him with the process?
We soon discover a much less linear story.
It’s very clever and even occasionally becomes playful. And the two performers are masterful. David Calvitto gives us a master of ceremonies that brilliantly finds the right balance between control and trust. At the beginning, he is a monster, but Calvitto has the skill to create a monster that is not that obviously easy to hate. He’s not an EVIL monster. Just doing what he obviously thinks has to be done to this poor woman. The status quo? He treads a very delicate and nuanced line, particularly as the play develops. Which almost makes the situation worse!
And Kylie Westerbeck as the woman is nothing less than mesmerising. Her tour de force performance begins with a manic energy that perfectly physically conveys how desperately she wants to conform – and get ‘it’ right, even though the ‘it’ is constantly changing. And becomes evermore exhausting. She is so desperate and accepting of the ‘male gaze’ that it almost tips the balance of sympathy for her, which is another reason why this is such a cleverly challenging, but completely entertaining piece.
It’s technically clever too. Costume design is by Stephanie Nichols and is subtly spot-on – lavish but not distracting. There is also some very effective lighting (often difficult in a fringe show) and some snap-sharp cues.
And perhaps most cleverly of all, without too much of a spoiler, as the dynamic changes towards the end of the show, we perhaps, male and female, become aware, through the eyes and experiences of this woman, how we ALL want to be liked: we ALL want to do the right thing and make the right choices… and how we ALL… See You Watching!
A must see!
My second day off.. which as I mentioned yesterday feels a bit weird, ‘cause you don’t normally do that at the fringe… but having the extra headspace, it became weirdly emotional. It kind of occurred to me that for many years I’ve spent 1/12 of every year in Edinburgh. And in various places… but for the last maybe 10 years I was with Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe marketing folk, just off Holyrood and the Royal Mile. This year things have changed and I’m on the other side of town. So it was odd, given the pressures of presenting anything at the Fringe, to feel like I was ‘missing home’.
So I went down my old manor – the Royal Mile. As soon as I walked in to both the Waverley and the Tollgate Tavern Pubs, behind the bar they said. “Ah you’re back! Nice to see you again.” I kinda love the fact I was a regular, even if for only one month of the year! I even got a free beer at the one Pub as a thank you for our Lit Pub Crawl beer mats!
I’ve only ever been to Edinburgh for the Fringe (apart from one time when I opened a Superstore for a London Ad Agency! AND of course, last Christmas when the ‘A Christmas Carol’ I adapted and directed, performed by the brilliant Guy Masterson, was at Assembly Roxy over the festive period) And so, it was strangely emotional, particularity because some of the locals remembered me. Not Fringe folk, but local Edinburgh folk. It felt like Iwas being welcomed home. Only for a month of the year, but nice to see you back.
And how lovely is that?
Join us for the Edinburgh (NOT London!) Literary Pub Crawl every day at 3pm – Pleasance Dome! http://bit.ly/4knveha
#pub #edfrnge #edinburgh @edfringe @edfringeliterarypubcrawl @thepleasance #literature
Yep. Come see us!
Join us for the Edinburgh (NOT London!) Literary Pub Crawl every day at 3pm – Pleasance Dome! http://bit.ly/4knveha #pub #edfrnge #edinburgh @edfringe @edfringeliterarypubcrawl @thepleasance #literature
The Day The Winds Came!
Storm Floris took centre stage at the Edinburgh Festival today. it was an odd experience – made even more weird because I didn’t have a show today! More about that in a moment. And if I had, as a largely outdoor show (walking between pubs!) we would probably have had to cancel!
There’s an old showbiz adage about how the show must go on. But not if your audience might get hurt by flying debris! So early last night, with news of the oncoming storm, the major venues began announcing the performances and venues that would be closing today. Even the frenetic and fabulous Pleasance Courtyard announced it would close in the day opening again at 7:30 pm tonight as the winds abated.
It’s very odd for me though, because most Fringe performers, if they are dong the whole festival, as I am, will usually only take one day off in the month – usually the middle Monday. But because I’m feeling old (and, tbh, I have more media duties this year) I decided this time to commit almost Fringe heresy and have EVERY Monday and Tuesday off! This Monday, it’s already made a difference. I’ve got a lot sorted in my room despite The Almost Constant Slamming Doors Of Nick’s Student Digs. (See Day 1 Mini Blog!) And oh, by the way, I bought earplugs yesterday, for last night. It seems to be working even though they are uncomfortable and I was actually woken by the violent VIBRATION of a closing door last night!
But I’m out now and I’m sitting in the pub just around the corner from the digs, The Abbey, looking at literally hundreds of bottles of Whisky as I write this! Apparently it has over 700 different whiskies! Fortunately for my liver, kidneys and wallet, I’m not really a shorts drinker, but every time I look at the bottles I cannot help think of my good friends John Slater, Guy Masterson and in an earlier life, Brian Norton, who enjoy a quality dram! I’m quite missing them at the moment – all but Brian are in Edinburgh – and I’ve had all day on my own, but if often happens if you’re creating things, so I can’t moan.
So another day off tomorrow but I’m going to have to get some serious Marketing done. Need to move a few more tickets just to pay the rent! Budgets later!
Cheers!
Join us every afternoon (but not Monday or Tuesday!!) at 3pm in the Pleasance Dome! http://bit.ly/4knveha
I’d forgotten quite how frantic, phonetic… yet fantastic the Edinburgh Fringe is. It’s the biggest open arts festival in the world – and I’m at it!
I also aware that I’m no longer a kid but an older man. It manifests itself in energy at the moment, although it’s still early days and I am still getting into the swing of things. And I’m kinda in the front line, presenting the show, rather than sitting in the dark as the director with actors.
But we had another brilliant Edinburgh (NOT London!) Literary Pub Crawl today again, with people from all around the world; the USA, Canada, Switzerland, Germany oh… and Scotland! I end up in the final pub talking with a chap who works for the home office and his girlfriend, who works for the University of Edinburgh. We leave at 7 o’clock, some hours after the official tour finishes! It takes me awhile to remember where I live! It’s not big and it’s not clever, but such is the life of a writer and presenter of a Literary Pub Crawl. Another 10 out of 10!
Cheers!
Join us every afternoon at 3pm in the Pleasance Dome! http://bit.ly/4knveha
Edinburgh Fringe, 2025. Mini Blog, Day One.
Although it’s officially day one of the Fringe, I actually arrived four days ago ago, so it’s not really for me.
It’s a fact that more shows have opened in this little corner of the world than any other city in the world, although it still feels a little bit quiet.
I’ve now done the second of our new Edinburgh (not London) Literary Pub Crawl and again I’m struck by how lovely it is meeting the people who come on The Crawl. They like literature and they like a drink. What’s not to like about that!
My digs are proving a bit difficult. I’m sharing a purpose built student accommodation block with 10 other people, all who have very noisy closing doors. (I do too, but over the years I’ve got used to closing them, rather than letting the door springs do their work! The door to the communal kitchen has a sensor on it and if it’s open for more than 60 seconds it sets off an alarm. Fire prevention gone mad! (Although I guess I’d be grateful for if something really did go wrong.)
I’ve got my press pass and Industry passes today as well. At the moment I’m just concentrating on getting our show done but I’m very very keen to share the work of other artists in Edinburgh.
I actually went to the Assembly Club Bar, which is pass access only – so becomes like a private members club – after a certain time. It’s where I’ve been going during my contemporary years of the Edinburgh Fringe and where most of the people I know hang out and where I met them.
Tonight is a bit quiet, but I did bump into the brilliant David Calvitto – an actor who has a show up here which I’ll tell you more about later – and Paul Levy, the brilliant man who set up Fringe Review website – he’s from Brighton. And the two of us ended up going to Tesco’s to buy some supplies and although I’ve not met any of my other 10 flatmates, I’m going to take the plunge and put some frozen stuff in the fridge. Them’s the brakes aren’t they. So glamorous! Rock ’n’ roll.
The Charles Dickens Edinburgh (NOT London!) Literary Pub Crawl has started brilliantly with Crawlers from the USA 🇺🇸 Germany 🇩🇪 Canada 🇨🇦 Switzerland 🇨🇭 oh yes… and Scotland! 🏴 Join us every day from 3pm. @thepleasance @edfringe
