Doing that Fringe Thing!

Ever have so much fun on a summer vacation that you just didn't want to get back on the plane to leave?   I had heard that The Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland was wild but I had no idea just how wild it could be.

I hooked up with my friend JJ in Glasgow and we made our way to Edinburgh.  Immediately we became immersed in the scene: young, interesting creative people from all over the world descend on this ancient city for the month of August and celebrate their strangeness.  I've been looking for something like this my entire life! 

Check out the official website: http://www.edfringe.com/

There are 5,000 sanctioned events going on - and countless others, including street performers and pub gigs.  There's something happening every day from 10AM to 2AM. 

Picture this: JJ and I enjoying a brew at a sidewalk cafe.  It's almost 4PM and we decide to see what's happening.  We comb through the daily festival guide and find comedy, jazz, theatre and more at 4PM.  Then more at 4:10, 4:15, and so on - all night long!  There are 300 events - every day. But it's hard to concentrate on the guide when there is a soft parade of weirdness in the street in front of us.  In addition to the myriad of street performers there are performers roaming the streets in costume trying to drum up buzz for their shows.  Five guys in big boxes singing come running down the street, straight into a group of girls in tights dancing past a Saddam impersonator. 

Now you might think this kind of bizarre scene might descend into drunken uglyness but that didn't happen.  Families and funlovers of all ages roamed freely with the freaks and everyone scored a good time.  Cap off the evening with a gigantic fireworks display over the city's castle on the hill then get up and do it all again - for an entire month!

One night we hit a great comedy act, then found ourselves in a cool basement jazz club (like a scene out of a movie) followed that with a stop at a sing-a-long pub for a few pints then into the street for the fireworks display.   This city knows how to have a good time!  And it was cheap - of the ten events I attended, nothing cost more that five or six pounds (around ten bucks.)  

Here are my Picks of The Fest (limited, since I only saw 10 of the 5,000 acts.)

Best Comedy: Rob Rouse.        Hilarious!

Best Theatre: IZ.   Three guys discuss the woman they all dated - at her funeral.  Moving and thought-provoking.

Best in Show: A Smile Fell in the Grass.  Five beautiful women dance in a fishtank and pine for happiness.  Incredible imagery coupled with great acting makes this one really memorable.  Plus they covered themselves in flour.  Don't miss it.

Turd On A Plate: Macferson's Lament.  This was the only loser of the bunch. The guy takes the stage, looks out and say's "Oh my, a fly."  That's the funniest thing he said all performance.  It was supposed to last 40 minutes but 25 minutes into the act, I'm counting the ceiling tiles.  Thankfully, the ticket stub indicated 'Anyone Disrupting The Show May Be Asked To Leave.'  After Macferson lost his place in his rehearsed humorless monologue for the third time I stood up, indicated the ticket disclaimer and demanded it to be enforced. 

Most Innovative: The Giant Pineapple Boys.  We bought tickets to this comedy act only to learn it all takes place in an elevator in a field.  After this show, a crowded elevator will never be the same!