Just The Tonic Archives - North West End UK

Kai Humphries: Gallivanting – Just the Tonic Nucleus

15Aug

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

Kai Humphries: Gallivanting – Just the Tonic Nucleus

Isn’t it a joy, after a busy day at the Edinburgh Fringe, to be treated to effortless entertainment as a sparkling, inventive mind takes you gallivanting? That’s you, Kai Humphries. And thank you. Kai Humphries writes his own material and once got grilled by border security in a foreign land where writers (i.e. journalists) were not welcome. They didn’t understand the word “joke” and soon decided he wasn’t worth their time. He is definitely worth your time. He’s a funny writer and tells a good story. I loved his opening where he explored different cultural ways of greeting one another and his existential response to “What’s happening?” He had the audience in the palm of his hand right from the moment he introduced himself off-stage. A Geordie, Humphries exploits both his...

Sleeping With The Yemeni: Mike Eshaq – Just The Tonic Legends

10Aug

By Wendy McEwanNo Comments

Scotland

Sleeping With The Yemeni: Mike Eshaq – Just The Tonic Legends

Mike Eshaq is an American Muslim on Yemeni descent, who has served in the US marines and loves bacon. In other words, he has plenty to talk about. He comes from Detroit, which used to be America’s murder capital. But the city has been colonised by hipsters and now, even Eshaq’s old friends use words like “delectable”. It is Eshaq’s first time in Scotland, and apparently we are hard to understand. In particular, Eshaq’s GPS does not like the Old Town. “Have you ever found a show.. and then found that you were above the show?” That’s my pet peeve about Edinburgh (my home city) too! Eshaq travels extensively, doing shows in all sorts of exotic locations - but the weirdest is Oklahoma. He is keen to learn about Scotland and what makes us tick. One joke falls flat due to the cultural ...

Craig Hill: I’ve Been Sitting on This For a While – Just The Tonic Nucleus

9Aug

By Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments

Scotland

Craig Hill: I’ve Been Sitting on This For a While – Just The Tonic Nucleus

This wis sae, sae funny! Seriously. It wis hilarious. I wasnae sure tae begin wi’. I thought it might be humour at others’ expense, but nah, nah, ye ken, it wis pure dead magic. Unlike my current attempt at a Scottish accent. I cannae dae it, hailing frae Essex, as I do. But Craig Hill can. He can take whatever the audience offers and make a comedic feast from the smallest offering. He can mimic accents and tonality with ease and create a personalised skit based on you alone. For some it is thrilling, for others maybe not so much, but this man knows his stuff and he’s not about to crucify anyone who’s not up for it. He’s got discernment. That’s what happens when you’ve garnered 25 years of Edinburgh Fringe shows under your belt and you’ve been blessed with a quick wit. He’s never...

Film Club: An improvised Comedy – Just the Tonic, The Caves

11Aug

By Ben PearsonNo Comments

Scotland

Film Club: An improvised Comedy – Just the Tonic, The Caves

There is such an abundance of improvised comedy at the Edinburgh Fringe, that a performance must be truly excellent in order to stand out. Sadly, Film Club didn’t reach that level on this occasion. It began promisingly, as the audience were asked to shout out a film they loved as a child, a film they saw too young, and a film that moved them. One brave audience member volunteered to use their film choices. I can’t remember exactly what these were, but we ended up with a general theme of thriller time-travel, which seemed promising. All in all, the selection process took maybe five to ten minutes, which was a bit longer than most of the other improv I’ve seen, but by no means killed the energy of the audience and performers. The improvised skits were ultimately hit and miss. Whilst i...

The Coil’s Lament – Just the Tonic, The Mash House

9Aug

By Amy HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

The Coil’s Lament – Just the Tonic, The Mash House

Irish comedian Siomha Hennessy combines storytelling and song in this fast-paced comedy show. This felt like a classic re-telling of womanhood through the lens of Hennessy’s personal experience. However, the familiar subjects of dating, mental health and family dynamic were elevated by Hennessy’s high-quality writing and energetic performance. Also, moments of witty originality, such as the musical number where she impersonated her IUD, were a refreshing surprise. Hennessy also smashed her musical numbers. Her voice was impressive and again the writing was well-done. Comments shared between herself and the on-stage keyboard player added further humour to these musical moments. Also, the way she wrote the keyboard players silent on-stage presence into a few of her jokes was clever an...

Better Days – Just The Tonic at La Belle Angele

5Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

Better Days – Just The Tonic at La Belle Angele

A small tired-looking man pushes a brightly coloured piano down the street. A giant with the mean-eyed look of a pro linebacker dressed all in white with enormous fluffy angle wings negotiates his way carefully past a bus stop. It’s raining. Fish and chip from a posh van costs £15 and a small cup of watery cider £8. Yes folks its Fringe time again in Edinburgh. And kicking it off (for me) is this hedonistic fever dream lyric poem of the early nineties. This is Dylan Thomas, meets Trainspotting set in The Hacienda. Where ‘Better Days’ is actually set is a subterranean nightclub in the depths of Edinburgh’s Cowgate, at the slightly odd showtime of 13:30. It’s an interesting venue, maze-like and vast. Note to self to come back at 01.30! Ben Tagoe’s poetic story introduces us to Danny...

Gaslighting is my Love Language – Just The Tonic at The Grassmarket Centre

4Aug

By Ben PearsonNo Comments

Scotland

Gaslighting is my Love Language – Just The Tonic at The Grassmarket Centre

Fielding Edlow’s Gaslighting is my Love Language is a brutally honest, unapologetically explicit, and immensely entertaining hour of comedy. The premise is simple; Edlow has recently divorced her husband of thirteen years and wants to share her new perspective on the marriage with the audience. What results is akin to a farcical therapy session, where the audience plays the role of the therapist. While they don’t often get involved, with one notable exception you’ll have to discover for yourself, Edlow regales them with the ups and downs of the marriage, pinpointing exactly where it all went wrong. Spoiler alert, it was when they first met. While most comedians bring in elements of truth to their performances, Edlow takes it to a whole new level. She makes a point of informing the audie...