Underbelly Archives - North West End UK

DIVA: Live From Hell – Underbelly, Cowgate

24Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

DIVA: Live From Hell – Underbelly, Cowgate

Luke Bayer. Remember the name. If you combine the tongue-flicking rubber faced brilliance of a young Jim Carey, the bottom-burp comedic appeal of Rick Mayall, and the sharpness of super-smart baby Stewie of Family Guy, well…. You might just about have the voice, but nowhere near the energy of the nuclear-powered, AI-chipped, water-slurping machine that is Luke Bayer. Probably best known for his work in the original West End cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, or for appearing on X Factor in 2007, making it through to Dannie Minogue’s judges houses, but at 15 too young to go any further. Now is his time. And this IS the show. What a voice. Or should I say four voices to be exact. Here’s your character list; Desmond Channing (voice see above) The DIVA himself. Writ...

I Wish you Well: Gwyneth Paltrow Ski Trial Musical – Underbelly, George Square

24Aug

By Michelle KnightNo Comments

Scotland

I Wish you Well: Gwyneth Paltrow Ski Trial Musical – Underbelly, George Square

A camp parody of amusement based on the infamous 2023 ski trial of Gwyneth vs Terry. “Nothing ever happens in a court in Utah” then Gwyneth comes to town, and that is when the fun starts. With a cast of 4 this fast-paced musical picks at the not so subtle evidence in court where Terry is suing Gwyneth for a brain injury sustained in the accident. Gwyneth is suing Terry for $1 for the inconvenience of it all, she is not happy. From the outset the scene is set, staged in court and it is not long before each character bursts onto the scene with their individuality, and musical style. The story lines flow seamlessly, the musicality is on point, and all mixed in with a cabaret choreographic style that Judge Jude, Idnss Kargbo showcases perfectly. He leaves not...

Foil Arms and Hog: Skittish – Underbelly, Bristo Square

23Aug

By Saira KunjuvalappilNo Comments

Scotland

Foil Arms and Hog: Skittish – Underbelly, Bristo Square

Foil Arms and Hog's "Skittish" was nothing short of spectacular—a brilliant fusion of music and comedy that had the entire audience in stitches from start to finish. The show was a full house, and it’s easy to see why. It’s hard to say whether their musical talent or comedic timing stood out more because both were equally hilarious and perfectly executed. The performance was structured as a series of interactive comedy skits, each more entertaining than the last. The audience was continuously engaged, unable to stop laughing as each skit delivered something fresh and unexpected. One of the highlights was an Irish comedy song that had everyone clapping along to the infectious tunes, blending humor and music effortlessly. One particularly memorable skit involved a comedic take on o...

Colin Cloud: Consequences – Underbelly, Bristo Square

19Aug

By Susan CohenNo Comments

Scotland

Colin Cloud: Consequences – Underbelly, Bristo Square

Colin Cloud's return to the fringe is something to be celebrated, nay, something to be shouted about. HURRAY! The America's Got Talent Las Vegas hotshot appears in what feels like a gothic setting in the McEwan Hall, the perfect venue for his performance which goes l-a-r-g-e and roves around the audience. Since I last saw Colin (yes, I feel as if I know him from way back when the family and I first saw him on stage) he seems to have become more - more steampunk, more fearless. Och, just more. I'm very aware that there are probably those who don't believe in Colin's mentalist powers. Are these audience members planted? How could he possibly know this? How could he possibly know that? Well, I'm here to tell you that several years ago,...

15Aug

By Gill LewisNo Comments

Scotland

Out of Woodstock – Underbelly, Cowgate

Follow a young man’s descent into one of the worst festival disasters in recent history. Its legacy is rooted in an unleashing of Millennial anger. Baby Boomers enjoyed the summer of love, with Woodstock 69, united in their quest for peace and harmony. Thirty years later the attempt to recreate this significant cultural event, with Woodstock ’99, brought about overpriced beer, boobs, and misogyny. This play intrigues, based on real life events during the infamous music festival which ended in carnage and controversy. Poor organisation and dollar hungry management created a ticking timebomb as revelers exploded in the accumulation of sweltering unbearable heat, poor sanitation, serious sexual assaults, looting and several deaths. Written and directed by Tom Foreman,...

15Aug

By Gill LewisNo Comments

Scotland

Bills 44th – Underbelly, Cowgate

Mr Bean meets Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared in this heartwarming Tragi – comedy, an existential tale of being alone, but never lonely. Have you ever been to a party where there’s more balloons than people? No? Then you’ve never spent a birthday with Bill, who’s getting his modest flat ready to celebrate his 44th birthday. Puppeteering duo Dorothy James and Andy Manjuck in association with Underbelly deliver a thoroughly entertaining piece of laugh out loud storytelling. Working in unison, James and Manjuck’s seamless, skillful control of Bill, creates a range of funny identifiable mannerisms and reactions, which add to Bill’s natural draw and likability. The physicality speaks a thousand words. The sold-out reactive audience showed instant warmth for Bill, evident from...

Maria Telnikoff: All The Men Are Going To Hate Me — Underbelly, Bristo Square

10Aug

By Olivia CoxNo Comments

Scotland

Maria Telnikoff: All The Men Are Going To Hate Me — Underbelly, Bristo Square

As soon as Maria Telnikoff bursts onto the Buttercup stage at Underbelly Bristo Square in a frenetic, gyrating dance to Charli xcx’s ‘Guess’, she totally commands the space with her charisma and physical comedy skills. It’s an energetic start, and she maintains this electric energy throughout her 60-minute show All The Men Are Going To Hate Me. After she’s got that dance out of her system, Telnikoff introduces us to the concept of the show: she wants to write the next great work of literature — about all the men she’s slept with. It’s a simple but clever framework that allows her to break up and act out each of these stories as individual ‘chapters’, which she punctuates with a series of placards. As she takes us through the journey of her sexual history, we’re introduced t...

The 7 Fingers: Duel Reality – Underbelly Circus Hub

23Aug

By Greg HolsteadNo Comments

Scotland

The 7 Fingers: Duel Reality – Underbelly Circus Hub

Now, here is an oddity, a show I have seen twice, once on preview night at the start of the Fringe, and again tonight, and I can immediately see improvements! The first thing to say, is that this show is best viewed from the central seating area (where I was tonight), if you can. Duel reality starts with a beautifully choreographed fight scene between the two ‘sides’ of the ten-strong troupe, pitting the blues against the reds. To add to the audience experience you are given a wrist band of blue or red as you enter the circus tent and ‘requested’ to support your team. There is whooping, clapping, screaming from the audience – this idea sounds like it is working well! Raising the stakes of the team struggle, we soon come to realise that Blue is Capulet and Red is Montague and the ...

Drag Queens Vs Vampires – Underbelly, Cowgate

18Aug

By Beth EltringhamNo Comments

Scotland

Drag Queens Vs Vampires – Underbelly, Cowgate

Back from their award winning show Drag Queens Vs Zombies at last year’s fringe, the Haus Of Dench return with their new must see show: Drag Queens Vs Vampires. Join drag stars Kate Butch and Crudi Dench as they prepare to take to the stage in Romania for Eurovision, but it’s not only nerves they are having to fight off. Booking an Airbnb in the spookiest of places: Transylvania, a new obstacle faces the two when their host happens to be non-other than Dracula himself, and he’s got his sights set on Kate. Between the competition and the ancient evil vampire, can these friends stay together or will they be torn apart in this blood drinking, vampire staking, weird but catchy song singing extravaganza? Drag Queens Vs Vampires is a hilarious show that fills it’s dark and dingy ven...

Tim Murray is Witches – Underbelly, Bristo Square

6Aug

By Rita BryceNo Comments

Scotland

Tim Murray is Witches – Underbelly, Bristo Square

I am a sucker for something silly. And when 6 ft 2 Tim Murray, dressed in a 5 ft long black wig, knee-high heeled boots, clawed and waggling latex gloves, glittering cape and full green Elphaba makeup hits the stage with a devastatingly brilliant opening number, I know I am in for one of those Edinburgh Fringe hours that make the trip worthwhile. Tim is a comedian, writer and actor from LA who has hopped on his broomstick across the seas to bring to his brand-new show to the Fringe- and thank Hecate he did. Tim oozes an unteachable stage presence; with KNOCK OUT vocals, an easy charm and an infectious delight, which seeps out of his witchy fingertips (along with heaps of green confetti) and fills the room. Whisking on us on a journey through his formative years the show is ...