Articles by Beth Kahn

James Acaster: Amongst Other Things

James Acaster claims to be very excitable, but this claim is not borne out by his laid back delivery and mundane choice of topics.

Life of a Lonely Flyerer

No matter how annoying you find flyerers on the Royal Mile, even the most exasperated Fringe-goer would probably agree that rounding them up to be slaughtered in death camps is qui…

Thom Tuck Goes Straight to DVD

Have you seen, or even heard of, The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea? Thom Tuck has.

Aberglas

Aberglas is a charming show for children, following the adventures of two girls searching for some books lost by their great-grandfather.

Toby - Lucky

After the success of their Free Fringe show last year, sisters Sarah and Lizzie Daykin - who perform together as Toby - have been picked up by comedy powerhouse The Invisible Dot.

Language of Angels

This assured production of American playwright Naomi Iizukas work, written in 2000, is presented by drama students from Pepperdine University in California.

Francesca Martinez: What the **** is Normal?!

Francesca Martinez has Cerebral Palsy, but she prefers to describe herself as ‘wobbly’.

John-Luke Roberts Distracts You From A Murder

Im sitting there, innocently enjoying the show, when John-Luke Roberts points at me and declares that no-one really likes having conversations with me, they only do it so they ca…

Jon Richardson: Don't Happy, Be Worry

For a comedian whose routine revolves around his social awkwardness and general anxiety about life, Jon Richardson is remarkably at ease in front of an audience.

Totally Tom

There’s no shortage of brash young sketch comedians trying to make their mark at the Fringe, but few avoid the pitfalls and cliches of the genre as successfully as Totally Tom.

Pete Johansson - Pete's On Earth

Review
★★
Beth Kahn
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
16th Aug, 2010

Pete Johansson warns us that his show will be uncomfortable for anyone who is religious, or has a baby.

Jollie: Roger!

Jollie is the multitalented duo John Biddle and Ollie Birch, and they are at pains to emphasise that they are a huge deal on the story and song circuit.

John-Luke Roberts and Nadia Kamil: The Behemoth

Racist belly buttons.

Penny Dreadfuls

The Penny Dreadfuls are riding high at the moment as one of the Fringes most acclaimed sketch troupes, and a revved-up audience whooped and cheered as the trio cartwheeled onto t…

Improverts

Watching improvised comedy can be a tense experience when the performers arent up to scratch youre too busy cringing at the awkwardness of every unsuccessful joke to relax a…

The Gentlemen of Leisure Present: The Death of the Novel

With their smart suits and elaborate PowerPoint presentation, the Gentlemen of Leisure have the air of two eager-to-please, newly qualified teachers trying to pep up an A-level Eng…

Paul Zerdin - Sponge Fest Revisited

Paul Zerdin is clearly an accomplished ventriloquist.

Hans Teeuwen: Smooth and Painful

Its difficult to review a performer like Hans Teeuwen, when half the audience are in fits of hysterical laughter, but the other half are looking confused and uneasy and more t…

New Art Club: Quiet Act of Destruction

New Art Club are certainly as good as their word, and over an hour they they recount an elaborate tale which centres around a fierce rivalry between two small, dull villages in Cam…

Pappy's: All Business

In these financially straitened times, Pappys are no longer a Fun Club this year they are All Business, and the show takes the form of a corporate pitch to us, the shareholder…

David O'Doherty: Somewhere Over the David O'Doherty

David ODoherty has been going from strength to strength since winning the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2008, and this show is a total delight.

Wedding Band: A Comedy by Charlie Baker

For most people, their wedding is the happiest day of their life.

Noise Next Door - Chaos Control

The Noise Next Door are five hyperactive, hypermobile performers, whose lively and unpredictable show is a exemplar of high-quality, high-energy improvised comedy.

Clever Peter: Blood, Sweat & Tears

This trio of sketch comedians live up to their name, with a succession of intelligent set-ups and quick-witted punch-lines that keep the audience laughing throughout their high-ene…

The Beta Males: The Train Job

Following up on last year’s break-through hit ‘The Bunker,’ well turned-out sketch group The Beta Males are back with another energetic escapade.

Nick Mohammed is Mr Swallow

‘Its going to be an interesting show!’ Nick Mohammed trills as we enter the auditorium, holding up the glass of whisky he just sent an audience member to buy for him.

The Pajama Men: In the Middle of No One

The Pajama Men are impossible to describe, or do justice do, in a review.

Chalk Giants

This lovely and inventive childrens show explores the myths and legends surrounding giants, from the chalk giants carved into the English landscape, to the story of Jack and the …

Tom Bell Begins

Tom Bell has long been a hit with Fringe audiences with his delightful Free Fringe offerings, and as the frailer half of double-act Tommy and the Weeks.

Moment House

In this collaboration between American and Hungarian theatre companies, a poignant story unfolds about the turning points and decisive moments that can change a life forever.

The Quotidian Revue

Obsession is the unifying theme in this charming but odd show, which considers the unexplored corners of everyday life.

Beta Males' Picnic in 'The Bunker'

Its the end of the world as we know it, and the last remnants of civilization are living out their days in a bleak underground bunker.

BOBBY WINNER

Max and Ivan Are Holmes and Watson

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.

Love Bites

Review
★
Beth Kahn
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
24th Aug, 2010

This bewilderingly unpleasant piece of new writing aims to explore our relationships with food, and with each other.

Hot Tub with Kurt and Kristen

Hot Tub is a staple of the New York comedy scene, a quirky variety show hosted by Kurt Braunholer and Kristen Schaal (aka Flight of the Conchord’s deliciously unhinged groupie Me…