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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
DUNLOP AND DOWDESWELL
Verdict: Funny and enjoyable double set
Edinburgh - The Underbelly - August 02
Comedy partners Dougie Dunlop and James Dowdeswell perform here in separate sets.
DOUGIE DUNLOP's from Scotland, he explains, but currently lives in London. Walthamstow,
to be exact, and the locals are puzzled by his jogging. It's the dog-track
capital of north-east London - so who's chasing him? And it's a rough area - the salt
and vinegar are chained to the chip shop counter.
In an aimiable act, Dunlop covers lonely heart ads - he's worried by the reality
of one saying 'quite attractive' - and the problems of living with his gran, among many
other wry observations of life and family relationships (rise and shine from dad at
6 am, with a cup of tea like lava).
But he's reached an accommodation with gran. He collapses drunk in her Stannah chair lift
at 3 am, neck and neck with the Slinky. When she pulls out his video, he unplugs her
life-support machine.
JAMES DOWDESWELL introduces his lazy eye early in relaxed and friendly set.
It lets him talk to the person in the audience next to the one he's apparently talking to
- as he lists the cutting-edge style-icons people confuse him with because
of his fashionably bouffant hair (Leo Sayer and Brian May).
Dowdeswell explains that his Dad is a publican near Glastonbury. It's a traditional pub
selling Leg-Bender and Cripple-Cock beer, which do what they say. A couple of New York
rappers arrive. Dad cuts them short - it's a pint of Old Jockstrap
or nothing. As Dowdeswell points out - it's not quite the Archers.
Country sports are touched on. Clay pigeon shooters solve the problem of not being able
to eat their prey by making clay ashtrays. Then he's off round the British Isles with
in-depth analysis of what celebrating the Battle of Bannockburn and Hastings 1066 says
about the Scots and English (we like to lose). He's on to Wales, and ends up with Cyril
Cunliffe, legendary train announcer at Bristol Temple Meads Station, currently posted - to
the confusion of the French - to Bordeaux Station.
DOUGIE DUNLOP and JAMES DOWDESWELL come on stage together at beginning and end, but
perform (tonight) separately. Their sets complement each other perfectly, with
Dunlop's sharp and slightly surreal look at relationships, and Dowdeswell's witty
and affectionate look at British traits in their worrying extremes. It's a funny and
enjoyable piece of excellent comedy.
Written and performed by Dougie Dunlop and James Dowdeswell.
END
John Park
reviewed 18 August 02 / The Underbelly
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
