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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
James Goldsbury in Nothing
Verdict: Fine comedic voices
Edinburgh - Café Royal - August 03
Café Royal Fringe Theatre, 17 West Register Street, 19.15pm (1 hr)
What do the Pope, President Saddam Hussein's secret police and Tony Soprano have in common? From the lips of gifted impressionist James Goldsbury, they speak with the same voice.
This isn't a snide comment, mind. James Goldsbury's the first to point out their linguistic (in his mind) similarity. And the odd thing is, by the end of his highly entertaining set, you end up wondering if - who knows - they might be one and the same person. So Americans looking for President SH might start with - the Vatican.
James Goldsbury conducts a leisurely trip round the world, from the differences between English and Irish dentists, to the Pope preparing his stand-up routine in front of a quarter of Ireland's population, assembled in one place. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity too, for the English to invade Ireland again - having politely given advance notice ('Hello? Anyone there? We're invading. (Didn't someone ring in advance?)'). The Goldsbury world-view's idiosyncratic, warm and friendly.
The set tonight opens with 'Irritating Celebrity Laughs', and the problem of tracking down Iraqi leaders, because they all look like Freddy Mercury. James Goldsbury's been rebuked today at Fringe Sunday's for strong language in front of a family audience, so at this adult evening gig he's able to relax and let loose. Sex ads in magazines are visited ('The James Joyce Prize for Bad Punctuation'), and how a cheetah might catch an antelope if animals could talk. There's reference to (literally) incandescent Protestants igniting at catholic shrines; and Fungi The Dingle Phenomenon - a child-molesting dolphin. And ads for America's Winchester Pump-Action Shotgun ('Wipe the smile off your teacher's fucking face').
It's a wide ranging set of inclusive and engaging humour - with a particularly infectious delight and excellence in accents - from a fine performer making his way up the comedy ladder. One to catch now before he's huge.
END
John Park
reviewed Sunday 10 August / Edinburgh / Café Royal
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
