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MOST POPULAR LINKS... FRONT PAGE... MONTHLY DRINKS NIGHT
Best Newcomer: Michael Piper
Verdict: No
Edinburgh 06 - Gilded Balloon Teviot - 6-28 Aug 2006 12:45 (1:00)
Best Newcomer is a cheeky title, and inaccurate.
Michael Piper says he's recently finished university. Unfortunately, while the hilarious japes from this time can be re-told, the rest of the world have their own. If it's observational comedy, it's already been observed enough.
He says he deliberately starts with a bad gag, and ignores the star system for reviews - 'You get stars working in McDonalds'. That's about the only line that doesn’t feel outdated. Five minutes in, the hour's show feels long.
It picks up a bit with a narrative - a doomed non-relationship with a flatmate. There are a lot fo diversions and random details, but there is a sense of direction. It builds to him watching her eat cornflakes dipped in his sperm.
His Michael Jackson fixation is worth a few laughs; rapping philosophers are briefly funny – but neither for as long as they last. The 'paranoia party' could have pushed further than the few bits he mentions: signs on the wall saying 'Why are you reading this? You should be talking to people.'
Student rooms are messy, students wank, some smoke dope. Student nights are drunken with silly names; drunk students vomit. Who knew? Everyone.
Cast Credits: Michael Piper.
Company Credits: Writer - Michael Piper. Adapted by Michael Piper & Alex Levene. Director - Stephen Makin. Technician - Alan Anderson. Producers - Stephen Makin, Anil Das. Company - Three Bugs. EdFringe Programme note: Scenes of a sexual nature.
END
(c) Gill Smith 2006
reviewed Wednesday 23 August 06 / Gilded Balloon Teviot
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2010
