I eventually arrived at the station and ended up on the train with the case sitting in front of my legs and my hand luggage perched on top of my legs. Sadly, I was not next to the window.
Due to a most amusing turn of events, amusing to absolutely no-one, lots of people had no seats, so ended up in proprietorial huddles in any spare corners they could find. A mother and daughter discussed the 'trash' novel, they were reading in their book club (I believe that it may have been 'The Valley of the Dolls'). Then the younger lady (the daughter) spoke of her son's night terrors. The dreams he vividly recalled when he awoke terrified and then could not return to sleep. The story disturbed me as you don't grow out of monsters, ghosts and strange things just out of sight, you merely incorporate them into your daily routine as you get older (I guess) or humanise the fears. Bear in mind, that the two ladies were sitting on the floor, one was sitting in a gap behind the chairs. If you can visualise this, you can appreciate how busy the train was today.
Upon arriving in Edinburgh, I was pretty overwhelmed even though I have been here before. Very busy as a result of all of the festivals and lots of vaguely menacing individuals loitering as thought straight from the pages of a Dickens' novel. Also there seems to be a large number of homeless people.
The odd thing about the Fringe festival is listening to the random conversations and seeing people plugging shows that only three people may attend. Also overhearing conversations about failed shows, not so much bums on seats as bums out of the doors. Too much going on perhaps? The adverts for shows are stuck on every discernible surface like those dodgy cards sex workers display in phone boxes, only slightly more intricate.
In my hotel preparing to leave, the guy who signed me in was nice asking if I had prebooked tickets for shows. I assured him I had and he explained that I was a wise man, otherwise I would be doomed to see lots of free shows. Now I must get ready to go out.
I went out, wandered around trying to get my bearings. Eventually, I found the location of the first venue on the Pleasance (the Pleasance Courtyard). I bumped into a friend I hadn't seen for ages and we chatted a little bit, mostly about not being able to find my way into the first venue. The Pleasance Courtyard has about ten events going on at the same time, so there are arrows everywhere pointing you in all directions. Eventually, I asked. Apparently, you had to go down.
Upon finally locating the right door, I entered and climbed and climbed. Posters of hundreds of current and previous shows festoon the walls. There is possibly nothing more overwhelming than the residues of cultural history, laid out in a haphazard manner. An invitation to a world of experience you either missed or could not possibly have the time to truly embrace. The Fringe is about selection. The possibility for spontaneity exists but in a sell-out culture, the inducement is to buy early before all the tickets go.
My first show was 'Lucy Porter: Pass It On'. I bumped into the friend I met earlier and some other friends that I almost met earlier. We sat together on stage right on raised stalls.
Lucy Porter's show was unashamedly about legacy and growing older. She performed the comedian's regular trope of identifying people at either end of the age spectrum to provide a visual focus for some of her material. As she identified, most of the audience were middle-aged (oddly, today at this performance, I became aware for the first time that I am middle-aged too).
Her material was charmingly engaging, her manner direct yet friendly. Her M & S skinny jeans became an excellent motif for the passage of time. She realised that she was getting through one pair every seven years. She then estimated how long she had left based on her mother's death and the number of pairs of jeans she would need. M & S had apparently discontinued the brand she liked, leading to a funny aside about obtaining supposedly discontinued goods.
Once the show was over, my friends went off to eat. I went to get lost again. I was reminded how hilly Edinburgh is. Also the layout takes a bit of getting used to. Everywhere I am walking, flyers are being handed to me. The phenomenon is not unlike being in Egypt, having people following you to tout their wears. There is so much going on. Everything is allegedly a five star show but who rated the shows?
I was amused by a couple of stickers I saw on Cowgate. One read 'Barry loves everything'. I assume this is probably a street art phenomenon but it has nothing to do with me.
Oddly enough, I don't feel like taking lots of photos today. So I just imagine the shots I would take. I will take some tomorrow, when I hopefully won't feel quite so 'out there'.
The second show of the day was at the Pleasance Dome. Basically, a pop-up venue, in what appears to be part of the University of Edinburgh campus, although may not be? Again, multiple events going on and lots of confusing modern arrows pointing in generally the right direction but not always making it clear when you have got to the right place. The entrance to this show was located inside a bar. 'A Sockful of Custard' (Jeremy Stockwell and Chris Larner) was a pretty interesting performance piece based on Spike Milligan, his life and work. The somewhat Brechtian technique of identifying the roles that the performers were playing and what they did worked well. As such, it became clear that both of the performers had actually met Spike Milligan. It was a production based on love and the title was explained. Apparently for one of his shows, Spike Milligan required the sound effect of a sockful of custard and the BBC sound effects crew could not find the right sound, so Spike went to the canteen and filled a sock with custard (the canteen wouldn't let him take the plates out of their premises). This provided the required sound effect (a character was slapped with the sockful of custard). Members of the audience left at various points during the performance. Possibly, somewhat frustrated by the structure, which was broken down on cards on the stage (key plot points were written and at times shown to the audience). I am not sure whether it can be performed in slightly different ways each night, so long as the key scenes are enacted or not. I enjoyed the show. I met another couple of friends at this event and once the show ended, we all went off to different things.
I walked around a bit more, eventually felt hungry and popped into KFC. Cheaper than London but the chicken tasted different. I remain to be convinced that the recipe of spices etc is the same from place to place.
My last show of the night ('The Maids' - Sudden Impulse Theatre Company) started at 11pm at the Greenside@Infirmary Street (Forest Theatre). This venue was a little bit out of the way. Also I didn't feel that comfortable, hanging around outside waiting to be let in to the Forest Theatre. Prior to heading in, two slightly drunk guys got me to take their photo with a mobile phone, making sure I got the banner in the photo. I think I took one photo plus by accident a load of slow motion video.
'The Maids' was probably the most effective production of the show I have seen. It certainly did what I have often contemplated doing, a production with an all male cast. This really added to the dynamic, playing up the homo-eroticism that permeates the play. Also the physicality of the performance was astounding. Flagellation and wrestling moves performed with relish. The make-up was also striking. The performers afterwards thanked the audience for coming and invited us to give feedback if we wished to do so and to mention the show to friends. It's sad how a good show only had seven or eight people in the audience. I guess too much to see, such little time. Also the Fringe seems to be best known for its comedy, not for everything else.
I left the theatre and got lost finding my way back to the hotel, but I anticipate that I will eventually gets my bearings, probably by Monday. One final aside, I felt like I was in an Irvine Welsh novel earlier today when I heard a truck driver refer to another driver as a 'fucking raj' (I think that's how it sounds not how it's spelt). There are characters everywhere.
Barry Watt - 17th August 2018.
Afterword.
'The Valley of The Dolls' was written by Jacqueline Susann in the 60s. Basically, the story of three women in Broadway and Hollywood. I haven't read it but I am tempted to read it.
Charles Dickens was quite a popular author in his time creating many memorable characters, his supporting characters sometimes more significant than the main protagonists.
Lucy Porter is a year older than me and is a funny comedian. She helped me to realise that I am middle aged.
http://www.lucyporter.co.uk/
M and S (abbreviation of Marks and Spencer). Major retail chain that some people really like.
https://www.marksandspencer.com/
Spike Milligan was a very funny comedian, actor, writer. He suffered from bouts of depression throughout his life.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_Milligan
Bertolt Brecht was a major playwright and theatre practitioner. He came up with many theatrical techniques that still permeate the theatre scene today. His political beliefs dominating his works and it's not uncommon to go to a Brecht show and see the means of production highly visible. It wouldn't be out of place to stage a Brecht show where the cast introduce themselves and then tell you who they will be playing. I like Brecht and his work.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertolt_Brecht
KFC sell fried chicken.
https://www.kfc.co.uk/
'The Maids' was written by Jean Genet. Allegedly based on a true story. Two servants and their mistress. What could possibly go wrong?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Genet
Irvine Welsh is a very popular Scottish author.
http://www.irvinewelsh.net/
BW
Photos
Lucy Porter was a brilliant start to the Fringe for me.
'The Maids' brilliantly performed by the Sudden Impulse Theatre Company.
A shower head. Be still my beating heart. It's the odd things that appeal to me. My hotel lover.
BW
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