John is manic but with that gentle look in his eye that makes him come across so lovely and sweet you find yourself wanting to hug him. His show this year looked at his adolescence and the awkwardness of him growing up, his school life, and being 28. But before the show kicked off he told us the other day that he only had 8 people in and they all sat close to the stage when one of them let one loose.

There is something almost instantly likeable with John his comedy is gentle and he finds himself in situations that don’t do him any favours. I guess the best way to sum him up is the story he told about before he came up to Edinburgh for the fringe. He had a new flatmate who he bonded with like he never believed it, pretty ace guy from all accounts, and he said he fluffed the goodbye and rather than telling him what he thought and how happy he was that they are now friends, he just manned up and did the double pat on the back. But it wasn’t until he got to Edinburgh when he was unpacking he found a note from this housemate…not going to ruin what he says.

Yet you have to be a certain type of person to be able to have new friends read you so well and that’s John, an incredibly warm and gentle guy. Some of the highlights of his show was dring his time in school, 6th form, his Queen obsession and his DT folder, and being bullied. But the best part of his show was his first experience with a cock ring and the noisy neighbours and the house party from hell.

He paints a picture of a guy put in the most unlikely positions and still managers to come out of it pretty much unscathed. His show as great to be part of, over time you start to feel like he’s the type of best friend you would want, fun to be around, always has a story to tell, and honest. There where two girls in the audience who couldn’t stop laughing and he asked them to come to all his shows.

‘John Robins is a natural and his show came across like it was the easiest thing in the world, a flick back into his past opens up a whole wealth of material from a guy you want to get to know. Kast year Matt Kershen had a show that was as successful, what makes them stand out is they are genuine, their is every now and then a slight hint of bitterness that thinking retrospectively can bring. John is amazing!’

I will admit I was not to sure about Henry, he had a lot of hype, but in the dimly lit room in the GRV I was convinced that the guy had it in him to make laugh. One thing I never do is admit it when I am wrong, last night I was wrong and them some. Henry Packer has a way about him that makes his humour slightly quirky but then produces gems that would make even the biggest comedian green with envy.

I would say the tone of his stand up was pretty level and his interaction with the audience was exception. But when he started talking about books and reading and how is now un-reading the books he starts he had me. This wasn’t just funny it was bang on one of the best comedy routines I have seen, this was hysterical, the way he discribes un-reading the bible is skilled comedy writing at it’s very best.

Henry packs (pun not intended) a lot into his show and once the ball was rolling his material and speed picked up. The change, and the final part of his show ‘John your a maverick’ was great, and you got the feeling that he was only starting to get his feet wet when the show came to an end. Something of an unexpected turn was the woman who walked in to the room reading not realising there was as how on. She did a double take then ran out which was hilarious!

‘This was a top notch show that had a little bit of a rocky start but built up to being one of the most original stand up shows I have seen. Hugely likeable guy with great material that will impress, stun, and stick with you’.

There is only one play you need to see at Fringe 2009 and that is Bane!  There has never been such a well written and inspiringly acted play put on by one man with such an understanding and respect for film noir.  This is THE PLAY you have to see, if you miss this i can tell you now you will regret it for the rest of your life.

The play starts out like no other, a guy comes onto the stage and starts playing guitar (Ben Roe) - very strong elements of Ali Farke Toure and Ry Cooder, the pace is meaningful and hard, it tells you that bad things are coming.  Off stage where here a characters phone call and then out man comes onto stage Bane (writer & actor Joe Bone) ‘a hired hand who gets the job done’.  There is no words that can express Joe’s performance he is on stage alone playing over what seems like 20 or 30 characters.  His ability to morph into these different characters is the corner stone of the performance and so believable.

Joe has written something here that is beyond a unique effort and the skill to which he is able to perform will leave you speechless.  Bane is more than a parody of film noir, it is a re-envisioning of what film noir is and can be in contemporary theatre.  Here Joe uses Ben’s gently strokes of the guitar to give you the feeling of the modern film noir and each time Ben plays you are given the space and pace of No Country for Old Men.  There are other film references that are used with ease and are meant to be but nothing takes away from the originality of what ‘Bane’ is.

The Story

We catch Bane as he is going about his daily routine simply trying to get the job done and the main aspect of the play revolves around him trying to kill Mendoza and then realising he has a hit on him.  So the chance begins and we see a host of people coming and going on stage as Bane tries to not get killed.  This is an incredible short summary of the play but you have to go and see it to understand that if I give to much away it ruins the whole thing for you!

All the action and sound effects come from Bane on stage, the cars, bikes, doors, everything you could think of is here and is done by Bane.

How was this made and how was Joe able to produce something that is without peer?  Am sat back listening to this and am blown away.  Joe holds himself well on stage and his comedic timing is unquestionable as he weaves the tale of Bane and the variety of other characters.  One of the greatest scenes in the play (to which there are many) revolves around the hit man and Bruce Bane – this scene is tremendous.

Bane 2 is now playing Pleasance Dome, 8.20pm Daily.

‘See this and stand up and applaud…Joe Bone’s Bane is in a league of its own…and if you don’t stand up and applaud with joy I will give you your money back!’

Mark Allen’s Go Slow is a standup comedy show with a difference. Rather than just being crude gags and other random nonsense, his carefully constructed show is all about the pace of life, and how everything needs to be instant. He begins with various jokes about things such as Energy Drinks, London, and how long people spend at cash machines.

His show is mainly about daily observations that we make, but there is a much deeper thought to it.

For one month, Mark Allen stopped using anything that helped to speed up his life – stopped using cash machines, started taking the bus instead of the tube, and gave up the mobile phone. He talks about his experiences, regaling with stories of annoying friends and his wife, providing some interesting ideas for the techno age. Billed at an hour and a half, the shows climax is the last 30 minutes. I am sworn to secrecy but I must say, the last half an hour is the best. It may be slightly longer than most stand ups can hack, but it is well worth it. This is highly thought provoking and enjoyable, particularly for me and the way many of us live our lives, making a great change from the regular stand up act.