Few shows that have at its core a story of a comics dad who develops terminal lung cancer would be as heartwarming and stunningly funny as Des Bishop’s new show. He does his dad proud and the show was a sellout, the fringe has stand up’s all over the place but Des has done something simply beautiful here, this show is a true example of growing up, taking responsibility, and love.

This show was an additional show, an extra, wasn’t suposed to be, so the feeling in the room was high and the audience was packed into the Edinburgh Suite at Assembly George Street. Des came on and made a beeline for two older ladies in the audience which would be a recurring theme throughout his show and he explained what the show was about. His first part focused on his own battle with testicular cancer and some of the choices he had to make.

Once Des gets going the show itself takes on a wonderful organic feel as most of what he has to say is about the man he loves and has, over the past few months, has grown to love even more. The life of his father, Michael Bishop, an attractive and strong model/actor in the 1960s, seems to have given him a great wealth of material and as the hour continued the audience gets a real honest sense of who this man is. You warm to him naturally and Des paints a balanced picture of

My Dad Was Nearly James Bond has at its core a ode to Des’s father a man who is 10x larger than life, a provider, a surviver, and a all round good father. Throughout the show Des doesn’t mince his words, he’s at times too honest with the way he was as a child, the things he got up to, but strangely considering their family background they seemed tight as a family and helped each other when times where tough. Des talks about his drinking and his drugs at 19 with the type of wisdom that only a supportive family behind him could have afforded him.

Throughout the show Des uses images of his father, the film clips from Day of the Traffids and Zulu to introduce his dad as well many pictures of him with the family right through their childhood. This adds a very gentle touch his show but at the same time it shows an incredible legacy and a happy family.

The show becomes a living memorial to his dad, like the saying goes ‘you can’t take it with you’ and this show proves it. It’s better to say something now when the person is around to hear it and Des Bishop gives is dad (and his mum, Irene) a truly amazing gift. This show at times is very poignant, as well as insanely funny Des Bishop has created a show that is stand out 10 out of 10 entertainment.

‘Of all the show’s at the Fringe this one was by far one of the best, heartbreaking in its topic, yet blisteringly funny with his observations. Des Bishop new Fringe show is honest and probably one of the greatest gifts a son could give his dying father. This show will stay with you hands down!’

This was always going to be an unforgettable performance! South Africa’s Soweto Gospel Choir returns to Edinburgh this year teaming up with singing wonder trio The Bala Brothers for 13 shows. The collaboration, creates a sound so unique, so powerful and so moving that they rightly deserve their standing ovation.

The Soweto Gospel Choir have been regular visitors to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. With their colourful costumes and powerful vocals, the choir have an amazing reputation worldwide for giving us sounds of African gospel, reggae and modern classics all delivered with an infectious enthusiasm that just makes you want to get up and dance!

Vocally, the choir has it all. Individual singers provide perfect pitch through the whole register and one member having possibly the lowest baritone/bass voice you are ever likely to hear! As a group, the choir effortlessly harmonises together and it becomes obvious why they’re world famous. Their individual sounds blending perfectly together.

This year at the Edinburgh Fringe we’ve been blessed as the choir teams up with The Bala Brothers for a select number of shows. The brothers (yes, actual brothers in real life) take the stage after a few introductory numbers from the choir and it doesn’t take long to realise just how much talent Zwai, Loyiso and Phelo have. Flawless harmonies and strong vocals resonate well against the backing sounds of the choir as they sing their way into the set.

The award winning Bala Brothers are known for infusing popular African music with the sounds of Opera, a musical style which has been termed “Popera”. This new style of African inspired classical music blends well with the joyous, melodic rhythms of the choir. In a performance, draped in bright colours, wonderful costumes and great melodies, it propagates an intensely positive atmosphere amongst the audience and participation in the way of hand clapping and arm waving become an almost essential element to obtaining the full choir experience.

Musically, this collaboration was meant to be!

In what I can only describe as a South Africa’s “vocal dream team”, the Soweto Choir and Bala Brothers collaboration is something that shouldn’t be missed under any circumstances. Playing only a limited number of shows together, make sure you don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience two of South Africa’s greatest musical exports perform together.

8/10

By Anthony

A mix of musical theatre, modern circus and comedy all rolled into a sexy hour long performance that will leave you amazed, with an open jaw and if your in the first couple of rows, possibly a little wet!

We are introduced to a goofy clown like character who stumbles into a strange new world, set within the confines of a bathroom. She meets with an array of characters throughout the show who take it in turns to showcase their unique talents. She provides the audience with comedic interlude between the various performances and the entire show becomes a seamless story set against the backdrop of a world in which the bathtub is used for so much more than just washing!

This show unleashes onto the audience a perfect mix of comedy, dazzling acrobatics and music. Quite simply, the acrobatics performed in the show are daring and dangerous and its amazing to watch these highly skilled, highly tuned acrobats perform. One is left with a greater appreciation of the beauty of the human form, each performer making perfect use of the bathroom equipment to great effect giving the audience a non-stop, entertainment-rich hour long performance.

There’s something in this show for everyone. The music is entertaining and at times hilarious as various well-known classical tracks are reworked to give them a new “splish-splash” flavour. The amazing foot juggling skills of one of the characters is mind-blowing, and the strength, flexibility and artistry of all the aerial artists makes me think each one of them are leaders in their respective disciplines.

Soap! The Musical is one of the most entertaining shows you are likely to see at this years Edinburgh Fringe and its suitable for the entire family. This show left me at times with my mouth wide open, in disbelief at the performances I’d just seen and the show never let’s up either with every performance, breath-taking!

This is one of those shows at the Edinburgh Fringe that you know will become almost impossible to see as the month rolls on. Soap! The Show is already playing to sell-out audiences so be quick not to miss out on tickets and the opportunity to watch something truly amazing!

9/10

By Anthony

When I found out that Jennifer was going to be at the Fringe I couldn’t believe my luck, I mean, seriously couldn’t believe it. So it took me a while to get over this shock and when I was told I had a ticket to see her show I think I nearly wet myself, I should explain. A few months ago I saw an episode of Frasier in which Ms Coolrige had a guest role as Martin’s new housekeeper/physical therapist, Frederica in the episode Gone But Not Forgotten.

I was a little unsure about the success of this as many famous people who think they can do stand up bring shows to the fringe and bomb like nobodies business. So imagine my surprise when Jennifer turns out to be something a small revelation with her show being a major success. There was a nice bit at the start where she couldn’t open her water and she asked a guy in the front row to open it!

The night I was there the place was sold out. The woman in front of me was trying to explain to her dad who Jennifer was, ‘She was in A Mighty Wind, you know it…yeah, her.’ She tried to mention her American Pie role but her dad just stared blank. Then just as she as starting to use her Blackberry to IMDB Jennifer Sue Perkins walked in, wearing a black jacket and blue jeans I actually think she tried covering her eyes (you know the way they do it when they don’t want to get recognised).

And then it was time for Jennifer who came out in the highest shoes I have ever seen and a dress so tight she would have to spend the rest of the night fixing herself for giving the audience a real treat. After a little messing about with a scarf she had intended to wear (this was due to the venue being hotter than hell and the fan behind her) Jennifer quickly and easily started her show.

Relationships, celebrities (Paris Hilton being her first target), sex, the fact she always plays the cooky best friend roles, Oprah, animals, her family, and auditions where just some of the themes she used and to her benefit she quickly got out some of her more famous roles, Stiflers Mom, Legally Blonde, and some lesser known roles like in Sophies Choice and Brokeback mountain – this part of the show is fantastic and I will never eat a pastry again with out feeling both guilty and happy.

It was clear, and much to the delight of the audience, that she would focus on Hollywood, her career in the industry and some of the people she has met. There was a wonderful sense of class and warmth from Jennifer and she managed to make people at easy from the start. The venue was hot but was perfect for her first show outside the US and I doubt at all she would have much trouble getting a bigger and more air conditioned venue sold out but that would have been arrogant.

‘Jennifer covered a great deal of topics and her celebrity piss takes where inspired. There was something special about this show, gentle as it was mean and harsh to the celebrities and circumstance she finds herself in. Keenly observed and a really joy to watch Jennifer Coolridge is in a class of her own, do not miss this show, a real original!’

Jennifer is at the Assembly George Street till the 29th August 2010.