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There have been many Edinburghs where due to eating nothing but chips and drinking and shouting late into the night in smoky bars, I have ended the festival dry-retching and feeling terrible, but it turns out having kids is much more unhealthy as today I was laid low with the bug that had started its invasion of me yesterday,
And whilst the timing was relatively good as long as I am well again by the time my show starts on Friday, we still have to look after the stupid children that have saved and ruined my life, so today was pretty exhausting. Luckily my mother-in-law arrived to help out in the late afternoon (and will be here for a few days) so it meant I could go to bed before the children, jacked up with supermarket brand night nurse, hoping the dizziness and chesty cough would evaporate with some sleep.
Lucy Porter tweeted this poster and asked people to name the acts and guess the year. I was able to name all but one and the presence of cheeky TV's Emma Kennedy with Mel and Sue and Geraldine Mcnulty helped narrow it down to the late 90s - my correct guess was 1997. The only one I couldn't remember was the second from the left on the top row, which turns out to be Shelagh Martin. If you want to play along at home look away now.
Scott Capurro, Shelagh Martin, Ben Moor (hooray) Johnny Vegas
Nostradamus, Mel and Sue, Geraldine Mcnulty, Alistair McGowan, Adam Bloom, Bob Downe
Milton Jones, Brendon Burns, Ed Byrne (I think it's meant to be), Angie le Mar, Greg Proops and Mark Maier.
I was doing Excavating Rita and This Morning With Richard Not Judy that year. Oh what a time it was. But how can it be 22 years since then? I get that it's 32 years since the first time we came up, but it can't be 22 years since then. My calendar is broken.
Princess Diana was alive all the way through that Fringe, well right to the very last moments (it finished on the Saturday night back then and I went home on the train on the Sunday - The Sunday Times I bought at Waverley had a critique of Diana and Dodi, the ones for sale at Kings Cross had already sanctified the People's Princess).
It feels like a golden time, though I am sure I spent most of that Fringe floundering around in a pool made of spilled booze, tears and my own gametes. So like I say, a golden time. Back then there were few enough comics up here still that you had a chance of knowing everyone and our little gang of pals was riding relatively high. And our Edinburgh show was about to be optioned to become a TV show, which again was something that was possible back then - now you might hope to get a job on a panel show or presenting something, but how many broadcasters are taking ideas from the comedians to make TV shows now? Not very many.
Most if not all of the acts on that poster are still working (not sure about Shelagh though
I found this video of her from 2002 and she's good (and I do recognise her out of her disguise) or Geraldine, who I hope is still acting as she was fabulous. But that isn't bad after 22 years.
RHLSTP with Rebecca Callard is now up in the usual places,
including here. Though audio only for this one.
We've sold nearly 2000 and I will be very happy if we can sell 2000 more. I have no idea if that's possible though. But spread the news about the show if you have any pals coming up here or living near enough to pop by on an afternoon.
And/or become
a monthly badger and get the membership pack (that cool kids have been delightedly tweeting about as they arrive).
Thanks for the wonderful support.
