FRINGE REVIEW: Pappy’s Fun Club

Funergy

Just two years ago Pappy’s Fun Club were playing the Free Fringe with a 10am slot in a wee bar on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. A year later they were the surprise package of the 2007 Fringe, nominated for the if.comeddies award, and catapaulted into the big-time. Their reward is a spot at the Pleasance Cabaret Bar and they do not disappoint.

The Fun Club, made up of Ben (Giggly Pappy), Brendan (Grinning Pappy), Matthew (Geeky Pappy) and Tom (Chubby Pappy), are on a quest to save the world. Their secretive benefactor, the eponymous Pappy, wants them to be greener and so they set out to resolve the world’s energy crisis using Funergy. If only their Funergy machine actually worked, then the power they produce would light the whole of Edinburgh throughout the month of August. Their sketches range from the knowingly groan-inducing (“not strong”, admits Matthew at one point), to the genius. There are owls and whales, fights between cities, stuntmen, songs and more running gags than you’ll find anywhere outside an Eddie Izzard set. This is all delivered with costumes seemingly made out of whatever they could find in their kitchen cupboards and a sense of infectious glee.

It’s all fantastically silly and often just feels like a few friends tooling around trying to make each other laugh. This is where the Pappy’s quartet really rise about the run of the mill sketch act – it takes enormous intelligence and talent to deliver a show which feels so anarchic but which never overflows into self indulgence.

If you don’t leave this show with an enormous smile on your face (and a free badge) you should really stop going to see comedy and find something else to do with your time.

David Hepburn

Pappy’s Fun will be appearing at the Pleasance Courtyard at 6.40pm until August 25.

FRINGE REVIEW: Stewart Lee

Scrambled Egg

Stewart Lee returns for what seems like his 145th Edinburgh show with a ‘work in progress’. Likely to be a different show every night, Lee is showcasing old and new material which he intends to use for an upcoming television project. Because of the format it’s impossible to say what will come up on any given night, but with this old-hand there is always the guarantee of seeing a stand-up who is completely at ease with his material and who promises to have the audience eating out of his hand.

His trademark delivery is slow, considered and uses repetition to dramatic comedic effect – especially, on this night, when he reprises his ‘Del Boy falling through the bar’ routine from last year’s 41st Best Stand Up Ever show. A deconstruction of a record sleeve by a black American comic seems pretty likely to be on the bill throughout the Fringe and builds up beautifully to devastating comedic effect. Ever self-deprecating, Lee takes time to rail against himself as he ventures into well-worn “lazy” observations on Travelodge hotels. Other highlights include a self-penned addition to the modern phenomenon of tragedy literature and definitive material on the much-publicised Fringe box office problems which should make other comics forget about even trying to cover the subject.

The only problem is that going to see any other comedy performer after the mighty Lee feels like switching over to EastEnders after watching a Dennis Potter drama. Simply one of the most mesmerising comedians working today.

David Hepburn

Stewart Lee is appearing at the Stand Comedy Club at 7.45pm until August 24

FRINGE REVIEW: Andy White

I Think Therefore I Joke

It’s comforting to think that these days, with the credit cruch upon us, there is still such a thing as a bargain at the Fringe. The big venues may have their preview tickets and two-for-one deals but there are hundreds of completely free shows for the frugally-minded to take advantage of in the pubs and basements of Scotland’s capital during the month of August. Many are, quite frankly, rubbish, but there’s always the chance that you might find a comedy gem that you can brag to your friends about ‘discovering’ in years to come – Andy White could well be such a gem.

The Brummie stand-up has put together an immaculately constructed routine based on a number of philosophers – not a subject which automatically gets your funny-bone working overtime. It’s clever stuff but, any time it seems to be getting a little too cerebral, White is quick to reward the audience with a sharp line or stream of gags. One particularly strong section will make it hard for you to take Chris Rock seriously ever again. Some parts fall a little flat, but he’s confident enough in his material to be unhurried and unafraid to lay the groundwork for big laughs further on down the line.

This is likely to be the only show in Edinburgh where you can have an hour of entertainment while learning about the philosophical theories of, among others, Plato, Socrates, Kant and Descartes. And, if he finishes a little early, White also does a mean Tom Jones tribute!

David Hepburn

Andy White is appearing at the Argyl at 7.05pm until August 25.

FRINGE REVIEW: Russell Kane

Gaping Flaws

Russell Kane is happy to admit he has flaws – lots of them. In fact, he positively revels in them and thinks they are what makes him who he is. He spurns the smooth delivery of American comedians and, thanks to his computer being stolen, can’t even give a slick powerpoint presentation – the replacement is ingenious and gives a whole new slant on ‘interactive displays’.

What he does have is a cracking idea for a show – looking at why British people are uncomfortable with the idea of perfection. We brag about how unhealthy we are, drink to excess and would far rather marry the girl next door instead of a flawless supermodel.

Kane’s delivery is spot-on and his set is packed with the sort of personal material that fools the audience into thinking they are just sitting in the pub with a particularly funny friend. The parts of the show about his family are both hilarious and touching, in particular a section on his determinedly working-class unreconstructed father who has only ever cried twice in his life – when his mother died and when his favourite currry house closed. Any doubts that he is exaggerating for comic effect are scotched when he challenges the audience members to meet with his mother after the show to have the stories confirmed.

The impeccable structure of this thematic show, which includes some inspired ad-libbing, is reminiscent of the glory days of Chris Addison and must be a leading contendor for this year’s if.comeddies award. Best make sure you get a ticket before the nominations are announced.

David Hepburn

Russell Kane is appearing at the Pleasance Courtyard at 8pm until August 25

DVD: Spitting Image – The Second Series

Following on from the success of the first DVD, the second series of the eighties latex-based satirical comedy that was Spitting Image gets released.

Consisting of eleven episodes, virtually uncut from the original broadcast, the series carries on in much the same vein as the first series, taking sharp pot-shots at politicians, celebrities and musicians of the day using grosteque puppet caricatures of the same. Much as before, the series blends surreal songs and sketches with political commentary, the savage wit aiming barbs at such luminaries as Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan and that Spitting Image stalwart, Prince Charles.

Unfortunately, much like the first series, while there is little to doubt the quality of the writing, it hasn’t aged well. Although many of the characters in the series are still well known, some of the lesser known faces are lost to the mists of time and as a result, jokes which played well in the 1980s now seem stunted or contrived. Despite this, good satire is fast becoming a dead art form these days and modern day attempts to reinvent the show with CGI have bombed worse than a Big Brother contestant’s career.

As a history lesson on how it should be done, you can’t go wrong with this.

Spitting Image – The Complete Second Series is available now. Click here to get all nostalgic for satire.

CD: Todd Barry – From Heaven

Albums based around stand-up comedy routines are a tricky thing to get right. Recorded in a studio without the benefit of an audience, they can feel contrived and stuffy with the comic often unaware as to whether the material is working or not. At the other end of the spectrum, if they are recorded in front of a live audience, there’s often a sense that you’re missing out on something visual that the raucous laughter just can’t compensate for. Sometimes the biggest laughs on the CD are caused by elements that are simply not relayed well through your speakers.

Released in the UK to coincide with his recent London dates, Todd Barry’s third live CD, From Heaven, falls into the latter category. Recorded in, of all places, a Chinese restaurant (well, can you think of a better place to record a live comedy CD?), Todd Barry delivers his American deadpan style effortlessly, leading the audience carefully from out-and-out gag to humorous musing like some kind of whimsical Pied Piper. It’s clear from this recording that Todd has spent years perfecting his material and stand up style. His second-perfect timing and handling of the audience is evident in spades, and you find yourself listening to the album with a desire to be in the venue with the audience rather than listening to it from the comfort of home (or your nearest available Tube seat during rush hour).

If this album does one thing, it highlights a gap in the comedy market in the UK. In America, any remotely successful stand-up is be signed up to a minor record label and releases their stand-up material whenever they can, with a hope of getting more coverage and gigs. This was how acts like David Cross, Chris Rock and Bill Hicks got noticed and built a faithful underground fanbase. In Britain though, there is a bizarre and worrying lack of this practice, with often the only way to hear a particular act is by attending a live gig, watching dodgy footage of the stand-up on YouTube or buying a CD taken from the audio of a live DVD (the latter simply exacerbating the problem mentioned above since now you know for sure that there’s something visual you’re patently missing out on). Perhaps it’s time that some labels in the UK woke up and started to look into professionally recording stand-ups in their natural habitat, especially with Edinburgh just around the corner. Until then, I guess we’ll just have to do with Americans like Todd filling up the market. Come to think of it, that’s not such a bad thing after all.

Todd Barry – From Heaven is available now. Click here to buy the CD or click here to visit his website

DVD: Futurama – The Beast with a Billion Backs

Under-appreciated tv shows don’t die, they just go to DVD and find a new life in the vain hope of resurrection. Also known as ‘Matt Groening’s Other Show’, Futurama had a decidedly loyal but ultimately small fanbase that ensured the show was killed off arguably in its prime followed by a slavish campaign to encourage the network to bring the show back.

Alas, another series seems out of the question for the time being but Futurama has at least been granted a reprieve in the shape of four animated films which began with Bender’s Big Score, a much maligned effort that played more like an extended episode of the tv series.

The Beast With A Billion Backs picks up where Bender’s Big Score left off, with a giant rift in the universe opening over Earth. A month down the line and everything has returned to normal with our heroes getting back to their lives. Fry is struggling to cope with a polygamous relationship while Amy is getting married. Further exploration of the rift reveals that only living matter can travel through it but before anyone can go back, a mission commanded by Zap Brannigan is ordered to seek out and destroy whatever is on the other side.

Lo and behold, the crew of this mission run into the beast of the title, a many-tentacled creature (think pink octopus rather than Urotsikidoji-style anime violation) that upon its return to Earth with Fry, a stowaway on the mission, begins mating with everyone. What follows is a tale addressing the big questions of love and religion, often at the same time.

A vast improvement over Bender’s Big Score, The Beast With A Billion Backs still feels like an extended episode of the television series and as such there’s a tendency for it to occasionally veer into quite tired territory. Fans of Futurama will naturally not come away disappointed, even when its starting to drag, the show is still funnier than a great deal of other shows masquerading as comedy. There’s plenty here for ardent fans as well as newcomers but there is certainly an emphasis on the latter. For fans of the show, there are plenty of bonus features. This is a well-featured disc with plenty of extras that are often criminally more funny than the film.

With two down and two to go, it’s safe to say that Futurama’s foray into the realm of the direct-to-DVD feature works but it’s clearly a show that is more at home in half hour episodes.

Click here you buy your own shiny disc of animated pixelform mirth

LIVE: Todd Barry – Soho Theatre (27/6/2008)

In the UK, Todd Barry’s flyers describe him as a ‘cult comedian’ which as he dryly points out at the beginning of the show should really pack them in while in Ireland he is billed as a rock star. His show opens with a quirky spoof chat show entitled ‘American Comedians in London’ which sets the tone as Barry and the host quickly come to the conclusion that Barry’s Sunday night show is probably the best one to go to (if only Todd had bothered to book the venue for that night). The warm-up over, Barry enters stage left and reminds us all that his video forms part of the hour we’ve paid for (it doesn’t).

Barry’s set is not a test though less mortals might be forgiven for thinking otherwise, his deadpan tone scarcely wavering as he relentlessly passes judgement on life’s minutiae such as the advent of the Bluetooth headset. Barry’s frustrations with the trivial and patently ridiculous are all delivered with a laconic militancy which puts the audience at ease without the need for any hysteric. You wonder if Barry is even capable of such a trait.

As the hour rolls on, Barry begins deftly bouncing his act off the audience, venturing off-piste and firing back with several adroit put-downs. There’s a real charm to Barry’s act, he comes across as being the living personification of how exasperated we all feel from time to time with the continual drudge of modern living. His punch lines come quick, the material clever and disarming much like Barry himself.

It’s said that Todd Barry is one of the funniest comics you’ve never heard of (at least in the UK unless you’re clamouring for a reprise of his role as a campus security guard in Todd Phillips’s teen ‘comedy’ Road Trip) and this show certainly reaffirms that proposition. For the less hardy audience member, Barry’s style might take some getting used to (the thought of sixty minutes of it might even have you second guessing your decision to buy a ticket) but persevere, Barry is far funnier than he’ll ever admit to.

Click here for more Todd Barry action.

COMPETITION: Taxi Season 1

The classic TV sitcom Taxi is finally coming to DVD!

Taxi is one of the defining shows of the 70s, and the much-loved character-driven comedy features the likes of Marilu Henner, Tony Danza, Danny DeVito and the genius of Andy Kaufman.

When Taxi debuted in 1978 it quickly worked its way into the pantheon of sitcom classics and this collection features all 22 episodes from the Emmy Award-winning show’s debut series.

We have three copies to give away, and to enter our competition, just answer this question:

In Man On The Moon, the biopic of Taxi star Andy Kaufman, who played the lead?

A. Matt Damon

B. Mark Speight

C. Jim Carrey

Send your answers to competitions@the-void.co.uk before the end of May. Good luck!

INTERVIEW: John DiMaggio

That’s right boys and girls – Bender the robot from Futurama.

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There are two things you need to know about John DiMaggio. One – you know when he’s around because suddenly you can hear Bender the robot whistling. And two – if you ever get the opportunity to chat to the former stand-up comedian, prepare yourself for him to do most of the talking and for you to try desperately not to wet yourself laughing. The Void was fortunate to get a little face time with the man behind the shiny metal ass.

“There was a lot of touching myself which I’m not very proud of. It was very difficult, there was a lot of chafing – it sucked.”

The exuberant John DiMaggio has just been explaining what he’s been up to in the four years since Futurama was brutally axed from our screens. While John went off to do other work for Disney, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network, fans of the show were doing everything they could to get it brought back. Add this to the fact that creators Matt Groening and David X. Cohen kept it on the burners and Fox’s corporate bods started to rethink their decision to ditch it.

“It’s funny because I had a feeling we would be able to do something again, I really did,” says John. But rather than bringing back the show for a new series, the team dreamt up four feature-length episodes, starting with Bender’s Big Score. In true Futurama style, the writers have thought up as many off-the-wall storylines they can with Bender being infected with a virus by alien nudists, the secret of time-travel being discovered in a strange place and a whole new reason for Al Gore losing the election to George Bush.

“He must have just laughed pretty hard, it’s silly,” muses John, when asked about Gore’s possible reaction to this particular plotline. Gore’s daughter Kristen writes for the show, hence his long term involvement, but John still gets excited when recounting his first meeting with the former VP.

“I came up to him like ‘um, Mr Vice-President, I’m John DiMaggio, I just wanted to says it’s a pleasure to meet you, I play the voice of Bender on the show’ and he goes ‘I know you…I know you’. And he shakes my hand… I mean it might as well have been John Lennon for crying out loud! I could have been like ‘Oh my God, he touched my hand!’ I mean, forget about it, that was a trip!” he laughs.

It’s very difficult to not get swept up with John’s enthusiasm for a show he so clearly loves. He rattles on cheerfully about his co-stars and the writers he trusts to “bring the funny” and happily chats about anything we ask, such as his beat-boxing (“I didn’t have enough money for a drum-kit!”) doing “duelling Zoidberg” voices with co-star Billy West – in Zoidberg’s voice: “Cardboard? Delicious! And so full of fibre”, plus other voice artists like Frank Welker. “Do you know what he can do? He can do like a flock of birds, an entire flock of birds and one bird will have a cough!”

As for Bender, we’ve had four seasons to develop our love for the alcohol-swilling, porn-loving bending unit and one wonders whether it would be quite the same if the original voice John had in mind had been used. “I auditioned for both the professor and Bender and they had me audition for the professor in the Bender voice, so if you can imagine…”

With that, he adopts the famous voice for the first of several occasions and starts doing the professor’s lines as Bender. And while hearing him do the voice makes us internally squeal with delight, it’s a great relief to think that they went for the casting that they did, with John’s original Bender voice (which sounds like Barry White) being assigned to the character of URL (pronounced like Earl), the robot cop (“Ohhh yeaaahhh, I’m gonna get all 24th century on your ass” John demonstrates).

The Bender we know and love comes from a combination of three things, according to John; the drunk at the end of every bar, Slim Pickens from Blazing Saddles and a character invented by an old college buddy, called Charlie the Sausage lover (the character not the college buddy), which sees John start holding court on sausages in order to demonstrate what is basically Bender’s voice.

But John does have one problem with the show – watching episodes with his friends. “I have to shut them up!” he moans, demonstrating, “I don’t want to pause this now… okay go to the bathroom, I’ll pause it for Cristssake!

“Yeah my friends are awful, they are really awful people,” he says, leaning into the recorder to re-iterate, “my friends are AWFUL!”

“It’s funny,” he laughs, “I shut them up for other people’s parts. Not just ‘hey, check out what Bender does’…the professor has a moment – ‘hey you missed the line…you missed the bit’…’you missed the Morbo bit, how could you miss the Morbo bit?!’”

While John is clearly happy keeping Futurama going, it’s not yet safe to declare the show back for good. There are three more DVD films to come out and if they do well, hopefully more will follow. “With these straight-to-DVD movies it could go on until… it’s got an infinite life span as long as everyone is still alive and stories are still being written, it’s totally cool! As long as we can do stuff like this, I’m game!”       Louise Steggals

Read our review of Bender’s Big Score here, and buy a copy for yourself by clicking here.