Punchline Recommends Tom Binns is Ian D Montfort: How to Touch Dead People

Words by Iain McLaren

In a world ruled by science let go of your inner sceptic and give yourself over to the brilliant and ethereally tuned Ian D Montfort. In his new show he attempts to explain his gift from his own unique perspective with “real” life laugh a minute examples. Whether it’s speaking with the spirits, angels and your dead pets or divining the future and reading your mind, Ian will convince you that the best way to deal with the supernatural is with belly laughs and a realisation that not everything can be or is worth really trying to explain. Catch a glimpse of the other side before the end of the Fringe and while Ian’s mystical energies are at their peak.

See Tom Binns is Ian D Montfort: How to Touch Dead People at 8pm at Assembly George Square Studios until 28 August

plus Tom Binns: Summertime Special with Ivan Brackenbury and Ian D Montfort at the same venue at 1pm until 28 August

See our oringial recommendation for the best 2016 Fringe shows here

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Punchline recommends Larry Dean: Farcissist

Words by Iain McLaren

Most of us have had a bad date or two in our search for that special someone, but few can share those stories in the same hilarious and engaging manner as Larry Dean. Join him for an hour of honesty delivered by a someone with a keen eye for the funny side of life and an amazing ability to share it with everyone. This comedian is just coming in to the height of his powers, expect big things!

See our recommendation as part of the best 2016 Fringe shows here and see the man himself at the Pleasance Courtyard at 7.15pm every night until 28 August. Tickets and info here

Punchline Recommends Adam Hess: Feathers

Word by Ross Stark

Adam Hess gives his all in this fast paced, frantic but wonderfully funny hour.

Like a toddler high on Haribo, he runs down the aisle and leaps to the stage. The first 30 minutes are frantic, in fact the whole show is; so many stories, so little time. Without pause he rattles through his routine at lightening speed.

This is Hess’s style and he works it so well, knowing exactly what he’s doing as he blitzes through the first few jokes, barely leaving any time for laughter. When he does eventually pause there is an almighty roar as uncontrollable laughter sweeps throughout the room. Young to old, every single person seems to be in fits.

Hess is full of wonderful material, from interviews to dates, parents to school. All topics doing the the same thing; painting this wonderful picture of a socially awkward but hysterically funny guy. Hess is renowned for his great one liners and though he delivers plenty within this set they suddenly seem second best to these excellent anecdotes.

Genuinely one of the funniest shows I have seen this fringe. Adam Hess is highly recommended.

Catch Adam Hess: Feathers at 4.10pm at Heroes @ The Hive until 28 August

Lazy Susan answer Punchline’s Burning Questions

Photo by Bobby Goulding

What is the best advice for a new performer in Edinburgh? 

Flyer and talk to people – you are the best person to sell your show. Commit to every aspect of your show when you perform it – your show will have flaws but try not to point out where they are. People will start coming if you do these things, so don’t worry about hype and PR and posters and all that. The one thing you have control over is your show, so just do the best job you can of that. Know that it’s very hard to do all the above so it’s ok if you don’t. Try not to flyer with the kind of earnest sincerity expressed in this answer. 

What is the best advice for a new festival goer?

Set off with an umbrella, snacks and a good knowledge of cash points. Set a timer to go off in February so you can still get tickets for James Acaster. 

What do you have to have in your fridge during August?

 The big four: butter, milk, veg, jam.

What is the weirdest after-show comment you have had from an audience member?

We’ve never had anything that weird that I can recall. Of course we get the backhanded compliment, ‘I don’t normally find women funny but you guys were alright’ fairly often, but that’s more wearisome than weird. 

Which living person would you like to spot in your audience?

Dolly Parton. I love her in the simplest, truest way. 

What is the best non-Fringe thing about the city of Edinburgh?

The landscape.  

How do you relieve Fringe cabin fever?

Going and exploring the above. Or getting a hair-cut. Very soothing. 

Who or what last made you laugh like a hyena at the Fringe?

It’s always going to be Lou Sanders. A classier idiot there is not. 

Tell us about your 2016 show.

It’s very compact and stylish. Perfect with a cocktail! Less evasively, it’s character / sketch / less categorisable bits. It’s called ‘Crazy Sexy Fool’ and this title is pretty spot on. What luck!

What are the best shows at the Fringe apart from yours?

Have not seen enough to be any authority here BUT we loved ‘My Name is Gideon’. Unique, unassuming and full of soul. You won’t see anything like it. 

When you go home and your friends say “How was Edinburgh?”, what will you say?

September – ‘Relentless. Knackering. Up and down.’ 

October – ‘Pretty good’ 

December – ‘Time of my life, I’m going again.’ 

Catch Lazy Susan: Crazy Sexy Fool at 7.15pm at the Pleasance Courtyard until 29 August and as part of Massive Lazy Girls at 11.30pm on 24-28 August

Punchline Recommends: Steen Raskopoulos – You Know the Drill

Words by Suzy Romer

This is it. This is the adrenaline-charged, big-laugh, blow-away show I have been waiting to see like a storm chaser after a perfect storm. Steen Raskopoulos has a magic onstage presence which overtakes the audience right from the beginning. In fact he has a couple of us literally standing to attention within moments of coming on stage. In a cramped venue with tightly packed seating, he brings us together in a wave of support and readiness to play the game which is just as well because the audience participation is substantial. Oh yes, ladies and gentlemen, no one is exempt, although Steen does seem to have an uncanny ability to choose people who are great performers. He lets his freshly chosen co-stars shine, as there is no threat of humiliation, only the promise of a great situation and great laughs. It would be unfair to give away any of his incredibly original ideas but they are surprising and daring enough to make you wonder if you should go back another night to see how it compares.

But this is not improvisation. The show is tightly scripted with complex, imaginative use of audio recordings and fantastic character comedy. Without using sentimentality or cuteness, he simply becomes a lost little boy who is immediately gathered into everyone’s hearts. He also does a splendid movie doctor having a crisis of confidence but he adds new twists which cause delight at every turn. Steen was here two years ago but he has upped his game so much, he is now one of the major comedy players. If ya ain’t seen Steen, get your donkey in gear because this guy is slip sliding towards great things and you should catch him while you can.

Steen Raskopoulos is on at 7.40pm at Underbelly, Cowgate until 28 August. You can also see him in an improvisation show called The Bear Pack with Carlo Ritchie at Underbelly Cowgate from 16 August.