Elliot Steel: Merked (Off The Kerb / PBH's Free Fringe)
Elliot Steel starts uneasily, perched on a high stool on a stage far above the audience, looking rather vulnerable. It's a rather apt metaphor for his show, which revolves around the themes of male bravado and the deep anxieties which often lie behind it. He appears disenchanted by his Fringe experience but his spirits pick up as he slowly builds rapport with a slightly reserved audience. Though his delivery is rather rushed at times, his material cuts deeper than most and his take on disenfranchised white men and the far right is particularly good. Clearly a comic with great potential, who will, no doubt, one day look back and acknowledge that playing midday slots to small audiences is all part of the learning process.
PBH Bannermans, until 25 Aug.
tw rating 3/5 | [Charlie Ellis]

99 (First World) Problems Feat Andy Quirk And Anna J (Free Festival)
Any show that depends on enthusiastic audience participation is going to be hampered when the performers fail to create a rapport with the audience. So it proved with this rather weak effort at rap-based comedy about the annoyances of contemporary life. The duo should have kept the songs at the heart of the show, rather than continuing their increasingly desperate efforts to encourage audience participation. The show reached its nadir with an attempt at a modern day soliloquy about smart phones (it was hard to determine whether this was a parody or not) and a highly patronising attempt to converse with an audience member whose first language wasn't English. There were some moments of promise but things fizzled out fairly quickly.
Laughing Horse @ Sofi's Southside, until 25 Aug.
tw rating 2/5 | [Charlie Ellis]

MUSIC

The Cheap Part Of Town (Louis Rive)
Louis Rive gave a fine performance, very much in the storytelling folk tradition but with a fresh feel. Edinburgh born and bred, Rive's accent comes through clearly when he sings, while his thoughtful lyrics avoid the portentousness often associated with the genre. Despite a guitar that had recently been dropped on the Royal Mile setts, his playing and warm, soulful voice resonated through the room. Highlight's included 'Streetlights of London', his Phil Ochs-esque account of an ill-fated period in the city, and 'Hard Living in the Old World' - a beautifully sung description of some of the harsh realities of his life in Spain. It can only be hoped that Rive makes more return visits to his home town.
The Acoustic Music Centre, run ended.
tw rating 4/5 | [Charlie Ellis]

THEATRE

HOTTER (Ellie Keel Productions and HOTTER Project)
Faux fur, funky tunes and finger fun: Ell Potter and Mary Higgins flamboyantly delve into all things sex. In a playful yet thought-provoking piece, the women re-enact a series of verbatim interviews, each exploring what gets people hot and, in turn, revealing the diversity of experience regarding sexuality. The rip-roaring comic moments added poignancy to the heartfelt tonal switches, exposing the pair's personal relationship with one another and with their bodies, which felt beautifully honest and raw. Experimental use of props, dance and visuals were blended seamlessly, representing the universal frustrations and insecurities we have with our bodies. The physicality of each distinct character was expressive and thoroughly engaging, although certain stories could have been explored further. This empowering experience filled the room with laughter, tears and even had us bopping along with them.
Underbelly Cowgate, until 25 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Ella Dorman-Gajic]

Love (Watching Madness) (SpeakUp Theatre)
Effortlessly heartbreaking and emotionally raw, this autobiographical one-woman show explores Izzy Kabban's experiences of growing up under the weight of her mother's undiagnosed mental illness. As both writer and performer, she poetically captures the nuances of her formative years with her mother - the unremitting love between them juxtaposed with the frustrations of caring for her. These spellbindingly honest vignettes were echoed through the powerful visual metaphor of paper letters sinking in water. Explorations of these traumas are incredibly affecting, and left me streaming with tears. Clearer distinctions between characters and places could add further to this beautifully intimate piece of theatre - one that punches you in the gut and makes you realise the importance of family.
Pleasance Courtyard, until 26 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Ella Dorman-Gajic]

My Mum's A Twat (Showroom)
Autobiographical shows can always be commended for their authenticity, at least. But being true doesn't make a story inherently good, or worth telling. In this entirely stripped back production, Anoushka Warden reveals how her mum rightfully earned the title of "twat". It's a somewhat interesting premise; when Warden was 10, her mum got sucked into a spiritual healing centre (ie, a cult) in Canada that "ate organic and vegetarian food before anyone gave a shit". There are amusing moments and the writing captures aspects of her teenage defiance, but it fails to really deliver due to a tonally flat performance lacking any vigour. Thematically interesting in part, this story could have potential. As it is, however, it just chugs along relentlessly.
Summerhall, until 25 Aug.
tw rating 2/5 | [Amy Bonar]

Play Before Birth (Coast to Coast Theatre Company)
It's said that having children is the worst thing one can do to our planet, and 'Play Before Birth' explored this timely conundrum through the conflicting attitudes of four women. One character's conviction that surgical sterilisation will save the planet was intriguing, but she seemed to be there to primarily serve a function, leaving little room for tensions around childbirth to build organically, or for relationships to evolve. Although this piece had some engaging, emotive moments, there were also times when the actors lacked any clear intention. When the naturalistic world moved into more surreal territories, it was barely refuted by the characters, which seemed implausible. Nonetheless, this thought-provoking play raised some unremittingly bleak questions, which certainly reflected its important subject matter, but didn't inspire much hope.
Greenside @ Infirmary Street, until 24 Aug.
tw rating 3/5 | [Ella Dorman-Gajic]

Red Herring (Gardyloo)
If you combined a nautical version of Dylan Thomas's 'Under Milk Wood' with a family friendly, 'Mighty Boosh' feel and a few fish puns, you might get close to describing this sweet and surreal comedy. Set in a seemingly nondescript coastal village, two bumbling fisherman stumble upon a red herring that, unluckily for them, will cast a curse if they don't manage to put their catch back in the sea. With quirky songs, rhyming couplets, and an impressive display of multi-rolling, they move through a series of ridiculous vignettes –from encountering every fish imaginable, to mystical sea creatures and village folk who are more eccentric than folklore legends themselves. Full of magic and charm, this beguiling story will ignite your childlike wonder for what lurks beneath the seabed.
Zoo PlayGround, until 26 Aug.
tw Rating 4/5 | [Amy Bonar]