Celia Pacquola, Flying Solos, Gilded Balloon, 18 August 2010

Many of the shows in the smaller rooms at the Guilded Balloon can be hit and miss affairs. This one though was certainly a hit with myself and the rest of the audience I believe. Celia Pacquola came across as charming and affable. During her show (which started slightly awkwardly I thought) she won the audience round and by the end we were cheering and whooping for her.

There seems to be a popular theme running through many of the shows that I've seen this year, which celebrates the fun that can be had in life's small achievements. There are several examples running through this show although two in particular (one achievement of Celia's Mum and one of her own) form the backbone of the hour. I wont spoil anything by going into detail.

This is a well structured and polished routine. It's also a personal story and the audience really warms to Celia. She has a range of great expressions and quips that make you feel like Celia's friend in this intimate venue. There are occasional videos of Celia's efforts and her Mum that just adds to the warmth and suspense.

So by the end you want her to be successful with her solos and her show and Celia receives wholehearted applause and affirmation for her endeavour.

Nick Mohammed is Mr Swallow, Pleasance Courtyard, 19 August 2010

I didn't know what to expect from this show as I didn't get around to seeing Nick's debut at last year's Fringe. In the year since, I have become more aware of him as he has made a few TV appearances, perhaps most notably in the Reggie Perrin remake where Nick plays a likeable if slightly obsequious underling.

So as the show title suggests this is character comedy where Nick assumes the role of Mr Swallow, memory coach. He starts by teaching us how to recall a shopping list and the humour comes from the character's shambolic attempts to impart his knowledge. Although he must have been at least slightly successful because I can still recall the list 24 hours later as I write this.

At one point Nick/Mr Swallow memorises the sequence of an entire deck of cards in seconds and recalls the exact order. This left the audience astounded. It really was either an impressive magic trick or more impressively still, the real thing and I believe it was the latter. You wonder whether the show was conceived around this stunning party piece.

Despite the lighthearted and brash nature of the character, a lot of the humour is surprisingly subtle and I could probably sit through the show again and still find new laughs. One of the top few shows that I've seen at this year's fringe, this was a really enjoyable hour.

Chris Addison, Assembly Rooms, 16 August 2010

I got the impression that Chris Addison could have have gone on for two or three times as long as he did and still been hilarious. He hardly paused for breath. He leaps around from topic to topic giving the impression that he has hours of material in reserve. At the end he glanced at his watch and abruptly finished. Was it really an hour?

The first few minutes were certainly off the top of his head. Recounting his morning ankle injury and subsequent trip to A&E. No wonder he has so much material because he can effortlessly weave a comic tale out of any anecdote or story without apparent preparation. Addison has an infectious enthusiasm drawn from his adrenaline which was also clearly masking the pain in his ankle as the hour progressed.

A thoroughly enjoyable show leaving me pondering whether I should return for another frenetic hour just to see if there is any repetition.

Bo Burnham, "Words, Words, Words", Pleasance Dome, 12 August 2010

I imagine that reviews of this show are going to be polarised. Bo is treading a line between arrogant, self obsessed, teenage overly introspective, too full of self importance and moody genius. Which side of that line he falls could well come down to what sort of mood you're in when you see him.

I chose the show because I kept reading comparisons with Tim Minchin. I think these are wide of the mark. Minchin's self-importance is overtly ironic. Burnham's is not and his musical talents are limited. It's all about the words though (as the title suggests) and there's plenty of them (despite the frequent angst silences) and these are delivered at speed both in and in-between songs. You'll need to concentrate if you're not familiar with his material.

Burnham's moodiness extends to the audience at times as he castigates individual members for a phone ringing (fair enough) and for not paying attention (a bit uncomfortable).

I think the humour probably clicks or it doesn't. It helps if you're young, female, American and you fancy him (there were plenty in the Queen Dome who fit this bill) and it doesn't help if you're old and annoyed that he started 30 minutes late because of a keyboard failure (he should really have a spare).

Tom Craine, Choirboy to Addict and Back Again, Pleasance Courtyard, 14 August 2010

At the start of his show Craine asked native Edinburgh residents to make themselves known. He mentioned that he had only had eight in all of his previous shows. Tonight (Saturday night) about 15 put their hands up. I've no idea why he asked, but he seemed a bit rushed and after a short 50 minute show he ran off at the end as if he was being chased.

I enjoyed the show. Craine's is a gentle humour as you might expect from an ex-choirboy, but maybe it didn't suit the Saturday night crowd that is different in character to a mid week audience.

As he explains, the addiction in the show title was nothing too shocking, just a student addiction to weed. The show is a confessional so familiar to the fringe. I recommend this if you like relaxing and friendly humour, but there are few belly laughs.

Greg Davies, Pleasance Courtyard, 9 August 2010

The choice of show belonged to Mrs Ferret I have to admit. I wasn't dragged kicking and screaming you understand. I am a fan of We Are Klang and all of its silly glory, it's just that I was expecting Greg's solo show to be a pared down version of that, simply one third of Klang. I was going to say dumbed down, but you know what I mean.

Well I was wrong I'm glad to say. This show headed off in a very unexpected direction and it was a lovely surprise. I certainly wasn't expecting to be jotting down words such as "life affirming" and "sentimental" into my notebook but I was. There's enough of the raucous infantility to satisfy Klangheads, but this was a personal and sometimes touching show which takes the audience on a journey through Greg's life from childhood to present day.

The story leapt from stepping stone to stepping stone of life events, jumping right over the important but mundane big issues, choosing instead to dwell on the small, silly, but heartwarming anecdotes that make life fun. The sort of reminiscing that you might have in the pub with old school pals. A thoroughly enjoyable hour.

Jeremy Lion Goes Green, Hens and Chickens, 25 July 2010

It's been a few years since anyone has seen Jeremy Lion in Edinburgh which is a shame and perhaps a surprise given the number of pubs and bars open late during the festival. For those who haven't attended one of Mr Lion's "children's" shows before it's probably worth pointing out that he is probably one of the last people that you would entrust your precious little ones to for an hour's entertainment.

The theme this time around is the environment. Not the first person you'd think of as an ambassador for the green cause you would think. Until that is he is visited by an apparition disturbing his midday nap one day. Or is it drink induced psychosis? And so starts a Scrooge-like journey as he is transported and confronted with the consequences of environmental neglect. It's a cross between A Christmas Carol and Dr Who. Well kind of.

For those who are familiar then this show will not disappoint. All the old ingredients are there: the over ambitiously crafted home made props, the laconic Hilary Cox and of course the relentless but hilarious pursuit of the next drink.