Stewart Lee‘s show at the Smirnoff Underbelly was a riot. Well, not an actual riot thankfully, but pretty funny. He even recycled a terrible old gag successfully. Battery still low and quite tired but consider that another recommendation.

Despite a shaky start, a less than polished performance and the denigration of Sylvester McCoy’s Doctor, British Television Explained was pretty funny. My battery’s running low so I won’t go into detail but, along with some of my own gags from the past I was amused to see in a show, there were some good bits about regional TV, swearing and the IRA. Off now to see Stewart Lee.

Ben Moor’s spooky one man show is an enthralling adaptation of the book by Jonathan Carroll. The lighting, audio and video clips evoke an increasingly chilling atmosphere as Moor delivers you into the strange world of Ingram York. The characters are believable and the story unnerving. And the whole was so intriguing I’ve just been to Waterstone’s on Princes Street and picked up Carroll’s two most recent novels. Definitely worth seeing, all the more so if you have a sci-fi/horror inclination.

Blogging by phone again, this time from Edinburgh. Went to see a play in a bar called Drinking and Writing (Volume II – the first part plays on alternative nights). It’s a literary history of prohibition, entertainingly relayed – complete with audience interaction – by three Americans. Definitely worth a look, even – or perhaps especially – if you know little about early 20th century American literature.

The show I’ve just come out of was Richard Herring‘s The Twelve Tasks of Hercules Terrace. Nerdy but hilarious, I’ve failed to take Rich’s advice to forget CNPS (now on 31). Laughed loads, in particular at the late Norris McWhirter. Also ran into The Actor Ben Moor at the first show. Hopefully didn’t frighten him by knowing who he was. I’ve promised to try to see his show, Black Cocktail. More shows to see tomorrow…