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TELL THE REAL COMEDY STARS FROM THE JOKERS AND CLOWNS

StandupCom Magazine's CHRIS WILSON previews the stand-up comedy shows at the Edinburgh Fringe 2002



EVERY year stand-up comedy forms a greater chunk of the Edinburgh Fringe - and the choice of shows can seem more daunting than before.

To the newcomer, it may be almost impossible to separate the excellent shows from the mediocre or plain bad ones. So to help, here's our tips for comedy at the 2002 Fringe.

The first thing to remember about the festival is that virtually anyone with enough money to spend can put on a comedy production. The performers, therefore, range from the top professionals in the business to poorly-rehearsed amateurs.

At the top end of the professional scale, American comedy star Rich Hall - a former Emmy and Perrier awards winner - is bound to be superb as sickly musical jailbird Otis Lee Crenshaw (at the Assembly Rooms from August 18-26, exc. Aug 25) and also with U.S. gagster Mike Wilmot (Assembly Rooms, Aug 2-26, exc. 5 and 12). The pace and sharpness of their comedy are rarely matched.

Another veteran, Aussie-Irish funnyman Jimeoin - whose humour is as gentle as it is hilarious - is back at the Assembly Rooms from August 2-26 (not 2 and 19).

Boothby Graffoe - pictured above - returns in all his glory (at the Assembly Rooms for most of August). He is one of the most consistently-brilliant comics in the UK but has still not won the recognition he deserves.

And Ben and Arn also return - with Le Best of Priorite a Gauche, which will be very a hot ticket. The British send-up of French pop rappers is a joy but, sadly, will run for four nights only (at Queens Hall, from August 22-25).

The fantastic comedian and magician Jerry Sadowitz is in two shows, Jerry Sadowitz - More Card Tricks and Close-up Magic (Edinburgh Central Library, August 1-10) and Two Nights Only (August 19-20). Not only is Sadowitz perhaps the most uncompromising stand-up in the world, he's also one of the funniest.

What about newer talent?

Well, Rob Rouse is taking his first solo show to the Fringe - at the Gilded Balloon Teviot (for most of August). Rouse performed at the three previous Fringes as part of the three-man comedy combo, Big & Daft. He is also an accompanished club act, so his first full-length show on his ownsome is not to be missed.

Another fine club comic, Hal Cruttenden, is performing his first full-length show, Hal, from August 1-25 (Smirnoff Underbelly, Edinburgh Central Library). It will be fascinating to see what he comes up with.

Rob Deeringalso makes his full-length Edinburgh show debut - with The Facts, a very amusing Powerpoint slide show looking at his life and obsessions. It's a surefire success, and on at the Pleasance from July 31 to August 21 (except Aug 6 and 20).

Britain's only-known deaf comic Steve Day brings us his first show - Deaf in the Afternoon - and it should be good. Day has defined his deafness into funnier and funnier comedy material over the last couple of years and is ripe for thiss solo show, at the Smirnoff Underbelly, Edinburgh Central Library, from August 1-10.

There is also fairly good selection of double acts or team shows.

Oram and Meeton are back after good performances at Edinburgh in previous years. They are improving all the time and may well hit the comedy jackpot with this year's show (at the Pleasance, July 31 to August 26).

Big Value Comedy usually puts on good, long bills at a reasonable price, at the Cafe Royal (August 1-25).

These tips are by no means perfect. Remember, there may be many other good or even great comedy shows at the Fringe. Conversely, any comedian can have a bad night.

If you want to play safe, check out some of these fabulous stand-ups - Omid Djalili (Pleasance, most of August; Queen's Hall, Aug 23-24), Ross Noble (Pleasance, July 31-August 26), Daniel Kitson (Pleasance, most of August), and Alan Francis (Gilded Balloon, August 2-25.

Have fun!

Chris Wilson