Opal Lounge
Aug 3-19 (18:15)
Bonum Vinum Laetificat Cor Hominis
Situated in the basement bar of Opal Lounge, & tucked away in one of Laughing Horse’s more intimate rooms, we are presented with a collaboration of four comedians in their debut Edinburgh Fringe show, Gigl. Kicking off the proceedings, MC Abbie Cole gathered up the audience and quickly catapulted them into a frenzy of laughter! Introducing the four acts as they took to the stage, Abbie was taking no prisoners. Delivering a sea of cheeky, witty jokes, Abbie reeled us in like a struggling swordfish on a fishing hook.
As South East Londoner Scott Oswald glided onto the stage the energy level increased tenfold – it felt more like a High Energy Disco from the 1970s than a comedy sketch show. Hitting the audience hard and fast, he whent straight for the jugular, & no quarter was given. Scott’s ability to draw an analogy between one thing and another was genius, a sure crowd-pleaser.
Next up a beautifully Irish-accented Sadbh Peters scratched and itched her way towards the microphone stand. Like an Olympic starting gun going off, Sadbh was out the blocks firing on all cylinders. Scanning the audience like a Terminator, Sadbh delivered a concoction of humorous jokes that had the audience laughing like hyenas. If Sadbh thought life was going to be one big train ride then surely she was mistaken, for she is now a comedian ! Mischievous, sweet, funny, quirky, endearing and hilarious Sadbh delivered on all fronts inspiring affection within her comedy. Don’t get of that train just yet, as everything is gravy.
Staying on the right tracks in comedy is no easy task, but Brand Boy Matt Smith was certainly doing something right, unlike his mobile phone contract! Twisting and turning Matt invites the audience to take a journey through the world of folding cars, sexual orientation, origami and living in Japan. Matt’s accuracy, exactness and expression of detail was delivered with venom. Precise, direct and unwavering, the temperature in the room began to rise.
Last up was Ancika Mester. A proud Ozzy with more caffeine in her system than Starbucks sells in a year. Bouncing and giggling, Ancika thrusted the crowd into their latest frenzy with her story-telling comedy. Whipped cream, sweat and wild tongues, not to mention a particular type of vegetable created a cocktail of side-splitting laughs. Ancika left the stage with the audience eating out of her hand. It must have been the whipped cream.
GIGL is a comedy like no other at Edinburgh Fringe. The idea of four unique and talented Comedians joining forces to create such diversity within an hour’s comedy was genius. It’s courageous, funny and refreshing. If the room was hot the comedy was even hotter. Probably the best Free comedy show in town this Fringe, and if your wish is to visit unknown places, GIGL is for you !
Raymond Speedie
Mumble Comedy 