comedy feature

And Now For A Story

Guest Ramblings: Andrew J Lederer

Omid Djalili will be writing this column next week.

If he were writing it this week and I was next up, you would immediately realise how important I am. But with me coming first and everything, you won’t know how important I am until you retrospectively realise it next week. So, I had to tell you about the Lederer/Djalili equivalency. Otherwise, you’d have ignored me and moved on to the Quick Quiz, where, this week, you’ll learn why a small, Ohio theatre company decided to perform a live version of ‘Spaceballs’ in a toxic waste dump in Leith. Well, you’ll get to that soon enough. First, I offer this unique insight (this may come as a shock): People love a good story.

As art progressed through history, stories mutated into more complex forms: plays, songs, films, paintings. In Edinburgh this year, audiences can still hear simple, unadorned stories, culled from the life experiences of people just like them. There are lots of story shows this year; ‘The Liar Show’, ‘Storytellers’ Club’, ‘Shaggers’... I urge you to attend them all.
But I especially urge you to attend ‘Anthology’.

Of the aforementioned shows, only ‘Anthology’ is composed solely of comedians doing what they do best; talking. No songs, no games, no themes. Each comic tells a true story from his or her life.

Of course, I feel connected to the other shows. I’ll be appearing in each of them at least once. Their hosts and regulars will all be doing ‘Anthology’ (plus, Sarah of ‘Storytellers’ Club’ has substitute-hosted ‘Anthology’ and I owe Andy Christie of ‘The Liar Show’ $20).

But ‘Anthology’, (which this year will feature Jo Caulfield, Richard Herring, Scott Capurro, Paul Sinha, Josie Long, James Campbell and others) isn’t in the Fringe Programme so it needs extra care and attention. If you can find The Counting House each day at 12:50pm, you’ll be treated to a fine show, unavailable elsewhere at any price.

Did I mention it’s free?

I guess I introduced this kind of show to the Fringe back in 2005 – Lizzie Roper said this format reveals which comedians are genuinely funny – and as I see the field expanding, I must confess that I feel a sort-of pride (I also feel somewhat competitive). And with all the shows mentioned here, plus full length story shows from people like Terry Saunders, this year’s Festival could easily be ‘The Year of the Story’.

So, whaddaya say? Let’s keep this juggernaut going.

Support comedic storytelling. Especially my show. You know Omid would want you to.

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Andrew J Lederer's 'Anthology' was on at The Counting House.

published: Oct-2008

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