Fringe Diary – Day 5: Cardboard Chaos, Sold-Out Stars & Fringe Time Warps

Day 5. At least, I think it’s Day 5. Could be Day 6. Could be next Thursday. Fringe time is like dog years — I’ll probably still be writing these a week after the festival’s finished.

Last night was a half-full room, but a good one. A little quieter than the night before, but warm, generous, and up for it. Not quite the “overflowing buckets” of earlier in the week, but still a show I was happy with. The energy’s… so-so today, but that’s because I might still be a little hungover from yesterday’s “wee drinky drink” after the gig. Nothing mental just some down time, the Canon’s Gait was quiet so I took full advantage of that

The bus from Fountainbridge to the Royal Mile took me an hour and ten minutes. Fringe traffic is ridiculous. A local woman told me if she ever came close to a panic attack, it’d be during the festival. I told her I’m a comedian and even I hate it — got a laugh, but possibly also confirmed her fears.

Highlight of the day was bumping into Vittorio Angelone. Lovely wee chat about his run — though I couldn’t get a ticket to his show even if I wanted to. He’s been sold out since before the Fringe even started. That’s how popular he is. Maybe one day I’ll get to that level.

Tonight should be lively — the Dutch Brothers are on, and they’re out flyering with their third “member”… a life-sized cardboard cut-out. They’ve already been sending me videos of people taking photos with it, so hopefully they’ll shift some tickets for tonight’s show. Helps that lemco, looks and sounds like Bradley Cooper! What's more weird is I genuinely had an audience member is the show last night, the name on the ticket? " Bradley Cooper " I shit you not.

They’re bringing a couple of friends and partners along too, which should make for a nice full room.

Bradley Cooper

I’m also bringing my Partner along tonight. Plan is a wee dinner beforehand, then straight into the show. No mad drinking — just normal vibes (well, Fringe “normal”), then back home after.

Yesterday I did Ian Christopher’s Irish Headliners at the Caves — lovely room, great banter Bit quieter than usual, but it was a Tuesday. Ian runs a tight ship — which is saying something when your crew’s full of Irish comics.

And now? Nap time. Because that’s 41 for you. Weekend’s coming, Oasis are in town at Murrayfield, and things are about to get properly mental. So yeah — you’ve just got to roll with it. Pun intended.