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My memory seems a lot less sharp than usual (or maybe it’s always like this at this stage of the Fringe - I can’t remember). Tonight I had nearly 300 in and after a couple of quiet nights the pretty much full theatre lifted my spirits and it was the best performance for a while. But I forgot (I think, I might just have forgotten that I remembered it) one of the sure fire hit early jokes, which was really annoying. Because then I remembered that I forgot, but conscious that I might have misremembered and actually done the joke and just forgotten, I didn’t dare slip it back in, in case I was repeating myself (which would be even worse). Maybe it’s the early signs of mental decline, or maybe I am just tired. The rest of the show came out really well.
It’d had been another full day. Another nearly full theatre in the afternoon for what would have been the final RHEFP of the year, had I not, perhaps hubristically decided to stick another one in next week (it’s 3.40 on 25th August at the New Town Theatre and one of the guests will be John Robins - there is no publicity or advertising material for these shows, so would appreciate you spreading the word!
Book here). And although Jason Manford got the wrong time, he eventually showed up and I just switched the order of the guests. Chatting first to the lovely Iain Stirling about CBeebies, the Amazing Bubble Man and narrating pornography and then to my Radio Times Nemesis, Manford about coincidence, comedy clubs and the merging of the working and middle classes. It flew by and really lifted my spirits.
Listen to it here.
I have to say, if I haven’t written a stand up show, I quite fancy the idea of doing an entire run of these shows again. I am not sure I’d be selling hundreds of tickets a gig if I was on every day, but sold nearly 1000 for those first 3 gigs.
I had my first mini night out on the town of the Fringe, drinking two beers and staying out til 10.30 with some friends who came to see the show. I bumped into Tommy Tiernan on the way to the bar and realised as I spoke to him that we’ve never actually met before. I may be wrong, but I can’t think of when we’ve ever chatted or been on the same bill. But we’re both comedians and thus understand one another and I had an interesting and pleasant chat with him about the ups and downs of playing in one theatre for a month and why that’s more tiring than being on the road. I felt too awkward to ask him to guest on my podcast, but I hope I can get him for the London one some day.
It's not like I've been much of a social animal at the more recent fringes I've been to, but I haven't missed going out after the shows. Once upon a time at the Fringe my stomach and brain burned with humiliation if I didn't find anyone to talk or drink to and the idea of heading home early and missing out on potential excitement was beyond comprehension. But now I enjoy being on my own (as well as enjoying bumping into pals or people who have liked my show) and am happy to get back to the flat, even if my family are already sleeping. Being 50 is actually a massive relief after the ball-ache of being in your 20s and 30s.
But nice to find out that Tommy Tiernan is as humble, polite and wise as I imagined him to be. When I imagined I had met him before.
