Aces and Eights

I took up a belated offer last night and headed to Aces and Eights in Tufnell Park for a couple of Edinburgh previews. Aisling Bea's "Plan B" looks set to cement her position as one of stand-up comedy's rising talents, following her Best Newcomer nomination at Edinburgh in 2013.

The show is loosely themed around Bea's upbringing in rural Ireland and her obsession with all things American, culminating in a recent trip to Hollywood. Bea has trained as an actor previously and her performance skills come to the fore in an assured performance. Her recreation of lazy American comedy and in particular, her friends' inability to deal with their four month old baby prove the highlights of a greatly enjoyable performance.

Pat Cahill's "Panjandrum" finished off the evening. Spending time in Cahill's weird and wonderful world is invariably a joy and I can't remember the last time I laughed as much. The show has a war theme, with the undeniable high point being his invention of new wartime songs, becoming increasingly more ridiculous. If you can get on Cahill's peculiar wavelength then you'll have a great time. A section detailing Cahill's experience alone underground on a Tube Train is indescribably strange but achingly funny. I strongly recommend it if you're heading up to Edinburgh this year.

EDIT 06/10: Pat's show was the first one I saw in Edinburgh this year and it was very good indeed. He took out some of the structural clutter present at this preview and it was all the better for it.

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