Fear and Loathing At The Edinburgh Fringe
Why fear and loathing?
The
obvious answer is in homage and imitation of the late, great Hunter S.
Thompson - founder of gonzo journalism and the man every gonzo
journalist has been desperately trying to imitate in style and lifestyle
ever since, myself included. We do not live an era of originality; we
live in an era of test audiences, sequels, movies based on comic
characters made 40 years ago or fantasy novels written 80 years ago.
People want art that is almost exactly the same as the art they consumed
last week, much like they want food that is exactly the same as the
food they consumed last week (myself included). By the end of his life
even Hunter S. Thompson was just doing a very good impression of Hunter
S.Thompson.
Why fear and loathing?
Because
of my day job. I use 'day' euphemistically, I am a ghost tour guide in
Edinburgh. There are thousands of us so I'm not giving away too much by
telling you this but I won't tell you too much more in case people
figure out which one I am and they sack me for being a crazed, louche
nightmare in human guise. (Actually, that'd probably get me promoted but
better safe than sorry).
So fear is my bread and
butter, my meat and drink. Quite literally because without the money I
make from fear I would not have meat OR drink... and drink is especially
necessary when facing the festival.There are only three types of people
who make their money from fear -ghost tour guides, horror writers and
Vladimir Putin. August company indeed.
Where does the
loathing come in? Do you think tour guides enjoy fighting through the
festival crowds? Let me disabuse you of that notion, we do not. I love
the festival when I'm not working, but while working I loathe it. I am
not alone. Those working in restaurants, hotels, transport etc. etc. do
not relish the boost to the economy either -to them it's just harder
work for the same wage.
Why fear and loathing?
Because last year I was sitting in the Jekyll&Hyde bar, reading an ancient copy of Ars Magica when
I was joined by a man called Robert Coyle. He was an Irish comedian
visiting Edinburgh, he regaled me with tales of his adventures seeking
the fountain of youth and I regaled him with the time I kept a pet wasp.
He said he thought I'd enjoy his show. I did enjoy his show, very much,
he's a funny guy. One line especially stuck with me, "In August
Edinburgh is like Vegas with shittier weather."
I cannot in good
conscience steal his line (though I can use it here as this bit is also
part review, copyright law being a monster with ninety-seven
angry,drunken heads) but as Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is such a famous work, I can evoke it with this title.
Why fear and loathing?
Because
some of these blog posts will be reviews of shows I stumble into and
actors fear and loathe reviews. Reviews can make or break a show and are
often written by people who have nothing but an amateur experience of
acting, writing or directing. I do have professional experience in two
of those fields, so my reviews might be considered fairer than most.
That means mine will be feared and loathed all the more intensely,
though, because unlike those written by amateurs mine cannot be
contested with the mantra, "You don't know what you're talking about." I
do, yet I remain as biased and fuelled by misanthropy as the rest of
them.
Why fear and loathing?
Because
I know from experience things will turn baleful. Shall I recall the
Fringe in which I ended up in a communist revolution in a bar? The
Fringe in which I had a verbal joust with some thug ranting at a
homeless woman that he was the devil (a claim I took rather personally)?
There is no need, because this Fringe will bring similar tales - maybe
even moreso since, thanks to this blog, this Fringe I'll be looking for
them...
