#SNAPCHATZ is simple. I challenge all 2023 Fringe performers & creators to answer 3 questions and to sell you, dear reader, their show. Their answers are tossed into a digital hat, and published in quick-read trios. It’s a Fringe goer’s fastest, safest (no guerilla flyering!) way to find someone or something new.
If you like what you read; if you’re intrigued; if you bark a laugh or shed a tear; if you suspect some risk of lasting trauma, then click those links and buy a ticket or 10. Today’s brave band of would-be indelible Fringe memories are Sex Robot Clown, Courtney Pauroso, Gentleman-scholar-comic, Ikechukwu Ufomadu, and Philosophical inner-adventurer, Myq Kaplan.
Courtney Pauroso: Vanessa 5000
📍 Pleasance Courtyard – Beneath
📅 Aug 2-27
🕖 9:00pm
🕖 Running time (approx.): 1 hour
👥 Created by: Courtney Pauroso
💰 £12.00 – Concessions available
🎂 16+
🎭 Wheelchair Accessible Venue; Wheelchair Accessible Toilet, Audio Enhancement System
Who are you/what is your show?
I’m a Los Angeles based actress/writer/clown and my show is an elaborate excuse to get to dress like a stripper while exploring my fear of technology (it’s about a sex robot).
What sets your show apart from the rest?
I will be reciting Ted Kaczynski in 7-inch platform heels.
Your dream audience turns up to see the show, who’s watching?
Geoffrey Hinton, Sam Altman, Eliezer Yudkowsky, Elon Musk, Kathleen Richardson, Matt McMullen, and the ghost of Alan Turing show up. They all have a great time, can’t stop laughing, etc… but get in a huge fight about it afterwards.
Amusements by Ikechukwu Ufomadu
📍Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker Two
📅 Aug 2-15, 17-27
🕖 5:40pm
🕖 Running time (approx.): 1 hour
👥 Created by: Ikechukwu Ufomadu
💰 £12.00 – Concessions available
🎂 16+
🎭 Wheelchair Accessible Space; Wheelchair Accessible Toilet; Audio Enhancement System
Who are you/what is your show?
My name is Ikechukwu Ufomadu – or, if you like: Ike. I’ve been described as the gentleman-scholar of alternative comedy here in my home of New York City, and I’m excited to bring my gentlemanly, scholarly endeavours in comic entertainment to the Fringe with my show AMUSEMENTS.
What sets your show apart from the rest?
On a concrete level, what sets my show apart from the rest are the venue’s four walls, floor and ceiling. Without these crucial elements, we would all be performing in one big, wide-open space.
Your dream audience turns up to see the show, who’s watching?
My dream audience is the General Assembly of the United Nations. The ultimate test for any comedian, I think, is performing for this distinguished body of duly appointed representatives from 193 countries and territories. With the difficulties of translation and the persistence of long-standing disputes among nation-states, it is what we in the business call a “tough room”.
Myq Kaplan: ImPerfect
📍Underbelly, Bristo Square – The Dairy Room
📅 Aug 2-13, 15-28
🕖 7:45pm
🕖 Running time (approx.): 1 hour
👥 Created by: Myq Kaplan
💰 £12.50 – Concessions available
🎂 16+
🎭 Wheelchair Accessible Space; Wheelchair Accessible Toilet
Who are you/what is your show?
My name is Myq (mike) Kaplan. I’ve been a comedian for 20 years, a human for 44, and a philosophy guy for WHAT EVEN IS TIME?! I’ve done stand-up on the tonight show, letterman, conan, and AT THE EDINBURGH FRINGE WHICH I’M VERY EXCITED TO RETURN TO WITH THIS NEW SHOW. the show is called “ImPerfect,” and it’s full of advice to myself from myself, tracking where I’ve been (New Jersey, Boston, stardust at the dawn of time, etc) and where I’m heading (Edinburgh, wherever the earth is hurtling in space, stardom, etc), reflecting on potential improvements as a human, a relationship partner, and matter/energy comprising an infinitesimal portion of this universe. oh also the show is mainly about my relationship with my girlfriend Rini and how she and it have changed my life, but I’ll get into that more in the next question. JUST YOU WAIT! (but not for long. it’s coming right up, right after this. so soon. we’re almost there. what a ride! wheeeee!)
What sets your show apart from the rest?
Another banger of a question, thank you for asking! my show is the only one like it. if you’ll look closely, you’ll find that no one else in the world is doing my show. what is my secret weapon? well, first, i don’t love all this weapon talk. but the secret TOOL in my toolkit is this: my relationship with my girlfriend of seven years, Rini. the show is mainly about our relationship and the growth I’ve seen in myself as a result of it. Rini is the best person in the world (I’ve checked!). the most beautiful, the wisest, the kindest, the most creative. and she has helped me create this show. she has also helped me create the ME that is capable of creating this show with her. who would i be without her? a guy from before. who am i with her? a guy from NOW. this guy. with two thumbs and everything. the show is essentially a love letter that we have written together, with each other, to each other, and that we continue to write and rewrite and form and reform and create and re-create (creation and recreation!) over and over as long as we both shall live. or at least until i record the show as a special and release it to the entirety of the space-time continuum. now, i don’t know how many other shows feature the love that Rini and i have for one another, but i bet it’s pretty close to none. i know i said in the beginning that “NO ONE else in the world is doing my show,” but i just wanted to temper that confidence and arrogance to say who knows? maybe someone is. (a version of me from somewhere else in the multiverse?) my point is that i haven’t seen it anywhere else, but i haven’t seen everything yet. and that’s the kind of humility and balance that Rini has helped bring to my life. i used to be much more sure of things that i didn’t know for sure. but I’m PRETTY sure of this: this is our show and i love it and i think you’ll love it.
Your dream audience turns up to see the show, who’s watching?
A dream of a question, three for three, you’re the best! sincerely, thank you for asking me these questions. i love talking about myself and other people who aren’t myself but also kind of are. (that’s you.)
A) everyone in the world who would love the show.
B) everyone outside the world who would love the show (example: aliens from the farthest reaches of space that just found out about Stand-up comedy on earth and are curious)
C) all of my best friends and loved ones especially those who live far away so it’s a super nice surprise that they were able to drop everything to fly across the world to support me and see a show that i love and they love and also they can hopefully hang out afterwards because it will be really nice to catch up
D) all of my favorite comedians and funny people whose work i love and respect (examples include BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO maria bamford, reggie watts, aparna nancherla, paul f tompkins, sarah silverman, james acaster, jo firestone, nick vatterott, nikki glaser, baron vaughn, kate berlant, gary gulman, tig, tim minchin, jacqueline novak, rory scovel, molly shannon, bo burnham, tiffany haddish, paul reiser, hannah gadsby, stephen colbert, samantha bee, jon stewart, and how long can this answer be? PS can people come back from the dead to see my show? if so, i’d love for mitch hedberg and joan rivers to be there also. and any of your long lost dead loved ones, while i have this magical ability)
E) All of my favorite musicians and artists of other kinds whose work i love and respect (examples include BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO regina spektor, sufjan stevens, roomful of teeth, zach sherwin, juana molina, eve6, imogen heap, and MANY MANY MORE)
F) Grownups in my life who sometimes intimidate me and i want to impress (examples include AND ARE LIMITED TO my landlord, my old accountant, and my dentist)
G) My family, my girlfriend’s family, my favorite teachers, everyone from my summer camp, dan savage, anyone i forgot
H) The buddha (and/or other buddhas if the buddha is busy)
I) You! (anyone who read all the way down this list! you are a champion!
J/K) everyone!
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