Joe Fairbrother: Characters

Whoever was doing the flyering for this show should be awarded some kind of Edinburgh Flyering Award. They absolutely nailed the target audience for the opening salvo of Joe Fairbrother’s fiendishly subtle character show. Welcomed in by a posh farmer-type, it appears that we have arrived at the AGM of a small rural village called Tumble-on-the-Weed. It’s a delightful conceit as he amusingly discusses the various problems/predilections of some members of the audience/village.

The cosily gentle mood continues as we meet more quirksome oddballs from the Fairbrother locker, such as the cycling proficiency officer with ear, nose and throat concerns, and the leader of a swingers club with a fetish for getting down and dirty to ‘Lady In Red’. As Fairbrother disappears backstage for his regular costume change, we hear inappropriate snippets from a local radio station.

The character who is left to bring the house down with a grand apocalyptic finale is Pastor Anthony, a Geordie who, somewhat predictably, is more interested in the contents of his flock’s collective wallet than the state of its soul. The mild audience-ribbing is cranked up to three as Fairbrother/Anthony coaxes a punter/acolyte on stage to be transformed from a sinner into a winner. Genial rather than genius.

The Caves, 556 5375, until 28 Aug, 1.20pm, £7–£8 (£6–£7).