The Great Puppet Horn

The Great Puppet Horn showed a devilish side recently by using their vast shadow puppet skills to project an image of Stewart Lee onto Edinburgh Castle. It was not an act of idolatry towards the agitprop comic, but the Horn guys were expressing their annoyance at his criticism of the Fringe’s rampant commercialism.

All fine and well, though the key beef appeared to be the lack of reviewers booking in to see their show; quite how that is old Stew’s fault is anyone’s guess. The quality of their own product is down to no one but themselves, and frankly they are their worst own enemies.

If improv and musical comedy are the poor relations in this game, shadow puppetry has to be the form’s black sheep. While there’s no doubting the technical ability shown by Jeremy Bidgood and Lewis Young (though the hour wasn’t without its fluffs), the problem is embedded in the writing. A story which brings together polar bears, Sean Connery and the LibDem coalition has to be a very skilful beast indeed. Unfortunately this is the comedic equivalent of a bloody neutering.

Underbelly, Cowgate, 0844 545 8252, until 26 Aug, 5.30pm, £9--£10.50 (£8--£9.50).