I'd seen Tom Allen on the usual programmes - Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, etc. I liked him a lot so was keen to see him during the Fringe. We were late getting into the venue (Beyond at Pleasance Courtyard), queuing was a nightmare as the Pleasance Courtyard was packed (Friday night at the Fringe - the exact opposite of "quiet"), but we finally shuffled in. Mr. Allen met us when we were pouring in, saying hello, helping to usher us to seats, chatting, keeping up a running commentary as the large venue filled up - very pleasant and a nice change (I'd seen Katherine Ryan do something similar a couple of years ago).
After Ed Gamble had finished previously, I had an hour and a quarter or so to wait. As it was cold and mobbed I had seriously thought of just bailing out. I'm glad I didn't, he was hilarious. Openly gay ("But who has the time?"), camper than a row of tents and very dapper, he launched into a hugely funny and energetic set ranging over many topics. Main routines involved recently passing his driving test and taking his family on an outing to Bluewater (markedly showing up the differences in attitude between him and his Dad); the nightmare he'd experienced when a child at going to another child's birthday party and the activities involved (including cramming 15 children into a car - different days), and being invited as the token gay on a hen weekend, then finding out there was ANOTHER token gay invited.
It was all huge fun. Mr. Allen is a very engaging character, his style and delivery is refreshingly different and he has immense charisma. There are tickets available for his shows and I would suggest this is a must see. A great end to a long day.
Well, it shouldn't have been the end. I had one more show to go to but that didn't start until 11.45PM and I was tired, sore all over and decided to trudge back to the flat, where I got caught up in the Military Tattoo crowd yet again. By the end of the Festival I might finally figure out my timings ...
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