Chit chat - The name game

Published Monday 9 June 2008 at 16:40 by Tabard

It’s that time of year again.

The Edinburgh Fringe programme has landed on your desk and you’re leafing through, perusing the many and varied shows on offer, wondering what you might take a punt on and circling them with a biro.

Tabard, like your good selves, also enjoys a good peruse and not because he intends to leave the delights of London for the damp of Edinburgh in August, but because the fringe programme itself can provide as much entertainment as a fringe show. Some would argue more, in fact.

Firstly, there are the completely unashamed attempts to sell a show using the promise of nudity. Some do this by putting a ‘warning’ (for this read plug) in their small print. Others cut straight to the chase. One show the year is simply called Nude.

Then, there are the ideas which you just know are never, ever, not in a million years, going to work. King Lear: The Pantomime (yes that’s a real show) would fall into this category.

Tabard’s favourite, however, is the inventive title.

Comedian Jason Byrne is always good for a title and this year he doesn’t disappoint. His show is called Cats Under Mats, Having Chats with Bats. Then there’s the comedy show Adolf Hitler and Mother Teresa Walk into a Bar…, which promises a good punchline.

This year, however, there is an undoubted stand-out winner in the best title category, which ticks most Edinburgh boxes. It’s a pun, it is in incredibly bad taste and you know that the show is never going to live up to its name.

Kiddy-Fiddler on the Roof.

Yes, it’s a musical. Yes, it’s about child abuse. No, it’s not coming to the West End any time soon.