EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE 2015; Comedy
Present
Myrtle Throgmorton,
Ancient Heckler
Game old trout and enthusiast for all things Scottish, Myrtle offers a lifetime of observations on many splendid things: love, comedy, the demise of the gusset, Rabbie Burns, decrepitude and pimping your Zimmer to list but a few. More sit-down than stand-up, Myrtle’s not inconsiderable years are wondrously balanced by the youthful vigour of dancer Gordon Raeburn and musician Sam Williams. Each day a surprise guest joins Myrtle for afternoon tea and cake, every one a delight
Greenside @ Infirmary St. [Mint Studio]
6 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1LT
Venue # 236
7th – 29th August 2015 17.15 [55 mins]
Myrtle is also making an appearance during the Haddo Arts Festival, a six-day festival of arts for all at Haddo, including classical concerts, Scottish Opera, exhibitions, schools workshops and Myrtle Throgmorton, Game Bird.
Wednesday October 7th, 7.30 pm at Haddo House Hall.
Full details and tickets are available here: http://www.haddoartsfestival.org.uk
MYRTLE THROGMORTON, ANCIENT HECKLER.
More sit-down than stand –up, enthusiast for all things Scottish and certified old trout, Myrtle Throgmorton is taking to the stage to ruminate on many splendid things: long life, comedy, gussets, Burns, decrepitude, pimping your Zimmer and so much more.
Created by former BBC Comedy producer Jennie Campbell / Chalmers, Myrtle insists she has been gently heckling at the Edinburgh Fringe since “before it began”. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, so long as it is hers. Jennie has developed the character over many years and admits that the game old bird is now, worryingly, more ‘ego’ than ‘alter’. And post- election, Myrtle has unwittingly become slightly more satirical, taking Jennie back to her comedy beginnings.
Myrtle’s accumulated years are off-set by the youthful vigour of contemporary dancer, Gordon Raeburn [“not proper dancing” MT ] and pianist, Sam Williams [“pianissimo, dear!” MT]. The production could be unique on the 2015 Fringe as the cast and crew all come from rural Aberdeenshire; Gordon from Huntly and Jennie, Sam and technician Kieran from Barthol Chapel. Only the director, David Jackson Young, breaks the mould with his Borders roots.
The show is a mix of Myrtle’s musings and her comedy ABC – Audience, Banter, Crudités, …Dance – a thankfully brief Pas de Zimmer salvaged by Gordon’s skills, live and original music from Sam and every show ends with a ‘surprise’ guest joining Myrtle for cheery chat over the tea trolley. The audience is completely unaware who the guest will be – indeed Myrtle herself may not be entirely up to speed until just before the off. It could be a TV celebrity, an acclaimed author, a well-kent radio voice, a rising star [that ‘I saw them first…’ moment], an unknown character with a story to tell, someone with a great show and no audience or the joker from the café on the corner… A truly potluck surprise, in the spirit of the Fringe. And every one a guaranteed delight!
About Jennie…
After a brief career as a London lawyer, and a briefer one cleaning houses, Jennie Campbell joined BBC Radio Comedy as a producer of such programmes as Week Ending, the News Quiz and the Edinburgh Festival compilations, scouting the Fringe in the 80s for hungry new young talent – Rory Bremner, Paul Merton, Arnold Brown, Helen Lederer, the Bodgers, Merry MacFun Co and many, many others.
On moving to Scotland, she switched from satirical news to the real thing and has been variously a radio presenter [Newsweek Scotland], news and current affairs producer, director of theatre, opera and musicals, drama teacher, arts organizer, serial committee member and session clerk. With Myrtle Throgmorton, Jennie makes a long overdue return to her comedy [now blue-rinsed] roots.