MORE HI-JINX AT THE HOT AUGUST FRINGE WITH NATHAN EVANS, MISTER MEREDITH AND JOAO'S BIRTHDAY!!

What's a fringe festival without a few surprises? This second week of the RVT: HOT AUGUST FRINGE has seen two emergency replacement acts as the scheduled performers went missing or got stuck in Dubai (for real!)

Last night saw RVT production manager Nathan Evans step in to the 6:30 slot with a show of 'greatest hits'. If you're an RVT regular you'll be familiar with Nathan's diverse body of work -- and his body as it often features semi-clad in his monologues, songs, rants and -- puppet shows! For this show, Nathan brought together -- for a once in a lifetime extravaganza - all of his puppet show creations. Imagine if you will -- a politically charged Royal puppet striptease; a homo-centric, darkly comic Punch and Jude show; a miniature Kate Bush sing / shout-a-long; and an epic tale of mod puppet love set to the tunes of Morrissey.

Inventive and droll, Nathan wowed the crowd with his puppet prowess. His cutting asides brought on by technical glitches grew increasingly hilarious. His puppet Rock 'n Roll Suicide was priceless. Part queer pop culture send-up; part agit-prop and part end of the peer panto homage the show was provided a true showcase for the talented Mr. Evans.

Next up, Mister Meredith's song and dance bio-logue, Dragged, Kicked and Screaming. From the start, Mister Meredith makes his target clear -- the restrictive messages that poison our minds when we are young. Whether those messages come from teachers, parents, or priests, Meredith has got the perfect re-joiner: they're simply no fun. Luckily Mister Meredith is. In fact, he's lots of fun.

He's pure old-time, English camp entertainment, with a dash of political fist-in-the-air and well placed personal revelation to remind the audience that he's got more than a few tricks up his sleeve. His litany of 'Don'ts' at the top of the show start things off with a laugh. His rant about religion(s) is both smart and cutting. His witty songs include: 'Eat Yourself Thin'; a reworked 'Old Time Religion'; 'Dalek Love Song' for the sci-fi freaks; a touching love ballad (Sorry don't know the name) and an uproarious finale where he's so jaded and 'over it' he gets his gams out just for kicks! (And what gams!)

David Somerset Barnes ably covered Meredith's costume changes with charming 'unplugged' guitar ballads - a great counterpoint to Mister Meredith's manic energy, amusing patter and barely concealed rage at the restrictions society imposes. It even had a martial arts dance sequence! What more could you ask for on a Tuesday night?

Lucky for you there's more. In fact, the RVT: Hot August Fringe goes on Mon - Fri until 28 August. There's a lot more to come that you won't want to miss! Wed night features: the comedy of Shazia Mirza; the songs and repartee of David Somerset Barnes in 'Hairy Pretty Things', and comic whirlwind, Andi Osho and her Eclectic Warriors. Thursday night is music night at the Fringe with a host of carzy bands from all over the place. Friday it's more bands plus performance art star, Claire Benjamin and then next week slam poetry from Ernesto Sarezale; fashion + horror from Jonny Woo and Scottee in Texas Chainsaw Mascara; femail drag sensation Mysti Valentine and more, more, more!

Come check it out!