On Thursday the 14Th of May the venue The City Cafe Blair Street was host to a different type of event That of The Catch Penny Club. A little bit of old school vaudeville theatre. Comedy, magic escapology, balloonology and music.
The evening hosted by Nicholas J. Johnson, magician Scott Smith, balloon man Pop, escapology Todd Various Comedy Michael George Quinn and music Stuart Crout.
Nicholas compered the evening with a mix of comedy, misdirection and even science. How many people were going to rush home and try the stunt with the cup.
Scott Smith Edinburgh based Magician our first act on opened his magic act in silence and held the audience silence too. Card magic and a sublime finish where the risk of injury to himself as great as any magicians big finish.
Pop brought his origamic latex skills to the stage and folded and twisted to screams of delight as his creations evolved. The added bonus feature to Homer had the crowd in stitches.
Todd Various and his escapology routine were a bonus from the street to amuse the indoor audience.
Michael George Quinn played the comedic game and won. An artistic comedic game of doodles and a death defying tightrope finish to end had the crowd roaring in the isles.
To finish the evening we had Stuart Crout. Or as his 2,500,000 fans on youtube know him Pockets (Kazookelele) Stuarts style and skill on stage are those honed again from the long hours busking on the High street and those performing at many different pubs and clubs around Edinburgh.
Stuart was joined on stage by friend and fellow uke player Alexander John Highet.
The audience responce to his version of The Final Countdown as if there were a stadium full.
The curtain call of everyone on stage produced a riotous round of applause. The Catch Penny Club could easily become a regular event in The City Cafe. I know I'll be there with or without my camera.
A Catch Penny Club Update.
A pre Fringe taster at the City Cafe Blair Street
on August 4Th.
From 7.30pm
for more detail
contact The City Cafe Blair Street
0131 220 0125
