Monsters, Magic, Mayhem ....... More from the Fringe

Monsters, magic, mayhem ...... just about sums up Edinburgh Festival Fringe on the streets of the capital city. Amongst the singers, the dancers, the serious and the stand-up, street performers and snippets from shows, there are always the bizarre, the crazy and the certifiable. And this year is no exception. There he is, every day, in the middle of the High Street, an alien-like creature beamed down from the outer reaches of the universe, spear in hand, daring you to go have your photo taken with him. And he is not alone. Tap-dancing mummies from ancient Egypt, a one-eyed pharoah, sock puppets from beyond the stars, they are all here, terrifyingly terrifying or terrifyingly comical, weaving their spells, reeling you in ....
And talking of spells, the Fringe conjures up magicians with the wave of a wand and a quick abracadabra. On the High Street, at your table, wandering around the many venues, appearing and then disappearing, astounding you with their dexterity before vanishing without trace. Card tricks, rope tricks, tricks with balls, dice, fruit, now it's here, now it's not ..... hands moving quicker than the eye, concealing their magic, hiding the secrets of their trade. Short trousers, long trousers, bow ties, a multitude of peculiar headwear with hairstyles to match, zany characters with zany magic, these are the magicians of the Fringe. Gone is tradition. Anything goes .... and usually does! Audience members be warned. Keep an eye on your phones and your wallets. They may appear where least expected, but always return in one piece. It is good to see young magicians working the streets as well. They will play a part in the future of the Fringe, bringing their own brand of magic to the festival.
Mayhem ..... there is mayhem by the bucketful. Where oh where shall I start. Climbing a free-standing ladder, no support whatsoever, stripping down to your underpants and juggling knives. You have to see this to believe it! Inserting a flaming torch down the front of your trousers, creating a human skipping rope ......... it doesn't matter where you look, insanity is round every corner, filling every stage, bringing tears of laughter to audiences, and sharp intakes of breath from more than a few gentlemen. "Don't try this at home" says one foolhardy performer as he unzips his flies and threatens his manhood with a fiery torch. Why would anyone want to.   
Yes, this is the Fringe in all its glory. And apologies for the final photo. This guy began his act in a kilt and finished in his underpants. But he was brilliant ..... the kind of brilliance that comes from having more than a few screws loose. I loved him, the audience loved him ...... please, please come back next year.