This ambitious British ensemble comedy explores the clash between archetypal participants of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe one summer. As a feisty Scottish reporter (Nardini) shocks a boozy Irish comedian (ODowd) by accepting his crude advances, she also spars with an arrogant celebrity comedian (Mangan) whos on the same judging panel.
While these characters both amuse and involve Mangans emotionally stunted womaniser in particular others feel either peripheral or unnecessary: the one-woman show outlives her comic potential and the crazy Canadian actors arent given the benefit of sufficient characterisation. Griffin successfully captures the Edinburgh vibe and the spirit of bawdy British wit, but Festival remains a cluttered comedy that would benefit from concentrating on its stronger characters.