EDINBURGH 2017: BWW Q&A- Daniel Cainer

Tell us a bit about More Geflite Fish & Chips.

More Geflite Fish & Chips? As if the Gefilte Fish & Chips I served up last year were not enough? Firstly, for anyone who doesn't know what gefilte fish (or are) have no fear as there will be no actual gefilte fish involved (or chips for that matter) although you are welcome to bring your own.

What you will get is me, Daniel Cainer (award winning no less) sitting at the piano and with a collection of lovely heart-warming funny stories - in song - about my family. And yes, there is a flavour of Jewishness about it (in a good way I hope) not religious, not political, but self-deprecating, slightly anxious, wry and observational in the tradition of Woody Allen or Billy Crystal (both of whom as it happens have seen me perform in New York).

Why bring it to Edinburgh?

Where else does a neurotic, attention seeking, self-publicising, slightly narcissist performing artiste want to be in August? With ten of thousands of other ones of course. The West End? Broadway? Well I've performed variants of this show for the last three years in limited off-Broadway runs and the weather there is simply far too hot in August. So Edinburgh it is for me and as this is my 12th consecutive year, you could say I've become a very very minor institution and I have people returning again and again.

What sets it apart from other shows at the Fringe?

There is only one me and therefore there is only one songwriter and entertainer that does this kind of schtick as their specialty. Yes there are other singing smart-alecs - although no Fascinating Aida this year to name but one. But (to continue the blowing-my-own-trumpet theme) what you get with me is my own particular brand of very accessible and tuneful, intelligent writing that is neither musical theatre, cabaret or musical comedy and is not folk or world or pop music but perhaps a hybrid of all of those things. Clear as mud?

Who would you recommend comes to see you?

Anyone that enjoys memorable tunes, smart word-play, strong story-telling, who wants their heart to be touched and is partial to a bagels (and there is a gluten free story song about that).

Are there any other shows you're hoping to catch at the festival?

I make a point of never looking at the programme before Edinburgh starts as it gives me a choice-anxiety attack and I end up going nowhere and seeing nothing. So my usual method is to surrender myself to being buffeted around like a ball bearing on a pinball table, ending up at whatever takes my fancy or is recommended to me. But I will certainly be seeing the brilliant song-writer Charlie Dore - so there's one - cheque please Charlie (oops - I mean 'paypal-transfer' please Charlie).

Timings and ticket information for Daniel Cainer: More Gefilite Fish and Chips are available on the edfringe website.

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