Edinburgh Moment: Most Embarrassing Festival Moment
Back for yet another year at the Fringe, Neil Delamere explores everyday mischief and tomfoolery in this year’s show Divilment. Despite TV appearances, DVD releases and much more, Delamere might never forget this Edinburgh Moment…
One night during my last fringe run a well dressed man sat in the front row with his teenage son. One of the man’s arms was visible. The other was in some sort of sling as I could clearly see a bump under his shirt. As an ice-breaker I asked: “Do you mind if I ask what happened to your arm?” The man didn’t reply but simply smoothed down what had merely been a fold in his shirt. A collective intake of breath signalled that the crowd and I realised, at the same time that he only had one arm. “Well, this is awkward” I admitted showcasing less than world class banter skills. I quickly asked the person beside him what he did. “I sell sailing equipment” he replied. Time to go for broke. “Have you ever sold anything to a pirate? I know a man who could be one”. Our uni-limbed friend burst out laughing and I hoped I’d gotten away with it. I hadn’t. “I’ll tell you how I lost it” he announced in a serious voice that didn’t augur well: “Landmine”. It’s hard to describe the silence that followed. Stillness settled over the room like a fire blanket dowsing out any jokes that threatened to break out. Seconds ticked by. It was only disrupted by the man’s son saying: “No it wasn’t! You crashed the car drunk”. Massive laugh. Tension relieved. Thank you son. Thank you.
Neil Delamere: Divilment runs from the 3-28 August (excl 15) at 19.40 at the Pleasance Courtyard.
