Talking Pants

Source: The List (Issue 583)
Date: 16 August 2007
Written by: Siân Bevan

Comments (0)

Ridiculous thoughts brought to entertaining life

Ian Billings, the exuberant star of Talking Pants is a writer for Chucklevision. But don’t let this influence your decision about his one-man show – there are no visual gags involving ladders, although the well-meaning energy he exudes as he bounds through his material does have a whiff of Paul and Barry.

Billings is a talented character actor and manages to hop into a range of situations, bringing his ridiculous thoughts to life with childlike enthusiasm. He’s also a published children’s poet, and treats the audience to a sample of his writing. Billings’ children’s entertainer manner will mostly appeal to the under sixes, but whether they can concentrate for an hour looking at the nice man talking on the stage is a different matter.

Billings is entertaining and charming, but Talking Pants is not something that stands out in a Fringe programme packed with exceptionally good shows. (Siân Bevan)

Gilded Balloon Teviot, 668 1633, until 27 Aug, 11am, £5–£6 (£4–£5).

More: Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Ian Billings, Talking Pants, Fringe (Edinburgh Festivals), Kids

Last updated: 25 Jul 2008 17:14 BST