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Three Days

     This time last year I spent my August running around Edinburgh reviewing Fringe Festival shows for the free publication Three Weeks- a kind of pop-up magazine custom built for the Fringe that endeavors to cover everything listed in the festival programme, from free one-man-shows to Ukelele orchestras, Shakespeare to Interpretive Dance and huge exhibitions at the National Gallery. In exchange for free tickets I turned in a total of 68 painstakingly hand-crafted reviews, got about seven hours' sleep a week and ruined a pair of converses staggering across cobbled streets through sun, wind, rain, slush, insistent flyerers and rumors of a Londonian riot.
     This year, I'm in Edinburgh for a scant three days at the start of the festival, but last year's old habits die hard.  In lieu of the aforementioned free writing gig, I give you Three Days of the Fringe, where I will attempt to sample the comedic essentials as much as possible.
To get a good taste of the Comedy side of the Fringe we need to tick a few boxes. Shows fall into certain categories, and unless you only want to see your headliners and have absolutely no surprises or delights (snore) we have to delve into the midst of the programme.
     Shows can be-
Free, Sketch, Stand-up, Improv, Play, Chat, Magic
     Performers can be-
Newbies, Oldies, Women, Headliners, Locals, Home-town heroes (eg from Bristol, my hometown)
     The experience itself can be-
Expected, Surprise, Disappointment, or a Favourite

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