Talk of the Town: Chandeliers are one heckler too many

COMEDIAN Richard Herring decided he'd really made it at this year's Fringe when he secured a slot at the Assembly Rooms Ballroom.

He thought his audience would enjoy sitting in the cool air beneath the fine chandeliers rather than feeling condensing pools of their own sweat dripping back onto their heads, as they do in many Fringe venues.

But once the air con went on, the chandeliers began to tinkle in the breeze. He blogs: "It is a difficult heckle to deal with. Something like an orchestra of people who play glasses with water on them with their fingers. Not easy to come back on."

So the air con was duly switched off. Herring can now make it through Christ on a Bike without being distracted, and his audience can revert to the sensation of sticking to their neighbours' shoulders that is surely at the heart of the Fringe experience.

Putting a brave face on comedian confusion

WITH so many comedians in town one can be forgiven for getting a little confused.

This will be no consolation to one poor Amnesty International volunteer, who shall remain nameless, whose attempts at celebrity schmoozing went a little awry.

"I insisted to this guy that he was Demetri Martin, despite his protests to the contrary," admitted the red-faced volunteer. "It was only when he walked away that I finally clicked that he was in fact Arj Barker, who plays Dave in Flight of the Conchords.

"What's even more embarrassing is that I'm actually a huge fan."

Fundraising down to a tee

SOME bright soul once labelled the game of golf a perfect way to ruin a good walk.

However, Talk of the Town wouldn't dream of making judgements on how others spend their spare time, and that includes Tiger Woods. So we have to congratulate the efforts of New Zealanders Jamie Patton and Michael Goldstein who are travelling the world playing a new golf course every day this year.

The pair are hoping to raise money for The First Tee, a golfing charity in New Zealand.

Next week they'll be enjoying rounds at Dunbar, Gullane, Muirfield and Bruntsfield.

Try it like a shot

WITH the Glorious Twelfth upon us again the animal rights lobby will be pleased to hear that Hopetoun Estate is offering a new bird-friendly twist on field sports - simulated game shooting.

You can shoot away at a virtual partridge, pheasant, grouse, pigeon and duck - without putting Daffy in the line of fire. "All that's missing are the feathers!" according to one competitor.