A Rap Guide To Religion/The Rap Canterbury Tales/Off The Top
With Canadian, Baba Brinkman, about to Fringe premiere his deity defying show A Rap Guide To Religion, it may be apposite to recall Voltaire’s deliciously death-bed naughty retort to the priest’s pleading for him to renounce Satan and all his Works – ‘Now, now, my friend, this is not the time to be making enemies!’
Brinkman’s previous Fringe First winner and subsequent World-touring knock-out show A Rap Guide To Evolution still remains a thorn in the side of Creationist as well as ruffling many Fundamentalists’ feathers (those fluffy things that came from dinosaurs, guys). Â So, what icon-kicking spells has he got cooking in his devilish crucible of creativity for unsuspecting Fringe audiences this year? Here are some tempting preview teasers –
Baba’s unique brand of ‘peer reviewed rap’ brings together hip-hop, comedy, and behavioural sciences, striving to make sense of nature’s most unpredictable primate. So what about religious beliefs? Do they provide an evolutionary benefit, or are they nothing but a virus of the mind? It’s time to eff with the ineffable. Fringe First Award winner 2009, Spirit of the Fringe Award winner 2008, ThreeWeeks Editor’s Award winner 2007.
Chaucer’s classic tales as you’ve never seen them before, with sparkling wordplay, live turntablism, and seriously medieval swagger. Comedic hip-hop storytelling fresh from New York’s Soho Playhouse, with music by Mr Simmonds, written and performed by Fringe First Award Winner Baba Brinkman (The Rap Guide to Evolution, 2009). What happens when Eminem meets the Wife of Bath? Hilarity ensues. ‘Delightful’ (New York Times). ‘Truly awe-inspiring’ ***** (Scotsman). ‘Warm, funny, and fascinating throughout’ ***** (Chortle.co.uk). ‘Genius… staggeringly clever’ ***** (ThreeWeeks).
Fringe First winner and science rapper Baba Brinkman (Rap Guide to Evolution) teams up with neuroscientist Dr. Heather Berlin to explore the brain basis of improvisation. What’s going on under the hood when a comedian or musician improvises? Why are the spontaneous moments of life always the most memorable? Does anything actually rhyme with Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex? A married couple in real life, Baba and Heather bring you the latest research on brain science and creativity with featured guests mixing their scripted material with unscripted moments of hilarity. ‘Perfect for your inner science geek’ (List).
