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Edinburgh Fringe Review: My Dad Wrote A Porno Live

The podcast crew (L-R) Alice Levine, Jamie Morton and James Cooper
The podcast crew (L-R) Alice Levine, Jamie Morton and James Cooper

WHEN Jamie Morton found out his dad had written an erotic novel, he’d have been forgiven for burying his head in the sand and wishing that all knowledge of it would go away.

But instead he invited two of his friends from university round to read it out and record it all.

Unleashing his dad’s work (the Belinda Blinked series, written under the pen-name Rocky Flintstone), the My Dad Wrote A Porno podcast was born.

The podcast has exploded in popularity over the past couple of years worldwide, with the gang preparing to head to Australia for a number of live shows, including one at Sydney’s famous Opera House.

Before that, however, legions of fans (known as ‘Belinkers’) descended on the Edinburgh Fringe.

The question is, how does it all translate to a live show?

In a word, well.

The live show

The room was packed and temperatures were heating up before a page was even turned at the Gilded Balloon Teviot Theatre for the first of two sold out shows.

Fans in the audience, some of whom were dressed as characters from the series, were first treated to a dramatic, movie style intro trailer.

Jamie and co-podders Radio 1 presenter Alice Levine and James Cooper then warmly welcomed the audience.

“It’s almost classy,” remarked Jamie on the venue choice, complete with big screen and lighting arch (which was put to use later for mood-lighting purposes).

They also introduced the rules for those playing along with the Belinda Blinked drinking game.

And that wasn’t the only audience participation during the show, with one particularly complex scene requiring re-enactment from willing participants Joyce and Kim. It’s safe to say the two strangers now know each other a little better…

As usual on the podcast, the reading was paused for an amusing tangent, or a clarification sought into Rocky’s questionable way with words.

His anatomical knowledge, especially when it comes to women, was swiftly corrected with Alice’s quickfire “TED talk” lesson – complete with PowerPoint and the obligatory clip art and diagrams.

The show flew by, much as the podcast itself does, but there was an ample amount of buckling with laughter with a dollop of cringing and squirming to keep the audience entertained.

Some parts of Rocky’s prose, all from a previously unreleased chapter, certainly boldly went further than the recorded episodes had gone before…

Verdict

The show had all the joy and hilarity of the podcast with the added elements of the live show taking it to another level.

It’s definitely aimed at those who’ve listened before, and you feel in on the joke throughout while in the company of fellow ‘Belinkers’.

Indeed, many commented on the way out “I thought I was the only one that listened.” Turns out, you’re not alone.

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