Edinburgh Festival Day 4: Apparently . . .

QUESTION: How many actors does it take to change a lightbulb? Answer: That's a stage-management problem. The old Green Room joke gained extra poignancy at an early performance of Lionel Nimrod's Inexplicable World at the Pleasance, when Radio 4 stars Stewart Lee and Richard Herring lost the remote control for their on-stage television. Panic ensued. The TV is an essential prop, so the curtain was held for 20 minutes until the Pleasance 2 stage manager, Tony Kavanagh, could be called. The Nimrods asked him in desperation what could be done. Kavanagh simply leaned forward and pressed the on-button.

ON THE Fringe, a bit of bravado can sometimes get you a long way. After watching Ridiculusmus's production of Flann O'Brien's The Third Policeman at the Calton Centre, Paul Blackman, director of London's BAC, decided the show should be signed up for a post-Edinburgh run. He was saved the job, however, since on enquiring he discovered the company was already claiming it had been awarded a BAC London run. Blackman, having enjoyed both the show and the free glass of stout, saw the funny side and plans to let them keep their pre-emptive booking.