Dave Maher: Coma Show is on at Bar Bados Complex during August.
- Tell us about your Fringe show
I was almost unplugged from life support during a month-long diabetic coma. I was eulogised on Facebook. Then I woke up. I told the story on a recent “This American Life”, and Edinburgh is the international debut of my narrative stand-up show about the experience, Dave Maher Coma Show. I promise it will be the only comedy show about a coma, complete with real-life eulogies, at the festival. At least this year.
- Why did you decide to perform at the Fringe?
I believe Dave Maher Coma Show punches weight with the best one-man comedy shows in the world, and I want to enter the ring.
- If you were not a performer what would you be doing?
Sitting on a park bench wistfully telling strangers about the days when I was almost a performer.
- How do you prepare for a performance?
I p**s. A lot. I make many trips back and forth to the bathroom. Diabetes makes a great excuse for this, but it’s just nerves.
- Best/worst advice you’ve been given ahead of your debut show?
Worst: “Wow, that’s going to be really hard.”
Best: “Make sure you’re ready for it to be hard.”
- Favourite thing about being in Edinburgh?
The one prior time I visited, I walked around the city in the rain listening to the Keane album with “Somewhere Only We Know” on it. That was cool.
- What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve done?
Sometimes I talk incomprehensibly in my sleep.
- Sum up your show in three words
Existential medical hoot.
Show summary
The Chicago stand-up comedian told the story of his diabetic coma on This American Life. He brings his 'carefully observed, discomfitingly intimate, disarmingly funny monologue' (Chicago Reader) to the Fringe for its international debut.
Dave Maher: Coma Show is on at Bar Bados Complex during August. For tickets, please visit www.edfringe.com
You can follow Dave on Twitter at @thisisdavemaher and visit his official website at http://thisisdavemaher.com/
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