Stand up star Sunil Patel rides Faster Horses into Edinburgh Fringe
By ASJAD NAZIRAug 03, 2022
Acclaimed stand-up star Sunil Patel has galloped into this year’s Edinburgh Fringe festival with his latest show Faster Horses.
The award-winning comedian follows up multiple television appearances and big performances on the live circuit with a laughter-filled show that runs throughout August.
The gag-filled show looks at everything, from his own failed enterprises, crypto bros, and lockdown business ideas to arguing that people don’t know what they want until they get it.
Eastern Eye caught up with the funny British Asian talent to discuss his new show and connection to comedy.
What is it that first drew you towards stand-up comedy?
Probably when I bought Lee Evans Live on VHS in HMV on Oxford Street in the 90s. I wanted to buy something with my saved-up pocket money, panicked and bought it because it was on display. It was mind-blowing. I couldn’t stop watching that tape and made all my friends come round and watch it.
What has been your most memorable moment in comedy so far?
Probably the three hours I spent improvising a scene with Anne Hathaway and Roger Federer for a Swiss tourism film. She had an idea for a scene where I called her fat. I don’t think it made it to the final edit.
What inspired your Edinburgh Fringe show Faster Horses?
It’s from a Henry Ford quote – “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses”. I guess he was saying you should ignore people and just get on with your vision. I’m not sure I agree, but then I haven’t invented the car, have I?
Tell us about the show?
Well, I thought my stand-up career was over when the pandemic started, and I had to think of something else to do with my life, so tried to write down business ideas every day. They were all awful. So, this show is about all those ideas, and the approximately 40 jobs I’ve had in my life. It’s a bit like Dragon’s Den but the audience are the dragons.
Have you ever been on or near a really fast horse?
No, I am allergic to horses.
Do you ever get nervous before going on stage?
Yes, always. If I didn’t, I would probably do very badly on stage.
Who is your own comedy hero?
I don’t think I have a hero really. I mean I love watching stand-up but haven’t laughed harder at anything than I did at that guy who slid down the steps into the Thames with his top off a few years ago. Okay, maybe he is my hero?
What do you love about the Edinburgh Fringe festival?
The weather. Rainy, cold, dark. Love it. Can’t stand London in August, it’s too hot. Also, Edinburgh is just a beautiful city to be in and you can walk everywhere (in the rain).
What is it that inspires you as a comedian?
I guess it’s just anything I find funny, from my friends, to silly things that happen to me, to hour-long reviews of mid-priced hatchbacks on YouTube.
Has comedy and being funny ever got you in trouble?
Yeah, all the time. I fell off a chair at school when I was five, and everyone laughed, so I did it again and then got told off. I think that incident set the tone for the rest of my life.
Why should we come watch your show at Edinburgh Fringe?
There’s nothing else on at 1.55pm, and I’m not taking a single day off.
Sunil Patel: Faster Horses is on until Sunday August 28 at Monkey Barrel Comedy, 9-12 Blair Street, Edinburgh EH1 1QR. www.edfringe.com
Adrian Lester, best known for his work on television and film, returns to the stage in the eponymous role of Edmond Rostand's 1898 comedy, Cyrano de Bergerac.
Rostland’s play centres around Cyrano - a little-known romantic 17th century French libertine poet, soldier, and philosopher. The play is based partly on his letters written on behalf of his love rival Christian de Neuvillette as he tries to charm Cyrano’s cousin, Roxanne with whom Cyrano is also in love.
Cyrano is cursed with an overt self-consciousness in the form of a large nose. His insecurity is such that he prohibits anyone to refer to it directly or indirectly. Together with his wit, his skills as a swordsman, and the directorial splattering of our own vernacular, they provide the play with a certain infectious - albeit teenage - humour.
Despite Cyrano unexpressed love for Roxanne, the latter has fallen for Christian who is handsome, but useless when it comes to expressing his feelings in words. But then, he is also useless as a swordsman and clearly no match for Cyrano’s mastery and maturity. Realising this and being utterly selfless, Cyrano offers his help to the youthful Christian to woo Roxanne by writing for him poetic and hyperbolic proclamations of love and longing. All he wants is Roxanne to be happy even if he himself has to do with nursing a broken heart.
Christian Patterson and Levi BrownMarc Brenner
The result is a farce of the highest order and mistaken identity, coupled with threat and violence
This RSC production is directed by Simon Evans who has provided a very lively and engaging interpretation by all accounts. Apart from a skilled, highly polished ensemble of cast, there’s interesting theatricality at work. Every now and then, for instance, one gets a sense that the stage is a reflection of our own world and vice versa. Characters mingle with the audience, they break the fourth wall, and the theatre band wander around with the characters and referred to with some bemusement and fun.
In a 17th century French world – not unlike our own, 21st century – external beauty, speech, language are prized. Expression has become almost secondary. It’s a world in which fakery, deception and lies are paced above sincerity, honesty, and truth. Looks and external beauty outweigh the inner beauty of man.
Evans removes the original piece from its French setting to England, littering it with a Brummie accent, and accentuating our preconceptions about hopeless romantics and those with meaningless verbiage. The effect is one of joyous atmosphere and true entertainment.
Adrian Lester provides a magnificent performance as the wordsmith, Cyrano. His character is verbose, comedic, and sympathetic in equal measures. Lester is enticing, hilarious and – judging by the reaction of the audience –appreciated as a versatile actor who can do comedy just as well as drama. Levi Brown’s Christian is a fiery - overtly hopeless - romantic who cannot paint his feelings into words. Brown gives a very energetic and magnetic performance. Similarly, Susannah Fielding provides a sprightly Roxanne who is heart-warming and an utter pleasure to watch.
Adrian Lester (front right) and companyMarc Brenner
It’s hard not to notice but as an audience, we are invited to consider the value of language that may sound romantic, but may – in actual fact – be little more than a shallow expression of fancy. Whereas, the seemingly absence of language – though painfully inadequate - may actually embody real sincerity and the true meaning of love.
Whatever you may think, one thing is certain: you will enjoy this production. It’s a real treat.
The play started at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in early September, with its run lasting until 15th November.
Rating: ***** (5 stars)
(Cyrano de Bergerac is playing at the RSC Stratford until 15th November 2025.)
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