Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.As the bearded rock ancients of ZZ Top once sang, she's got legs. And Tina C has maybe the shapeliest and definitely the longest legs at the Edinburgh Fringe, a short, sequinned combat jacket revealing a set of soaring limbs which would be the envy of Emmylou Harris and Shania Twain put together. Which is quite something, considering Tina is actually Christopher Green, in his third Fringe outing as the satirical queen of country music.
At the Pod, the Fringe's impressively spacious and well-run new venue (actually Edinburgh's disused Odeon cinema, which has been beautifully converted to a multi-stage festival venue), Tina C strides through the audience, a cowboy hat perched over long hair and layers of make-up. Just back from a tour of "Eyrak" - Iraq to non-Americans - this is Tina C's "anti-anti- American" tour and she makes it clear, in a softly twanging accent, that she is concerned about the amount of Bush-bashing at this year's Fringe.
It is hardly surprising that George Dubya is the common target for every comic from Will Durst to Andy Parsons this year, but it was Tina C's Twin Towers Tribute in 2002 which set the bar for wicked satirical swipes at Bush's new world disorder.
And if the new show lacks the initial comedic shock of Tina's Fringe debut, the pastiche country songs and bitchy-naive commentary still pack the kind of punch which has been sadly lacking in the majority of political satirists treading Edinburgh's myriad stages.
Rapidly becoming a Fringe veteran, Tina C adapts a cold-ridden voice to sing her songs of uber-patriotismwith remarkable ease, even attaining a Patsy Cline crack in the more faux-emotional moments. There's a song supporting the guards at Abu Ghraib prison, a little number about sunny Guantanamo Bay and a few oldies from Tina's "wake-up call" album 9/11-24/7.
But it is Tina's rapid-fire delivery and audience-baiting which keep the crowd cackling. Some comments flash by so quickly that there are a number of delayed-reaction guffaws and Nashville's own Rhinestone Republican tells us to "keep up, y'all".
The concept of aspirational American suicide bombers is enough to freeze the laughs on our faces, as is Tina's frenzied determination to outrun Hillary Clinton and become the first woman president of the United States. This, of course, after Bush's inevitable second term in office. A country-and-western President Barbie? Well, after Arnie's political success, anything is possible. As Tina puts it, "Hell, yeah."
Much more than just another lazy country music parody, Tina C's Manifesto Show is studded with observational gems and a genuine understanding of American insularity and disastrous foreign policy.
Then again, Tina's improvised version of "The Lord's Prayer" set to the tune of "Achy Breaky Heart" has to be heard to be believed: white trash as a state of comedic grace.
To Sunday (08707 557 705)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments