Date: 9th August 2026
Time: 12pm (Noon)
Venue: The Caves, Just the Tonic
Running time: 60 minutes
Rating: ★★★★ 4/5
Reviewed by: Sarah Turnbull
Does what it says on the tin: a daily pick-and-mix of Fringe talent designed to give you a taste of
what’s on offer. The mini-sets change every day but RBG Monster promise a mix of musicians,
comedians, burlesque, magicians and “multiple surprises”.
As you’d expect from a line-up that resets daily, the polish varied. One or two of acts felt a touch
green and confusingly, a couple gave performances that seemed unrelated to the show they were
plugging. That said, the pace was brisk and the unpredictability is half the fun.
A show starting at noon has the added difficulty of (usually) being to a stone-cold sober crowd. With
many tourists in the audience this will be their first foray into anything Edinburgh Fringe and so not
properly limbered up for many a joke, or nipple tassel, that one would usually enjoy after a drink…or
two. However, the compere of the day, Aidan Sadler, was more up for the task, with a strong stage
presence and cheeky personality, they treated us to a song of Cabaret with their rich vocal tone and
great projection and glossed over any slower moments.
The first act was an acrobatics duo reincarnating the song of Avril Lavigne’s Sk8er Boi with an
acrobatics routine that was a touch green in places. Unfortunately, they weren’t introduced and
there is no record of their show although, one returned later with a solo act.
Mitch Benn opened by tackling the small midday crowd head-on and launching into an original song
of “everywhere is up hill in Edinburgh” and voiced what every Edinburgh visitor thinks sooner or
later: “Jesus Christ my feet!” A few pauses to check time with crew, and a brief detour of Churchill,
but he steered back to steered back to Elvis. He revealed he was the man behind the mic on Radio
2’s Steve Wright in the Afternoon’s segment: Asking Elvis.
The gorgeous showgirl Belle de Beauvoir literally dazzled in her flamboyant costume of rhinestones,
sequins and towering feather headdress. With a theatrical, cheeky and funny performance she
gently teased the audience while making jokes with some consensual crowd work.
Jeromaia Detto hardly spoke; instead conducted the audience into an acapella jazz band, part Simon
Says, part soundscape. Light touch, playful energy and gentle ribbing of reluctant lifted the room.
Krystal Amber eerily crab walking back to stage, returning with a contortionist act that was
unnerving at times with liquid lines and seemingly boneless shapes, finishing with a dramatic drop
into the splits.
Dru Cripps a high energy closer. Strong vocals, quick improv instincts and stand-up ease. With a loop
station at this belt, he built an instant song from a crowd-suggested job, a surprise genre and
audience made instruments. His highly infectious energy brought a real buzz to the room – exactly
the closer this hour needed.
Overall, a lot of variety for a one-hour lunchtime slot. Not every joke lands and a couple of acts felt
under-reheasred for a stone-sober weekday audience, but the mix is authentically Fringe: you never
quite know what you’ll get and you’ll likely leave with at least one act to book for later. Ideal for the
undecided or the Fringe-curious who want a low-stakes sampler before diving in.
Get Your Tickets HERE!!: Midday Cabaret | Edinburgh Festival Fringe
