TENDERPITS

Anthony Johnston: writer/performer
Nathan Schwartz: co-creator/director
Miranda Plant: general manager

Why do you want to be part of the fringe?

Nathan: Well... I think the answer to that is pretty obvious: we want to get rich!

Anthony: Yeah. And guys in kilts are hot as fuck.

Nathan: True... and so are girls in kilts.

Anthony: And small dogs in kilts.

Nathan: And girls without tops.

Anthony: We're bringing Tenderpits to the Edinburgh Fringe because it's the largest theatre festival in the world. 

Nathan: Which is pretty amazing.

Anthony: If we want to win a gold medal, it's now or never.

Nathan: We're not getting any younger.

Anthony: We both turn 30 this year and it's time we did something worthwhile with our lives.

Miranda: We're bringing the show to Edinburgh because it's an amazing show that people have truly loved in New York City, and it's time for the world to see it.

Nathan: Oh shut up, Miranda.

Anthony: Yeah. Shut the hell up.

And what will make your show stand out?

Miranda: Tenderpits is the whole package. It's got the in-your-face live connection of a stand-up show, and it's also beautifully theatrical and heartfelt--

Nathan: It's truly unlike anything you've ever seen.

Anthony: Aww buddy, that's so nice of you to say.

Nathan: It'll make you laugh your ass off, and also might just move you to tears.

Anthony: I'm wearing a diaper for most of the show. So that should help make it stand out, right?

Miranda: Actually, Anthony, they call it a 'nappy' over there, just so you know.

Nathan: Give it a rest, Miranda. Jesus.

How important is the balance between comedy in the piece?
Nathan: This balance is why the show works. Tenderpits lives in the place where comedy and tragedy intersect. And it's not a comfortable place.

Anthony: It's extremely funny and it's also extremely painful. Just like life is.
Nathan: You never know what's coming next.

Miranda: The show moves so quickly from unbridled tomfoolery to brutal honesty.
Anthony: "Unbridled tomfoolery"? ...nice.

What inspired the creation of the work?

Nathan: In the beginning, we were inspired by Anthony's immigration from Canada to New York City.
Anthony: And by my belief that I'm a wizard. Of positivity.
Nathan: We wanted to show that optimism conquers all.
Anthony: But halfway through the first run of Tenderpits in New York, my sister very suddenly and completely unexpectedly passed away.
Nathan: This made us more critical of the "powers of positive thinking"-- and of ourselves and our own desires. Like the desire for fame and fortune.
Anthony: And the desire for lots of sex with lots of strangers.
Nathan: It's also inspired by every new audience. So it's always changing.
Anthony: I can't wait to see what the hell this show will look like in Edinburgh.
Nathan: Self-proclaimed wizard deported from US lands in Scotland--
Anthony: And is looking for a husband so he can stay... Forever.

Underbelly Cowgate, Big Belly (Venue 61)             
 2-26 August (not 13)

21:30 (55 mins)