Comedy on the fringe may be dominated by individual standup shows, but this joyously absurd double-bill proves that dance too can be funny, surreal and rude.
In Karol Cysewski's Wonders of the Universe, a trio of bearded professors attempt to dance the story of creation, accompanied by a physics lecture from Brian Cox. The fact that all three men are dressed in bad 1970s fashion only adds to the endearing silliness of the show, which starts with them reeling around the stage as the forces of the big bang, then lurches onwards through the stages of evolution.
The trio clump together in amoeba-like formations which deflate to the sound of giant farts; they romp around as dinosaurs and finally, in demonstration of Cox's glowing thesis that human beings contain the entire story of the universe, in every individual cell of their bodies‚ they finish off with a gurning display of their best disco moves.
What with the farts, wobbles and John Travolta-isms, Wonders of the Universe could easily just be three stupid men dancing: in fact, it's a meticulous piece of comedy, performed with pitch-perfect rhythm and nuance.
Almost as sharp, almost as funny is its companion piece, The Cut Tuk Show.
Choreographed by Martina Cortelazzo and performed by Francesca Botti, this solo is like MasterChef with Tourette's. As Botti demonstrates the cooking of her favourite chicken recipe, she is initially all dicing-and-slicing professionalism. But then her body starts to rebel, words go off script, limbs shoot out at random angles, the kitchen knife becomes a murderous weapon. And if the last few minutes go slightly awry as Botti strips to a red feathered bra and dances in demented sympathy with the half-cooked chicken on her table, this is nonetheless an absurdist gem, elegantly conceived and elegantly performed.
• Until 17 August. Box office: 0131-225 5525. Venue: Dance Base, Edinburgh
