Gráinne Maguire: What Has the News Ever Done For Me? @ Viva Mexico

Call Sandi Toksvig and tell her the truth.

You were tempted by a topical news tryst at the Fringe. Ask forgiveness, but do not be so base as to blame the seductress; for everything is going wrong for Gráinne Maguire. Her attempt to make light of the news in a quiz or debate format has been usurped by events in the Middle East and Ebola outbreak.

Early in the show there's a glimpse of Maguire's talent. In what seems to be genuine exasperation she says, "The news has gone apeshit" and compares it to a long-running series about to be cancelled "throwing all its storylines out there." If Maguire 'forgot' the whole news show idea and simply talked like this for an hour the audience would have been rapt.

Instead, she muddles through with her guest panel (today it's Sarah Campbell, Luke Benson and Ben Van der Welde). Each have their moments but perhaps due to lack of rehearsal or just with their shows to consider later they seem unsure and jaded (though perk up handing out their own flyers).

Then the practical problems: the acoustics in this basement are a hindrance and only invite stilted misunderstandings between Maguire and the audience. Even the lo-fi sound effects are off-cue and painful on the ear-drums.

When it's time to say bye, Maguire says she feels awkward, like this has been a date. An apt metaphor as this date has been set in an uncomfortable restaurant, with awkward topics in place of conversation, and the date herself has brought along three of her mates.