Edinburgh Fringe bigger than ever

The Edinburgh Fringe launches into three weeks of artistic mayhem on Sunday, staging a record number of shows and sparking fears the world’s largest arts festival may have become too unwieldy.

The Fringe, an anarchic hodgepodge of comedy, music and drama that invigorates the Scottish capital every August, boasts 2,050 shows this year, with almost 19,000 performers clamoring for attention and acclaim.

The choice of entertainment on offer can be overwhelming at the Fringe, a rambunctious offshoot of the official high arts Edinburgh Festival of classical ballet, music and theater.

Tony Blair, who stepped down as prime minister in June after 10 years in power, is gone but not forgotten. He has two musicals devoted to his premiership at this year’s Fringe.

Fringe devotees may also be tempted to sing along to “Jihad: The Musical” and “Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical.”