It’s not often you get to sit in a small room with the writer of one of the worst movies ever made. But JD Shapiro, as he admitted in a hilarious letter to the New York Post, was behind the doomed John Travolta scientology inspired vehicle Battlefield Earth.

 

Shapiro is a disarmingly frank raconteur, who is more than happy to share some of the outrageous failures, near misses and compromises of his Hollywood career.

And he’s also tasted success, screenwriting the Mel Brooks Robin Hood comedy ‘Men In Tights’ and the cult comedy film We Married Margo.

 

Shapiro was a long time writing partner of superhero and Marvel creator Stan Lee - which fact alone should bring hordes of comic fans into this intimate theatre space.

As you can imagine this gravel voiced veteran has rubbed shoulders with some of the Hollywood greats, including Brando, Connery and Clooney. He’s also hobnobbed with comedy royalty, such as Billy Connolly, Dave Chapelle and the late Robin Williams - who he credits with getting him to try stand up.

 

Shapiro is a great source of insider gossip and is more than willing to spill the beans on the backstage reality of film sets, film pitches and the bizarre economics of movie making.

 

His tales from the commissary are fascinating, revelatory and told with humility and charm. And there’s a touch of grit from the glimpses of life of growing up with gangs in New Jersey and New York’s crime ridden neighbourhood Hell’s Kitchen.

 

He worked as an actor as well, although, like most Americans, he’s pretty ropey when it comes to British, Irish and Scottish accents - but unlike most, he’s happy to admit it.

Shapiro’s stories are amusing and well told but are more like a series of talk show anecdotes than a fully rounded hour. While he has a moving insight into Stan Lee’s creative inspiration he doesn’t share enough of his own inner life.

 

For laughs Shapiro leans too heavily on indiscretions about the shortcomings of Mel Brooks. There’s a bizarre and confusing segue into the life of General Franco - which apparently is the subject of a current research project. And - perhaps this is just me - I was desperate for some chat about Richard Lewis, who of course was Robin Hood in ‘Men in Tights’.

 

Shapiro ends with a Choose Your Own Anecdote, which allows a relaxed and informal exchange with his audience and suggests he has indeed many more stories still to tell.

He closes with a moment of vulnerability and wisdom which is truly winning. Finally we understand what has brought him to the Edinburgh Fringe and it is a truly lovely moment.