Douglas Widick is a New York based musical improviser, actor and founding member of internationally touring Hip-Hop Improv group, North Coast, which was named one of Timeout NY’s Top 10 Comedy Shows of 2014. Douglas is a veteran of the UCB Theatre, PIT Theatre, and Magnet Theaters in NYC, and starred in the Off-Broadway musicals, F#%king Up Everything, Blank! The Musical, and Anybody: An Improvised Historical Hip-Hopera. 

Douglas is bringing his debut Fringe show ‘Paperclip’ to Edinburgh this August. We spoke to Douglas about the show, his mission to rehabilitate the reputation of Clippy the Microsoft Word mascot, and his hopes for the month.

Can you tell us about ‘Paperclip’?

Paperclip is a one-man musical about Clippy, yes the oft-maligned paperclip from Microsoft Word, traveling back in time to save the world  from the devastation AI brings upon humanity. Clippy reckons with his reputation while taking the audience on a tour through the internet one decade at a time in the hopes that he can kill the founder of machine learning himself: Alan Turing. 

Clippy isn’t remembered with much fondness by those of us around back then. What made you decide to make him the hero of your show?

Everyone loves a comeback story, and Clippy has been experiencing a bit of a positive resurgence in the meme circuit as of late. He’s also been coming up in a lot of conversations around AI and the history of machine learning. I felt that empowering Clippy with some Terminator-like nostalgia would be a fun spin on an otherwise difficult past. The show acknowledges his initial utter uselessness while giving him the space to thrive in the present! 

For those unfamiliar with your work, how would you describe your comedy style and approach to performance?

My comedy style is, ‘Dad on vacation got handed the microphone’. My work is deeply rooted in long-form improvisation. I love connectivity wherever I can get it, whether it be from my scene partner or the audience. I’ve tread the boards and done my trills, but what I always come back to is connectivity and presence. 

Who are your heroes, the people who inspired you to get into comedy?

My cousin Tony got me into watching Martin Short, Adam Sandler, and Mike Myers as a kiddo, but what took me into a full blown comedy obsession was Tina Fey and Amy Poehler on SNL. 

‘Paperclip,’ is your debut full-length Edinburgh show. What are your hopes and expectations for the month?

Besides staying hydrated, my hope is to increase my audience base, become a better performer, and redeem Clippy’s reputation. 

Apart from your show, is there anything you’re particularly looking forward to (or dreading) about the Fringe?

I’m looking forward to all the amazing people you meet every day during the Fringe. I went last year for six days and saw shows/met people I’m still thinking about. I’m worried about getting run down or overwhelmed, and I’m worried about missing my wife and dog. 

Beside ‘Paperclip’, can we expect to see you performing elsewhere during August?

There’s a good chance you can catch me sitting in on various improv shows, and performing as Clippy on Fringe showcase shows. 

Are there any other acts at the Fringe that you would recommend audiences see? 

YES, Go see ‘Mental‘ by Tess Tregellas and Max Davidson, and ‘Lizzy Sunshine‘ by Liz Coin!

‘Paperclip‘ is at Gilded Balloon Patter House – The Penny at Wed 30 Jul to Mon 25 Aug 2025 at 22:20