All stories by Brian Logan on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Ron Funches review – Undateable TV star brings good cheer and fart gags by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonThe tittering US comedian finds his own jokes hilarious in a show that offers flashes of steel beneath the surface jollityAmerican comedians aren’t used to performing f…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:14AM
Friday, June 10, 2016

Edinburgh festival 2016: comedy shows that should deliver by Brian Logan

The fringe lineup is out: try Robert Newman’s Brain Show, Josie Long’s investigations and Michelle Wolf, one of Chris Rock’s Oscars speechwritersSummer begins! Or at least that’s how…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:01AM
Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Todd Barry: the super-dry standup who swapped gags for banter by Brian Logan

He was Flight of the Conchords’ bongo soloist and guest-starred with Louis CK and Garry Shandling. Now, Todd Barry has ditched his own comedy routines for a show devoted to off-the-cuff cr…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:09AM
Saturday, June 4, 2016

Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle roars back with more deceptive deadpanning by Brian Logan

Lee’s peevish reaction to being pipped to a Bafta unravels into a rant about James Corden in another set of brilliant routines that force us to puzzle out whether this self-pitying shtick …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:55PM
Tuesday, May 31, 2016

The Boy With Tape on His Face: Actions speak louder than words by Brian Logan

After years of shouting, comedian Sam Wills covered his mouth with duct tape and devised a new show. But he won't be on Mock the WeekA complaint often levelled at 21st-century standup is tha…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:39PM
Friday, May 27, 2016

Chris Morris: the comeback starts here by Brian Logan

After a rare stage appearance at Stewart Lee's recent standup gig, the Brass Eye comedian is returning to TV. Now, more than ever, we need a satirist with his fearlessnessBrendon Burns wrote…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:55PM
Monday, May 23, 2016

Derren Brown: Miracle review – a playful, perplexing night of Derren-do by Brian Logan

Palace theatre, LondonThe nation’s favourite mentalist explores faith healing in a show that leaves sceptics’ and believers’ minds jitterbuggingDerren Brown doesn’t have a good word …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:52PM
Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Ricky Gervais is returning to standup and David Brent – we should celebrate by Brian Logan

The star of The Office has turned plenty of people off with his boorish public image, and even more with his non-PC standup. But his best-loved character still has much to offerSo Ricky Gerv…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:06AM
Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Sara Pascoe: ‘There are certain things I’ve done that are just horrible’ by Brian Logan

The outspoken standup talks about teenage bad behaviour, panel shows and the ‘stubborn’ iPhone pest who inspired her Manchester international festival showThe seeds of Sara Pascoe’s Ma…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:44AM

Sara Pascoe: Animal review – God, pubes and glow worms in a fun, fresh show by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonPascoe makes for charming company with a dose of self-deprecating skits on body image, being good and 21st-century sexYou’d think from the title of Sara Pascoe’s new …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:39AM
Thursday, May 12, 2016

It took a comedian to call Bill Cosby to account by Brian Logan

The rape allegations against Cosby didn’t stick until Hannibal Buress made the accusation on stage. Sometimes comedians are able to say what others can’tJudging by the story of the Natio…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:13PM
Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Paul Chowdhry review – tawdry gags about Gypsies, gay people and the French by Brian Logan

Beck theatre, HayesThe standup’s PC’s World seldom strays from xenophobia in a show full of poor jokes and weak puns• Never mind the broadcasts: TV doesn’t make or break a standupPau…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:11PM

Wanted: more jokes about an Englishman, Irishman and Scotsman by Brian Logan

When it comes to Britishness, comedy doesn’t tend to get further than Michael McIntyre’s benign observations. As the EU referendum approaches, comedians should be digging deeperIn 2000, …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:52AM
Friday, May 6, 2016

An Englishman, Irishman and Scotsman walk into a bar – to discussing national identity by Brian Logan

When it comes to Britishness, comedy doesn’t tend to get further than Michael McIntyre’s benign observations. As the EU referendum approaches, comedians should be digging deeperIn 2000, …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:32AM
Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Fun factory: the finest comedy of summer 2016 by Brian Logan

Bridget Christie grapples with a Motörhead vibrator, David Baddiel tackles dementia, Todd Barry busts boredom – and Mr Swallow re-creates Houdini’s daftest escapeSummer culture: Theatre…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:26AM
Tuesday, April 26, 2016

We Will Rock You, Dominion Theatre, London by Brian Logan

Dominion Theatre, LondonThe much trumpeted Queen musical has arrived, and it would be hard to imagine a less appropriate vehicle for the band's music - far less for the anti-corporate mes sa…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:05AM
Thursday, April 21, 2016

Joke in a box: comedy is funniest when it's set free by Brian Logan

Italian company TIDA have made one of the shows of the year with Quintetto. It’s not billed as comedy: has that made it more humorous?I went to see the Best of BE festival showcase at the …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:26AM
Friday, April 15, 2016

Paul Zerdin review – stale standup for dummies by Brian Logan

Udderbelly, LondonThe British ventriloquist and America’s Got Talent winner is a virtuosic voice-thrower but his material isn’t up to the same standardVentriloquist Paul Zerdin was a mod…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:55AM
Thursday, April 14, 2016

Ricky Gervais is returning to standup and David Brent – we should celebrate by Brian Logan

The star of The Office has turned plenty of people off with his boorish public image, and even more with his non-PC standup. But his best-loved character still has much to offerSo Ricky Gerv…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:24AM
Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Jonny & the Baptists review – spirited environmental rallying cry by Brian Logan

Orange Tree, RichmondInspired by a promise about climate change to a four-year-old girl, Jonny & the Baptists add some moral ballast to their usual gags and gigglesome wordplayA previous…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:02AM
Thursday, March 31, 2016

Laughing stock: Jimmy Carr outed, comedy's top 100, Brand new Russell Kane by Brian Logan

Accusations of tax avoidance, the most influential people in comedy, Russells, and Alastair and Armando square upThe 8 Out of 10 Cats host, Jimmy Carr, finds himself strewn across the newspa…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:30PM

Russell Kane review – hyperactive tales of fatherhood and hangovers by Brian Logan

Marlowe theatre, CanterburyThe Essex comic’s new dad routine wins no prizes for originality, but there is still more material in two hours than many fit into a decadeFour years ago, a broo…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:31AM
Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Brian Logan considers whether comedians can ever play it totally straight by Brian Logan

David Walliams has been cast in Stephen Poliakoff's new drama - but can comedians ever play it totally straight? By Brian Logan"They laughed when I said I was going to be a comedian," runs t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:45PM

They cannot be serious: why comics tend to make bad baddies by Brian Logan

One-time Blackadder buffoon Hugh Laurie was on devilish form in The Night Manager but it’s a rare comedian who plays a convincing screen villainThe BBC’s adaptation of John le Carré’s…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:55AM
Thursday, March 24, 2016

Jim Carrey takes aim at NRA – and Rowan Atkinson's brother isn't amused by Brian Logan

Elsewhere in comedy this week: John Cleese targets BBC comedy chiefs, Tina Fey resurrects her Sarah Palin impression and Peter Kay's new sitcom gears up for an iPlayer premiereReading this o…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:40AM
Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Should comedians stand up for a political party? by Brian Logan

Politics is fertile ground for comics, but there are pitfalls to jumping on particular bandwagons – not least when it questions their loyalty to the punchlineNot that long ago, Donald Trum…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:14AM
Sunday, March 20, 2016

Dane Baptiste: 'If we lived in an equal society, I wouldn't need to do comedy' by Brian Logan

Dane Baptiste packed in his dead-end job to change the world. Britain’s answer to Chris Rock talks about his new sitcom Sunny D – and laughing at his own jokesSpeak to some black standup…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:50AM
Friday, March 11, 2016

'What's your name and what do you do?' Standups need better banter by Brian Logan

The token opening of a comedy set – even in its postmodern guise – is becoming tired and uninspired. All hail the trad crowd-work of masters like Al MurrayIt’s an odd artform, standup …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:58AM
Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Sandi Toksvig review – crusading comic's jolly call for equality by Brian Logan

Brighton DomeThe chipper comedian deftly juggles jokes, anecdotes and harsh facts in a fund-raising tour for her new political partyIt’s been running for one year, 70 local branches have s…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:48AM
Friday, March 4, 2016

Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle roars back with more deceptive deadpanning by Brian Logan

Lee’s peevish reaction to being pipped to a Bafta unravels into a rant about James Corden in another set of brilliant routines that force us to puzzle out whether this self-pitying schtick…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:37AM
Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Adam Hills review – bland standup packs a feeble comic punch by Brian Logan

G Live, GuildfordThe ‘nicest man in comedy’ is soft-hearted to a fault, in a set of optimistic but entirely safe and familiar routines Adam Hills is “widely referred to as ‘the nices…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:58AM