All stories by Brian Logan on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Sara Pascoe vs The Truth – Edinburgh festival 2013 review by Brian Logan

Assembly, George SquarePascoe's lively mind teases out big questions with intelligence, silliness and self-deprecation to make a near-perfect show"So, let's go over the lovely things we've l…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:58AM

Edinburgh fringe: young comedians sound a tragic note by Brian Logan

Liam Williams and Bo Burnham point the way to an anxious comic future. Plus: to sweat, or not to sweat?Anthems for doomed youthIs the age of anxiety upon us? Among comics, there's definitely…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:44AM
Monday, August 12, 2013

Bo Burnham – Edinburgh festival 2013 review by Brian Logan

Pleasance CourtyardFrom neuroscience to paedophile frogs, the creative profusion of this former YouTube star makes for an exhilarating showWow. Bo Burnham is back, with a full-frontal assaul…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:57AM

Is Brendon Burns right that alternative comedy is dead? by Brian Logan

Standup Brendon Burns suggests that putting comedians in pigeonholes doesn't make sense. Plus: old-school laughs on the Free Fringe, and comics have the last laugh on the football fieldNo al…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:30AM
Sunday, August 11, 2013

Arthur Smith – Edinburgh festival 2013 review by Brian Logan

Pleasance CourtyardSome of the best shows come when their creators stop caring about pleasing crowds, and make what they damn well please. Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen Volume 2 has that …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:30AM
Friday, August 9, 2013

Should comedians be more serious? by Brian Logan

What's the right balance between thought-provoking and laugh-inducing? Plus: Jewish Mom jokes on the fringe and why money is the root of all evilComedy by focus group?"There's two ways you c…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:57PM

David Trent: This Is All I Have – Edinburgh festival 2013 review by Brian Logan

Pleasance DomeThis ex-teacher needs to find a subject more worthy of his angry intelligence than disingenuous ad campaignsTV Burp meets Brass Eye, with added self-loathing. Interested, commi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:57AM

Nick Helm: One Man Mega Myth – Edinburgh festival 2013 review by Brian Logan

Pleasance CourtyardHelm's incarnation as Evel Knievel makes for an exhilarating start to the show – but it's his songs that redeem his shoutingYou can shuffle on stage to a smattering of a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:44AM
Thursday, August 8, 2013

Max and Ivan – Edinburgh festival 2013 review by Brian Logan

Pleasance DomePuns, pinging punchlines and geographical foreplay make this comic play a warm-hearted winnerAmong the many characters in their new comic play The Reunion, Max Olesker and Ivan…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:13AM

Claudia O'Doherty – review by Brian Logan

Pleasance CourtyardO'Doherty's overconfidence is amusing and her gags are good, yet her fantasies about fame lack real substanceNominated for last year's Edinburgh Comedy award, Claudia O'Do…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:10AM

Comedy at Edinburgh: when's best to watch it? by Brian Logan

The assumption that laughter is a dish best served drunk is being challenged. Meanwhile, Mark Thomas baits Ian Rankin and Gráinne Maguire elects to go politicalHalf past four is cooler than…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:45AM

Hannah Gadsby – Edinburgh festival 2013 review by Brian Logan

Assembly RoxyAnyone whose self-consciousness has loomed large will find much to enjoy in this Australian comic's showWe've all had issues with self-esteem, right? But how many of us have alm…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:04AM
Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Sara Pascoe: And now for Nietzsche ... by Brian Logan

Sara Pascoe is thriving at standup, but she'd rather be an 18th-century essayist. She talks to Brian Logan about politics, philosophy – and gigging with the RSCUsually, when you interview …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:41PM

Mark Thomas – Edinburgh festival 2013 review by Brian Logan

Stand Comedy ClubFrom shoplifting smut to protesting at an Apple store – the riskier Thomas's exploits, the funnier his comedyIt's hard to believe, but Mark Thomas took a break from politi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:33PM

Nat Luurtsema stages her breakup, and Red Bastard gets strangers snogging – Edinburgh comedy diary by Brian Logan

At the Edinburgh festival, Nat Luurtsema battles bad acoustics and a broken heart, David Quirk ponders cheating and Eric Davis's alter ego sets about demolishing some inhibitionsNo money: th…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:17PM
Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Liam Williams – Edinburgh festival 2013 review by Brian Logan

Just the Tonic at the TronThe comedy of disenfranchised, disillusioned Generation Y is upon us. It's been coming: Alfie Brown's show last year – a fierce attack on comedy and our cultural …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:34PM

Edinburgh fringe 2013: what's the best comedy venue? by Brian Logan

The Stand, the Cabaret Bar and Pleasance Courtyard have had legendary shows – but could there be a better place? Plus, all the rest of the day's fringe newsThe best standup stages on the f…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:36PM

Bridget Christie – review by Brian Logan

Stand Comedy Club"I am to Simone de Beauvoir what Horrible Histories are to Simon Schama," says Bridget Christie. It's true, and it's a breakthrough for this always endearing but until now o…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:42AM
Monday, August 5, 2013

Edinburgh fringe 2013: stand-up stars new and old prepare to have last laugh by Brian Logan

Phill Jupitus, David Baddiel and Harry Potter star Jessie Cave among those who will perform at this year's festivalFor comedy fans, Fringe 2013 offers the traditional combination of hyped ne…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:21PM

Baconface – Edinburgh festival 2013 review by Brian Logan

Stand Comedy ClubA Stewart Lee set is such a rarefied thing, its every word and beat so achingly precise, you wouldn't blame Lee for wanting to let his hair down. Step forward the "cult 1980…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:16PM

Aisling Bea – Edinburgh festival 2013 review by Brian Logan

Gilded Ballon, EdinburghAisling Bea won last year's So You Think You're Funny?, a prize for new comedians that boasts a list of past winners including Peter Kay and Lee Mack. On the strength…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:15PM

Stewart Lee returns … and Will Adamsdale put his back out – Edinburgh comedy diary by Brian Logan

The 'saint of division and dissent' is back in town with a new show, Much A-Stew About Nothing, but audiences will have to wait for their latest sighting of the 2004 Perrier award winner Ada…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:17AM
Sunday, August 4, 2013

Michael Che – review by Brian Logan

Assembly Rooms, EdinburghIn his native USA, Michael Che writes for Saturday Night Live and features on all the "Comics to watch" lists. It's easy to see why. He is composed, has an eye for a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:39PM
Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Christopher Green/Piff the Magic Dragon – review by Brian Logan

Shoreditch Town Hall, LondonIf it's surprising that Piff the Magic Dragon supported Mumford & Sons and played a sell-out season at Sydney Opera House, it's not only because it's a bloke and …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:39PM
Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping – review by Brian Logan

Battersea Arts Centre, LondonIf you want to draw attention to the fact that the earth is burning, worse things can happen than your show being interrupted by a fire alarm. In the event, Reve…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:47PM

Tim Allen demands to use the n-word by Brian Logan

The US actor sparks a fresh debate about racial jokes – and isn't the only one. Meanwhile, could Ricky Gervais swing a record deal for David Brent? And Spotify launches a comedy appThis we…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:23AM
Monday, July 29, 2013

Luisa Omielan: destiny's comic by Brian Logan

Luisa Omielan is aiming to be as big in standup as the inspiration for her show, Beyoncé, is in pop"You're going to think I'm a dick," says Luisa Omielan, "but I've always wanted …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:29PM

Luisa Omielan: destiny's comic by Brian Logan

Luisa Omielan is aiming to be as big in standup as the inspiration for her show, Beyoncé, is in pop Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:29PM
Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Woody Allen wants to make a Louis CK comedy by Brian Logan

The director reveals he is a 'great fan' of the US standup comic. Meanwhile, Geri Halliwell looks set to star in her own TV comedy show and London's Glee Club isn't happyThis week's comedy n…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:45AM
Monday, July 22, 2013

Jason Manford – review by Brian Logan

Assembly Halls, Tunbridge WellsIn fairness to Jason Manford, he told us it'd be trivial. The show is called First World Problems, after the popular Twitter hashtag for things that irk privil…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:49PM

Latitude comedy review: standup takes over the festival by Brian Logan

Huge crowds for sets by Tim Key, Dylan Moran and others show how popular comedy is at music festivals; no wonder standup was spilling out all over the site this yearAs a symbol of how comedy…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:14AM