All stories by Brian Logan on BroadwayStars

Monday, February 7, 2022

Leicester comedy festival review – Jackie Weaver whips the Comedians’ Council into line by Brian Logan

Available onlineWeaver chairs as Suzi Ruffell and Paul Sinha field questions from the crowd, Nathan Caton riffs on lockdown with a new girlfriend and Jessica Fostekew talks no-nonsense paren…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:24PM

David Cross: I’m from the Future review – a sneering shot at the right by Brian Logan

Available onlineThe American standup takes aim at anti-vaxxers and rightwingers but his contempt also erodes the fun As high-wire openings to a standup show go, this will take some beating. …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:54AM
Sunday, February 6, 2022

Milton Jones review – nothing is as it seems in this brain-warping cartoon comedy by Brian Logan

De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea The twisty little lexical tricks just keep coming as Jones explores the infinite flexibilities of the English language You thought of him as a big-haired,…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:12PM
Thursday, February 3, 2022

Comedian Catherine Bohart: ‘When Covid hit it was, “there goes my next six months earnings”’ by Brian Logan

The Irish standup faced the Covid situation newly single, dealing with OCD and with her livelihood in tatters. Now she’s back on tour, making comedy from mental health and heartbreak You t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:54PM
Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Spike review – capering tribute summons the wise-cracking Goon’s spirit by Brian Logan

Watermill theatre, NewburyFast-paced portrait of Spike Milligan hurls us between the comic’s anarchic Goon Show sketches, cartoonish clashes with the BBC and the trauma of war Spike Millig…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:06AM
Sunday, January 30, 2022

Kerry Godliman review – relatable laughs that get the job done by Brian Logan

Blackheath Halls, LondonThe After Life star invites us to join her as the butt of the joke in her clever, gag-filled observations on life in the internet age Kerry Godliman’s show title, B…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:54AM
Thursday, January 27, 2022

‘The godfather of alternative comedy’: Eddie Izzard, Paul Merton and more on Spike Milligan by Brian Logan

He was the shellshocked genius who channelled his anarchic brilliance into The Goon Show. Ian Hislop and Nick Newman explain why they’ve written a play about Spike Milligan – while comed…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:48AM
Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Aziz Ansari: Nightclub Comedian review – standup looks back in cynical Netflix special by Brian Logan

NetflixIntercut with footage from 20 years ago, the US comic’s new show considers the pandemic, politics and allegations made against him Aziz Ansari’s career has been dramatically carve…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:12PM

Nish Kumar: Your Power, Your Control review – this time it’s personal by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonAn account of a terrible gig opens ‘a silly window’ on the Mash Report comic’s mental health and the rise of nativism Why is Nish Kumar such a bete noir for angry r…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:03AM
Monday, January 24, 2022

Freud’s Last Session review – the analyst and the Narnia author at loggerheads by Brian Logan

King’s Head theatre, LondonSigmund Freud and CS Lewis have a debate about religion that applies the lost notion of civilised disagreement in Mark St Germain’s trenchant play Give or tak…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:33AM
Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Anthony Noack: The Preacher review – standup sermon falls flat by Brian Logan

Living Record festival Noack’s attempts to compare comedy routines to evangelising would have been more persuasive with discernible jokes Standup resembles biblical preaching, according to…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:33AM
Thursday, January 13, 2022

The Rubber Merchants review – condom comedy with little fun or feeling by Brian Logan

Old Red Lion, LondonThis revival of Hanoch Levin’s odd, over-long 1970s play has minor thrills but ultimately misfires You might think, in our age of safe spaces and “cowering” from Co…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:36PM
Monday, December 27, 2021

Theatre, dance and comedy to book in 2022 – from Alan Partridge to Tennessee Williams by Arifa Akbar, Lyndsey Winship and Brian Logan

Amy Adams makes her West End debut, immersive dance confronts mental health and Steve Coogan’s alter ego embarks on a rare live UK tour • Preview more cultural highlights of 2022 Continu…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:36AM
Sunday, December 19, 2021

Le Gateau Chocolat & Jonny Woo review – stompalong drag fun by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonHigh-camp songs and OTT costumes grab the attention in drag duo’s cheap-and-cheerful songs-from-the-shows extravaganza Good luck generating festive cheer on the same d…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:42AM
Saturday, December 18, 2021

The best theatre, comedy and dance of 2021 by Arifa Akbar, Brian Logan and Lyndsey Winship

It was a year of revivals in every sense, as venues threw open their doors again. From fresh takes on classics to blazing new talents and shows that captured the current moment, our critics …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:54AM
Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Bill Bailey: En Route to Normal review – a joyful reconnection by Brian Logan

Bournemouth International CentreTree snails, Coldplay and the current cabinet all get the full Bailey treatment in a zinging performance Sometime around the second curtain call, you begin to…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:33AM
Monday, December 13, 2021

Take that Fleabag! Liz Kingsman, the comic skewering the ‘messy women genre’ by Brian Logan

Chaotic life, lots of sex, little sense of purpose … the Anglo-Aussie’s hilarious takedown of Fleabag and the booming ‘messy-woman genre’ was halted by Covid. Now, after a year and a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:24AM
Thursday, December 9, 2021

Inside No 9: An Evening with Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith review – small talk, big laughs by Brian Logan

Brighton DomeThe comedy writers behind one of the BBC’s most successful series perform an entertaining, behind-the-scenes double act ‘If you’re going to cry, cry tears of laughter,”…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:42PM
Monday, December 6, 2021

Nina Conti: The Dating Show review – joy and chaos with the magical matchmaker by Brian Logan

Palace theatre, SouthendAided by audience volunteers, the fleet-footed comic balances several difficult tricks at the same time before a finale set in an erotic fire station Is there an act …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:03AM
Sunday, December 5, 2021

Michael Spicer review – online satirist delivers his greatest hits by Brian Logan

Old Market, Hove The YouTuber drily responds to some chucklesome internet footage, and plays the part of a frustrated political adviser, in onstage re-enactments of his best clips As a rule,…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:54PM
Friday, December 3, 2021

Megan Stalter review – a true star turn from the super-silly comic by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonAs a wannabe stage and screen queen in the spotlight, the American comedian brings to life her character’s unquenchable thirst for attention ‘You guys are a horrible …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:54AM
Thursday, December 2, 2021

String v Spitta review – children’s entertainers do battle by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonThis odd-couple double act of east London MC and toffee-nosed children’s entertainer are great fun for adults The world of children’s entertainment has provided a ric…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:24PM

Sleeping Beauty and the Beast review – fairytale villains get taught a lesson by Brian Logan

Battersea Arts Centre, LondonCaptain Hook and the Big Bad Wolf are sent back to school in a flippant festive mashup that’s carried along by its goofy charm Imagine a reform school for badd…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:03AM
Sunday, November 28, 2021

Aladdin review – emperor Boris on a magic carpet ride with a splash of TikTok by Brian Logan

Lyric Hammersmith, LondonSatire has a disconcerting consequence in Vikki Stone’s punchy and superbly sung version of the traditional panto I’m sure there have been Peppa Pig World jokes …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:24AM
Friday, November 26, 2021

‘People think my videos are real!’: meet Megan Stalter, the new queen of online cringe comedy by Brian Logan

Pinpoint parodies of ‘weird church ladies and soccer moms’ made the Ohio comic famous during the pandemic – even if progressives mistake her for the real thing Megan Stalter put a vide…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:18AM
Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Luisa Omielan: God Is a Woman review – faith, feminism and family by Brian Logan

Komedia, BrightonThe comic’s swaggering take on religion is ebullient before a handbrake-turn brings emotional candour too Luisa Omielan’s last show, Politics for Bitches, ostensibly abo…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:12AM
Thursday, November 18, 2021

Rob Brydon review – croons and lampoons from the affable uncle of showbiz by Brian Logan

London PalladiumThe clubbable comic casts himself as master of ceremonies in a self-effacing musical story of his life – with celeb mimicry ‘I’ve done so many strange things in my care…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:54AM
Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Bridget Christie: Who Am I? review – a comic ahead of the crowd by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonThe standup’s rich and playful show about the menopause combines ingenious silliness with campaigning ferocity A handful of times in the opening stages of Bridget Chris…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:06AM
Thursday, November 11, 2021

Patti Harrison review – whip-smart comic amps up the irony by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonThe American standup delivers so-bad-they’re-good music parodies and sends up millennial entitlement in a bright UK debut Best known in the UK for her scene-stealing tu…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:03PM

Alfie Brown: Sensitive Man review – contrarian comic with a devilish twinkle by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonThe twisty satirist considers mental health, white privilege and youth with vividly acted, wittily phrased jokes Comedy audiences, we’re told, are too sensitive these d…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:42AM

Homeless stars, endless spaghetti and amplified farts: the comedians of TikTok by Brian Logan

Speech is out. Daft captions are in. Nearly everyone is beautiful. And one guy amassed 11m followers while living in emergency accommodation with his mum. Our critic samples TikTok comedy I�…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:12AM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 01, 2025: Glengarry Glen Ross
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic