All stories by Brian Logan on BroadwayStars

Friday, July 12, 2024

Frightfully funny: is being roared at by a near-naked hardman really comedy? by Brian Logan

Testosterone-soaked clowning show Furiozo: Man Looking for Trouble spikes fun with fear – but the hooligan’s knife-edge moments of vulnerability lead us somewhere different Clowning is a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:06PM

Paulina Lenoir: Puella Eterna review – flamenco clown takes us from cradle to grave by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonLenoir’s mischievous charm is infectious, and she plays with skill on the heartstrings and funny bones Clowning may be silly, but it is seldom, these days, insubstantia…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:48AM
Thursday, July 11, 2024

Tiny theatres take big risks – in cautious and precarious times, their survival is vital | Brian Logan by Brian Logan

We need to keep open offbeat DIY spaces that belong to artists and communities. Even if the odd performance sells zero tickets, they push theatre forward It feels like a lifetime ago. In 201…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:02AM
Friday, July 5, 2024

David Sedaris is an icon of indignation in a world that keeps on irking by Brian Logan

The American humorist delighted the Royal Festival Hall with characteristically disgruntled slices of life – including a brush with cancel culture In years to come, I can tell the grandkid…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:06PM
Wednesday, July 3, 2024

‘We write something and it can be in the show that night’: comedy trio Sheeps on the freedom of Edinburgh fringe by Brian Logan

The cult heroes are back with their ‘best sketches ever’. After success with Ladhood, Stath Lets Flats and Parlement, are they still hoping for that elusive Sheeps TV series? Fifteen yea…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:02AM
Tuesday, July 2, 2024

‘Punters let me cut their hair!’ Johnny Vegas on the wild pub that launched his career by Brian Logan

From performing in a bin to arm-wrestling rivals, the standup cut his teeth at a Nottingham pub’s chaotic Just the Tonic nights. As the thriving comedy club chain it grew into turns 30, he…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:48PM

Tweedy’s Massive Circus review – a lovable lark from start to finish by Brian Logan

Culden Faw Estate, Henley-on-ThamesThe Scottish clown and his pals have taken over in a family caper combining comedy, slapstick, dropped plates and acrobatic skills Tweedy’s MASSIVE Circu…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:06AM
Monday, July 1, 2024

Edinburgh festival 2024: find the funny with these 20 comedy shows by Brian Logan

A one-woman 90s romcom, boundary-testing standups and a new Taskmaster contestant make our comedy critic’s list of the fringe’s most promising tickets Olga Koch stepped into the big leag…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:32AM
Friday, June 28, 2024

Ed Gamble: Hot Diggity Dog review – fresh angles on manchild awkwardness by Brian Logan

Hackney Empire, London Well-spun jokes and great audience rapport elevate the comedian’s show above standard fall-guy fare, though slick management inhibits its spark How good can standup …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:42AM
Thursday, June 27, 2024

Michelle Collins: The Big Natural Tour review – huge presence doesn’t hide thin material by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, London She’s a convivial host, but 70 minutes of shops chat, family home videos and the odd song about our comic’s love life may leave you eyeing the exit Many is the stan…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:42AM
Monday, June 24, 2024

Crowd work is the hottest thing in standup comedy – and not everybody is laughing | Brian Logan by Brian Logan

Comedians are increasingly leaning on audience interaction to sell their shows – and changing the nature of the shows themselves Crowd work. For some, it’s the fun bit when standups cru…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:06PM
Sunday, June 23, 2024

Laura Smyth: Living My Best Life review – a comic with swagger and the popular touch by Brian Logan

Hackney Empire, LondonThe east Londoner’s show majors in blunt putdowns of anything the ebullient standup finds to be up-itself or overrated “I’m doing alright for myself, gang!” Tha…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:12PM
Sunday, June 9, 2024

Jazz Emu: Knight Fever review – fun synthpop pastiche about a frontman striving for glory by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonHalf musical comedy, half party, Archie Henderson’s show ranges far and wide over the travails of his slinky singer vying for a knighthood It’s the Royal Variety Perf…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:36PM
Friday, June 7, 2024

Crizards: This Means War review – a lovably larky send-up of old combat tales by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonThe daffy duo follow up their westerns parody Cowboys with a silly but still oddly respectful musical-comedy about their grandads’ generation It’s quite the pivot goi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:02AM
Thursday, June 6, 2024

Rachel Parris: Poise review – satirical songs elevate standup’s acerbic wit by Brian Logan

Leicester Square theatre, LondonThe Mash Report comedian’s material on middle age is sharp but it’s her political musical numbers that really hit home If life begins at 40, where does th…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:36AM
Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Greta Titelman: Exquisite Lies review – mesmeric standup with plenty to shriek about by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonThe comic traces a path from Arizona to Manhattan with a musical set that never quite lands The comedian as self-fascinated ego-monster is quite the pose these days. Kate…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:24AM
Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Fawlty Towers review – comedy history repeats itself as stage farce by Brian Logan

Apollo theatre, London John Cleese’s transposition of his TV sitcom to the theatre has pitch perfect performances, but it never quite becomes a play What should we hope for when TV hits of…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:54PM

Artists shouldn’t be political? Here’s a show that challenges Britain’s creeping censorship | Brian Logan by Brian Logan

Cutting the Tightrope: The Divorce of Politics from Art, at the Arcola in London, tackles freedom of expression – with particular focus on Gaza Arts Council England unleashed fury in Febru…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:02AM
Monday, May 13, 2024

Rhod Gilbert and the Giant Grapefruit review – hilarity and horror on standup’s cancer journey by Brian Logan

Cliffs Pavilion, SouthendNow free of cancer, Gilbert looks back on his illness with a characteristic mixture of emotional candour and uproarious humour A standup show about cancer? It’s a …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:48AM
Thursday, May 9, 2024

The Government Inspector review – Ghosts stars team up for cartoonish corruption satire by Brian Logan

Marylebone theatre, LondonKiell Smith-Bynoe and Martha Howe-Douglas ably embody Gogol’s schemers, but this show doesn’t hit any 21st-century targets You can see why, in 2024, one might r…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:18AM
Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Dawn of the Big Yin: rediscovered film shows Billy Connolly on the road to comedy glory by Brian Logan

The 1975 tour documentary Big Banana Feet captures a comic growing into his extraordinary talents – and adjusting to unprecedented fame In an age where our every selfie, photogenic breakfa…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:54AM
Monday, May 6, 2024

Rosie Holt: That’s Politainment review – Tory targets are a safe seat by Brian Logan

Colchester Arts CentreThe comedian’s rightwing alter egos have not yet evolved beyond the two-dimensional in this droll but conventional set It’s lovely to be here in Colchester, says Ro…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:42AM
Friday, May 3, 2024

John Bishop: Back at It review – a meandering mess-about by Brian Logan

Cliffs Pavilion, SouthendThe standup delivers an unstructured show with autobiographical anecdotes and routines about henpecked husbands and women called Fanny How hard should a comedian try…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:36AM
Thursday, May 2, 2024

Marie Faustin: Sorry I’m Late review – an irresistible hour from a stellar standup by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonA lesser act might have struggled to follow the brilliant Sydnee Washington, but Faustin’s swaggering, gossipy shtick is superb Has Marie Faustin blundered? Support act…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:36AM
Monday, April 29, 2024

Sophie’s Surprise 29th review – thrilling birthday bash of circus and cabaret by Brian Logan

Underbelly Boulevard, LondonThere are shocks aplenty as daredevils perform death-defying acts hair-raisingly close to the audience Circus used to happen in big tops. The Underbelly Boulevard…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:18AM
Sunday, April 28, 2024

Romesh Ranganathan review – misanthropic midlife everyman wears his world-weariness well by Brian Logan

Brighton DomeRanganathan’s Hustle delivers laughs, but not the shock of the new. It is at its best when we glimpse something meaningful beneath the standard-issue curmudgeonliness ‘I’l…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:02AM
Friday, April 26, 2024

Doctor Brown: Beturns review – the original clown prince in total control by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonPhil Burgers made clowning hip after winning the Edinburgh comedy award in 2012. Now older, if not wiser, his new show is a little undercooked, but his skill as a perform…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:02AM
Tuesday, April 23, 2024

With her Netflix comedy special Autistic Bikini Queen, Fern Brady is a cynic to savour by Brian Logan

The huge success of her memoir has turbocharged the Scottish comedian’s career, with midlife, Catholicism and marriage in her withering sights Cynicism is now and then expressed about the …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:36PM
Friday, April 19, 2024

‘It’s been a thrill!’ My first time at the mind-boggling Melbourne comedy festival by Brian Logan

At the world’s biggest barrel of laughs, Hannah Gadsby, John Kearns and Rose Matafeo rub shoulders with homegrown stars-in-the-making. Our writer has the time of his life What’s the bigg…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:06PM
Thursday, March 21, 2024

Monét X Change: Life Be Lifein’ review – Drag Race champ’s fabulous rise to fame by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonThe star’s stage presence is impressive as she charts the journey from her religious upbringing to her first sexual encounters and becoming an adored icon “Premium ti…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:24PM
Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Leslie Liao review – heard the one about the Netflix staffer turned standup? by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonIn a lively but disjointed show, the comedian – who used to work in HR for the streamer – delivers routines on office life, dating apps and 90s R&B From the mailr…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:42PM

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