All stories by Brian Logan on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Frank Skinner review – Mr Funny Bones reaps big laughs by Brian Logan

Leicester Square theatre, LondonThe former king of lad comedy moseys through a delightfully meandering set about ageing, libido and ‘the Strictly curse’ Frank Skinner is 62, and it’s r…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:33AM
Thursday, May 30, 2019

Ricky Gervais review – anti-woke tittering over Liam Neeson and Louis CK by Brian Logan

Bournemouth International CentreCasting himself as a taboo breaker for his Netflix show Supernature, the cacklesome comic delivers a squarely liberal-baiting set ‘That’s not going in ……

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:03PM
Monday, May 6, 2019

Human Jam: the hair-raising stories from HS2's exhumation of Euston's dead by Brian Logan

Haunted by the 60,000 bodies being disinterred to make way for High Speed Rail 2, Guardian comedy critic Brian Logan set out to connect Euston’s past and present ‘We’ve found four time…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:24AM
Sunday, April 28, 2019

Rhod Gilbert review – volcanic, crusading odd-couple comedy by Brian Logan

G-Live, GuildfordAssisted by his life-saving chauffeur, Gilbert propels his high-octane humour with the pain of trauma When you make your name getting overheated at trivial things, what’s …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:13AM
Thursday, April 25, 2019

Could the divine agony of Christopher Bliss bring back character comedy? by Brian Logan

Rob Carter’s delusional novelist is a lovable throwback to the comics of 20 years ago. The alter ego could be on the cusp of a comeback Fashions in comedy ebb and flow. Standup is hip now …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:05AM
Thursday, April 4, 2019

Aziz Ansari: Road to Nowhere review – combative set hits raw nerves by Brian Logan

Hammersmith Apollo, LondonThe US standup tackles morality, racism, R Kelly and Michael Jackson in a barbed satirical show Much has changed for Aziz Ansari since his last UK tour. The US comi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:14AM
Friday, March 29, 2019

Mo Amer and Guz Khan review – hip-hop and hummus in a double dose of funny by Brian Logan

Leicester Square theatre, LondonNetflix’s Vagabond star teams up with Man Like Mobeen’s Khan to headline a mischievous night of smart gags When the US standup Mo Amer first toured the UK…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:56AM
Thursday, March 28, 2019

Harriet Kemsley review – ebullient comic slams slut-shaming by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonKemsley packs in high-calibre jokes in a tour through the gendered politics of promiscuity In Nanette, Hannah Gadsby refused to pretend her personal pain was funny – an…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:48AM
Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Andy Zaltzman can't fix Brexit but he can make you laugh by Brian Logan

The comedian’s new show offers audiences ‘bespoke on-demand gags’ but reinforces the idea that satire is impotent In Richard Holloway’s book Waiting for the Last Bus – it’s abou…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:24AM
Saturday, March 16, 2019

Growing: Amy Schumer is the daddy of carnal standup by Brian Logan

The comic’s new Netflix hour brings in some of her greatest themes: sex, bodies and the flouting of gendered taboos A new Amy Schumer special offers more than just a standup set. It’s a …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:00AM
Thursday, March 14, 2019

Suzi Ruffell review – anxiety comedy could not be more uplifting by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonNocturnal is notionally about the things keeping the standup awake at night, but this cheery set shows she has nothing to worry about Had it been assembled by a jetpack m…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:58AM
Monday, March 11, 2019

Mo Amer, refugee comedian: 'If you're angry, you can't fulfil your dreams' by Brian Logan

The Palestinian-US standup on British airports, his Netflix special The Vagabond and what he has in common with comic pals Guz Khan and Dave Chappelle There’s an auspicious precedent for H…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:00AM
Friday, March 8, 2019

Never Mind the Backstop: the Brexit comedy club for Euro standups by Brian Logan

European comics assembled for a gig about Britain’s departure from the EU – but ended up talking about sex and poultry It’s an article of faith among remainers that Brexit has made the…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:15PM
Saturday, March 2, 2019

Nish Kumar: ‘I have not got over Brexit’ by Brian Logan

The standup and TV host on how British politics broke his heart, Question Time abuse and why he’s the Bob Dylan of comedy When Nish Kumar first made his mark as a solo comic, his material …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:00AM
Thursday, February 28, 2019

Ben Target review – kooky comic wants to send you to sleep by Brian Logan

Battersea Arts Centre, LondonTarget’s absurdist show Splosh! – about swimming and his childhood in Houston – cocks a quiet snook at machismo It’s my dream with this show, says Ben Ta…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:56AM
Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Russell Kane: The Fast and the Curious review – a comedy whirlwind by Brian Logan

Wyvern theatre, SwindonCartoonish characters and an operatic vomiting routine animate conventional observations about Brits abroad, marriage and moving to the provinces A “fast, mental, n…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:30PM
Sunday, February 24, 2019

'Bill Hicks was a bit misogynist' – young comics reassess the standup legend by Brian Logan

He was the Kurt Cobain of comedy, railing against advertising, politicians, the war on drugs, even waffle waitresses. What do the new generation make of the chain-smoking motormouth? Comedy …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:00AM
Friday, February 1, 2019

Ken Cheng review – fringe's 'funniest joke' teller is a calculating comic by Brian Logan

Vault festival, LondonIn Best Dad Ever, the ex-poker player and maths nerd has constructed a meticulous show of well-turned gagsKen Cheng was known as “the human calculator” at school, a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:42AM
Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Matt Forde: Brexit Through the Gift Shop review – headline punchlines by Brian Logan

The Other Palace, LondonComedy’s rational surveyor of the political scene fires a centrist shot at easy targets from Boris Johnson to Jeremy CorbynThe left/right divide is no longer a usef…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:06PM
Thursday, January 24, 2019

Josh Glanc review – come and join the ringmaster of the ridiculous by Brian Logan

Vault festival, LondonGlanc’s big-hearted, puppyish persona is hard to resist, especially if you’re in the front row at this lovably silly show ‘I like to rub myself down with a raw fi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:18AM
Sunday, January 13, 2019

Wanda Sykes review – tough anti-Trump tirade is a potent tonic by Brian Logan

Union Chapel, LondonLife still holds surprises for a woman of 54, including the US presidency, and Sykes plays them for everything they’ve gotThe first half hour of Wanda Sykes’ maiden L…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:06AM
Thursday, January 10, 2019

Keep review – want a list of every single thing in Daniel Kitson's house? by Brian Logan

Battersea Arts Centre, LondonThe storyteller sets out to list all 20,000 of his possessions in a show that misfires despite some delightful apercus‘I have a house with lots of things in it…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:04AM
Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Sindhu Vee: Sandhog review – marriage as a battle of wits by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonThe standup’s debut show insightfully dissects the travails of long-term commitment and the tsunami of having childrenSindhu Vee has a more interesting hinterland than …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:06PM
Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Decadence and dystopia: the unmissable theatre, dance and comedy of 2019 by Michael Billington, Lyndsey Winship and Brian Logan

Blanchett and Hiddleston get sexual, there are chills in a Glasgow tower block, Matthew Bourne takes on the star-crossed lovers, plus Catherine Tate, Tim Minchin and Ben Elton return to the …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:42AM
Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Top 10 comedy shows of 2018 by Brian Logan

We had volcanic eruptions from Nish Kumar, open-heart anguish from Jessie Cave and cold lasagne from James Acaster. But no one could beat the wild blazing brilliance of Flight of the Conchor…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:04AM
Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Hari Kondabolu review – standup's bid to step out of Apu's shadow by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, London In his new show, American Hour, the comedian delivers barbed routines on race, religion and culture wars‘I don’t want to be a cartoon martyr,” says Hari Kondabolu,…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:36AM
Monday, December 3, 2018

Billy Connolly retiring from standup? He practically invented it by Brian Logan

The Big Yin mastered the art of funny – there was barely such a thing as standup comedy when he graduated from Glasgow’s shipyard to the stageIt was news we saw coming, but that barely d…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:54AM
Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Dick Whittington review – a winning London fantasia by Brian Logan

Lyric Hammersmith, LondonCariad Lloyd and Jude Christian’s panto boasts a nice balance of trashy and innocent, a charismatic cast and a warm spirit of fun Even by panto standards, the stor…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:24PM

What happens when a man performs a woman's drag show about consent? by Brian Logan

Natalie Palamides’ bravura piece about machismo, Nate, is now being performed by its male director, Dr Brown“How many of you here haven’t seen Natalie do this show?” A surprising num…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:32AM
Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Russell Brand: My Life by William Shakespeare review – self-help from the Bard by Brian Logan

Bristol Old VicNarrating his life via sonnets and speeches, the motormouth comic delivers a show that is both egotistical and endearing‘I’m trying to alchemise the work of our greatest p…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:54AM
Tuesday, November 20, 2018

David O'Doherty review – delightfully daft tonic in troubled times by Brian Logan

The Stables, Milton KeynesFrom imagining Enya as president to a disappointing encounter with Leonardo da Vinci, the Irish whimsy merchant delivers oodles of soothing sillinessOh to be Irish!…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:06AM

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