Jonny and the Baptists review " jokes about the election, equality ... and willies by Brian Logan

Firestation, WindsorThese are comedy songs to make you vote " but too often Jonny Donahoe and Paddy Gervers sing the line of least offence Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:39am on April 27, 2015☆⚑

The wild west world of standup comedy by Brian Logan

Theatre-makers often develop their craft under the wing of caring venues. Comedians learn theirs by finding out how bad it feels to not be funny on stageI was struck by how many comedians li…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:27am on April 23, 2015☆⚑

Tim Vine review " high-class Christmas-cracker gags by Brian Logan

Fairfield Halls, CroydonThe current Edinburgh's funniest joke incumbent proves his mastery of the obscure pun " but doesn't seem to have much personal stake in his material Continue reading.…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:49am on April 21, 2015☆⚑

Count Arthur Strong review " the deluded Doncastrian just gets funnier by Brian Logan

Hexagon, ReadingFrom a sermon about the garden of Edam to hilariously inept ventriloquism, Steve Delaney's alter ego is as entertaining as ever Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:54am on April 20, 2015☆⚑

Laughing all the way to the ballot: comedy's role in a general election by Brian Logan

There's little in this campaign's comedy roster to suggest comedians will forcefully express any opinions about politicians " which is a missed opportunity Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:00am on April 16, 2015☆⚑

Is Trevor Noah really proof of US comedy's soft power? by Brian Logan

Apparently US comedy is so powerful and pervasive that people all over the world want to, and can, fit its template. I have some problems with that Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:11pm on April 9, 2015☆⚑

Dylan Moran review " storming set from a soothsaying standup by Brian Logan

Orchard, DartfordMoran shows off his highly quotable brand of crackpot lyricism in routines about midlife travails, hipster scorn and feeling like a 'jelly baby with money'Most standups ease…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:34am on April 2, 2015☆⚑

Stewart Lee, Russell Howard and TV's alternative comedy experiences by Brian Logan

Comedy Central has axed Lee's programme and will broadcast a new one by Howard " leading critics and comedians to debate standup's future on the tellyThe state of standup on the telly is und…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:31am on March 31, 2015☆⚑

Too cosy for comedy: James Corden's TV show could learn from Simon Amstell by Brian Logan

Corden's US TV debut is a success, but the mutual back-slappery of such chatshows is almost unwatchable " all the more so when the hosts are comediansDid you ever watch Simon Amstell on Neve…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:23pm on March 24, 2015☆⚑

Mel Brooks review " convivial reminder of what makes his best work great by Brian Logan

Prince of Wales, LondonA rose-tinted reminiscence of a life distilled into two hours isn't among Brooks's iconoclastic best but engenders a warm glow Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:39pm on March 22, 2015☆⚑

Is the pen ever mightier than the mic for comedians? by Brian Logan

Sara Pascoe, Bridget Christie and Luisa Omielan all have books in the pipeline. Which standups rule the page as well as the stage?This week, it was announced that comedian Luisa Omielan has …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on March 18, 2015☆⚑

What can 'chin-strokey' theatre learn from raw standup? by Brian Logan

Comedian Tom Parry and indie theatre-maker Hester Chillingworth are exploring what would happen if performance art and standup swapped audiences Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:25am on March 12, 2015☆⚑

The Producers review " Jason Manford and Phill Jupitus in crass meisterwork by Brian Logan

Churchill theatre, BromleyMel Brooks's comedy about a Nazi-themed musical is revived in a charming, gleefully disrespectful steamroller of a production Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:57am on March 12, 2015☆⚑

John Shuttleworth review " a novelty deficit by Brian Logan

Wyvern, SwindonWith his provincial patter dragging and his songs light on laughs, it feels like Graham Fellows' long-running comic persona needs a rest"I can't do John Shuttleworth for ever,…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:57am on March 11, 2015☆⚑

Ruby Wax: Sane New World review " mirth and mindfulness in standup's seminar by Brian Logan

St James theatre, LondonIs it a showbiz tale or a workshop for the audience? It's hard to tell but the comic's interactive stage show does feel therapeuticI've seen a lot in comedy, but I've…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on March 6, 2015☆⚑

Henning Wehn review " German comedy ambassador's devilish reception by Brian Logan

Leicester Square theatre, LondonWehn dials down the Teutonic stereotypes to launch into material other comics might find too weighty " such as the farce of the London housing market Continue…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:04am on March 4, 2015☆⚑

Matt Lucas's Pompidou: why are we so snobbish about silent comedy? by Brian Logan

The BBC's new sitcom, like Mr Bean before it, has been called cynical and childish " but family entertainment shouldn't be dismissed as unsophisticatedOuch. There've been some stinking revie…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:09am on March 3, 2015☆⚑

Milton Jones review " pun-loving comedian's desert island adventure by Brian Logan

The Hawth, CrawleyThe shock-haired master of wordplay unearths some terrific one-liners in a comedy quest to revive his archaeology career Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:29am on March 2, 2015☆⚑

Sarah Kendall review " takes comedy to serious places by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonKendall's engaging yarn about her gawky adolescence draws in secrets, misunderstandings and abuse, but keeps the audience laughing along Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:47am on February 26, 2015☆⚑

The great Irish famine sitcom " a comedy hot potato? by Brian Logan

Some people are angry that Channel 4 is developing Hungry, a comedy set in one of Ireland's darkest times. But don't judge a script before it's written Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:04am on February 24, 2015☆⚑

Why Count Arthur is still going Strong by Brian Logan

Who knew 10 years ago that Steve Delaney's tragicomic portrait of a delusional old man would be vying with Miranda for primetime TV celebrity? He may have morphed into a lovable old duffer, …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:13am on February 11, 2015☆⚑

Susan Calman review " shaking off the haters with frank self-acceptance by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonThe Glasgow comic's magpie set is best when she plays a woman on the edge' Susan Calman on the worst 55 minutes of her standup career Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:59am on February 5, 2015☆⚑

Jim Davidson cancels lofty gig: so when is a stage too high for standup? by Brian Logan

The 'nick-nick' comedian, who suffers from vertigo 'a bit', refuses to perform from an elevated height, while Ross Noble improvises gags from a similar positionHe styles himself "the people'…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:12am on February 3, 2015☆⚑

Nick Mohammed: meet the comedian who's a real pain in the neck by Brian Logan

Being uncool hasn't stopped Nick Mohammed's alter ego Mr Swallow from storming Edinburgh and winning hipster acclaim. Now he's taking his creation mainstream in a spoof vampire musicalWith c…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 3:00am on February 3, 2015☆⚑

Ross Noble review " horny owls and jihadi mermaids plucked from thin air by Brian Logan

Brighton DomeIf nothing of consequence comes of Ross Noble's flights of fancy, it's impressive to watch his streams of nonsense"If you see me in the street in a week's time," says Ross Noble…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:12am on February 2, 2015☆⚑