All stories by Brian Logan on BroadwayStars

Sunday, August 13, 2023

Grubby Little Mitts: Hello, Hi review – punchy sketch comedy by Brian Logan

Assembly George Square, EdinburghSeventies spy novels, sexually frustrated poultry, an April Fools’ Day breakup … it’s all here in the sophomore show from Rosie Nicholls and Sullivan B…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:49PM

Larry Owens review – A Strange Loop star’s musical comedy showcase by Brian Logan

Assembly Roxy, EdinburghThe US writer, comedian and actor’s cabaret show includes potent songs about sexuality, identity and police violence Triple-threat doesn’t begin to describe the a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:37PM

Ania Magliano: I Can’t Believe You’ve Done This review – the haircut that launched a thousand laughs by Brian Logan

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghAudiences will fall for upbeat stooge Magliano, who delivers a fun, well-wrought follow-up to last year’s sellout show – and ends on a perspective-shifting …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:33AM
Saturday, August 12, 2023

Chris Grace as Scarlett Johansson review – feverishly funny sendup by Brian Logan

Assembly George Square, EdinburghGrace stars as the Black Widow actor to poke fun at cross-racial casting, in an intricate takedown of fixed identity that will leave your mind buzzing ‘An …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:25AM
Friday, August 11, 2023

Olga Koch: Prawn Cocktail review – a comic in full control of her material by Brian Logan

Monkey Barrel, EdinburghUnpicking relationships with swagger and a dash of Hannah Gadsby-esque introspection, the standup seems ready for the big league Olga Koch has turned 30, and – per…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:43PM

Fiona Allen: On the Run review – Smack the Pony star’s standup debut by Brian Logan

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghThough she emerged as 00s comedy royalty, Allen’s show about kicking back against dull domesticity only raises a few smiles How to calibrate your expectations…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:37AM

Leila Navabi: Composition review – an eloquent, impish standup debut by Brian Logan

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghMoving beyond the gag about Rishi Sunak which dragged her into a media storm, Navabi’s first fringe show introduces us to a comic of promise Leila Navabi unde…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:19AM
Thursday, August 10, 2023

Bill O’Neill: The Amazing Banana Brothers review – a bunch of brilliant gags by Brian Logan

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghPlumbing the realms of the unexpected, O’Neill plays both parts of a clowning double act, masterfully testing the limits of freak-out comedy ‘One banana, tw…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:25PM
Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Ben Target: Lorenzo review – end-of-life care comedy is joyful and surprising by Brian Logan

Summerhall, EdinburghThe comic relives being a carer for a lovably eccentric adopted uncle in a heartfelt show that demonstrates caring’s reciprocal flow The “dead dad show” is a fring…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:07PM

Elf and Duffy: Heist review – harum-scarum comedy havoc by Brian Logan

Monkey Barrel at the Tron, EdinburghThis part-improvised, largely mimed and entirely chaotic comic play about guinea pigs and bank robbery is ramshackle fun Edinburgh comedy award-nominated …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:37AM
Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Drew Michael: Drew’s Adventures review – SNL writer’s spiky and serious comedy by Brian Logan

Pleasance Dome, EdinburghThe polarising comic overthinks relationships and family ties before leading his audience into territory where he’s not after laughs Drew Michael’s first televis…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:37PM

Tatty Macleod: Fugue review – frothy French v English comedy by Brian Logan

Monkey Barrel Comedy, EdinburghNational stereotypes aside, the cordial TikTok star delivers lively cross-Channel observations and adds a soupçon of substance Social media rewards high conce…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:33PM

Gillian Cosgriff: Actually, Good review – musical comedy accentuates the positive by Brian Logan

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghThis relentlessly upbeat call to relish life’s little boons was an awardwinner at Melbourne’s comedy festival and is a fun hour Misery loves comedy, they sa…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:33AM
Monday, August 7, 2023

Chloe Petts: If You Can’t Say Anything Nice review – no more Mr Nice Chloe by Brian Logan

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghThe comedian rebrands as angry for her second show, but it’s her likable comic persona that proves irresistible Not the least achievement of Chloe Petts’ de…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:13AM

The Retreat review – starry ‘She-E-Os’ lead Kate Nash’s fringe variety show by Brian Logan

Underbelly Cowgate, EdinburghUS comedians Anne Gregory and Rebekka Johnson front a satire of girl bossing, with guest acts including the British pop star It’s a bit of one thing and a bit …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:07AM

Frank Skinner: 30 Years of Dirt review – a celebration of smut by Brian Logan

Assembly Hall, EdinburghIs the fringe veteran stretching himself? No, but his laconic style is deceptive: he’s never less than beadily alert Might knob gags be defended on the basis of cul…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:37AM
Sunday, August 6, 2023

Kieran Hodgson: Big in Scotland review – fun show has its Dundee cake and eats it by Brian Logan

Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghAfter moving to Glasgow, the Yorkshire standup dreams of reinventing himself as a Scotsman – but will faking an accent and ordering vegan haggis be enough? Th…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:43PM
Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Britain’s Got Talent winner Viggo Venn: ‘I made £10 a gig. But look at me now. New pants!’ by Brian Logan

The Norwegian clown, whose hi-vis strip show won BGT and took over TikTok, is bringing his silliness to a yurt in Edinburgh. ‘Something bigger than me is happening,’ he says. ‘It’s o…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:25AM
Thursday, July 20, 2023

Deirdre O’Kane review – comedy adventures in ageing and HRT by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonThe Irish standup’s new show swerves from the problems with getting older to 80s nostalgia, and just about pulls it off “I’m ageing by the minute,” says Deirdre O…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:25AM
Thursday, July 13, 2023

Conner O’Malley review – Silicon Valley parody delivers standup solutions by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonAn AI comedian cracks jokes tailored to the audience’s internet search history in this spoof corporate presentation Streaming platforms increasingly tailor content to o…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:37PM

John Reynolds and Carmen Christopher review – slacker bros riff on an anti-comedy vibe by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonAnything goes in this oddball show that sees the two American TV comics veer from deliberately duff jokes to tricksy absurdity ‘Most comedians do one type of comedy. We…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:07AM
Friday, July 7, 2023

Brighton Comedy Garden review – Rose Matafeo and Phil Wang are in fine form as they battle the gulls by Brian Logan

Preston Park, BrightonMatafeo offers up heartbreak hilarity and Wang brings his dad jacket to the charming outdoor event with the nastiest hecklers on the south coast It is, says host Suzie …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:49AM

The Edinburgh comedy awards have been saved. But are they a fringe benefit? | Brian Logan by Brian Logan

At a late hour, the former Perrier has found new sponsors. Some winners have mixed feelings about it but the prize brings attention to an art form that doesn’t get enough appreciation The …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:43AM
Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Rob Newman review – a workout for the mind as well as the funny bone by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonNewman’s boffin-ish routines reach for huge ideas about humankind and its ancestors via Gary Numan and DH Lawrence The closing song of Rob Newman’s new show hymns hom…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:07AM

Edinburgh festival 2023: 50 shows to see by Brian Logan, Arifa Akbar and Lyndsey Winship

Cracking comedy, an eclectic mix of theatre – and aerial dance in an ice rink. Our critics share their picks for the August arts extravaganza Rhod Gilbert: Work in Progress Gilded Balloon …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:07AM
Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Nick Offerman review – big-hearted humorist supersedes Ron Swanson by Brian Logan

Theatre Royal, Drury LaneParks and Recreation actor is his own modest self in a show that has rugged charm in spades, from his rocking-chair-on-the-stoop delivery of stories to entertaining …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:55AM
Sunday, June 25, 2023

Scouts! The Musical review – family show wins gold badges for enthusiasm by Brian Logan

The Other Palace, London Be prepared to be won over to the pleasures of scouting by Gigglemug’s winning mix of knots, knockabout games and infectious songs You could look at the Scout move…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:04AM
Thursday, June 22, 2023

Rhys Nicholson review – sharp suits, sharp wit and wickedly caustic camp by Brian Logan

Old Fire Station, Oxford The Drag Race Down Under judge plays an amused, sometimes confused, observer of social foibles through an arch anthropological lens I’m all for standup that feels …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:13AM
Friday, June 16, 2023

Jack Whitehall review – perennial kidult’s cartoonish comedy by Brian Logan

Brighton CentreIn Settling Down, the standup promises more mature work to match his imminent parenthood but the material remains superficial A new comedian struggles to be born in Jack White…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:37AM
Thursday, June 15, 2023

Penn & Teller’s long goodbye: megastar magicians put new spins on old tricks by Brian Logan

The duo’s First Final UK Tour is more amusing than astonishing but demonstrates what drew them to the confounding craft in the first place Penn & Teller’s professional relationship i…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 04:07PM

Aditi Mittal review – rich people’s problems upstage lockdown laughs by Brian Logan

Soho theatre, LondonThe Indian standup’s Unalive show is stronger for its satire on her native country’s super-rich than its mild, middling musings on coronavirus A show of two halves, …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:25AM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards