The Definitive Guide to Comedy
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Wasn’t so long ago that the UK tabloids showcased young women with “big naturals” on Page 3 of their daily newspapers. That could be eye-opening to a child. For Petts, she also recounts her enjoyment at reading all of the salacious stories in print when she was only 8 …
⭐⭐⭐⭐ What were doing 10 years ago? Glenn Moore didn’t even consider himself a comedian a decade ago, and certainly didn’t have the self-esteem to be the barnburner of a stand-up he is today. But the comedian takes us back time and again to a road trip gone awry with …
⭐⭐⭐⭐ This hour is not a direct attack on “Mango Mussolini.” But it is, perhaps, a direct result of the threat America’s current president represents to the health and safety of the award-winning comedian, and even more especially, to Rosie O’Donnell’s autistic non-binary tween. This hour also “is not Angela’s …
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The first of three consecutive Fringe First award-winning productions from Xhloe Rice and Natasha Rowland is both their most purely clownish hour, and also their most meta. Xhloe and Natasha excel in intricately-choreographed stagecraft. It’s absurdist buffoonery, with balletic grace. And for their most absurd idea yet, they’re mounting …
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ismael Loutfi’s story is not the typical saga of the child of immigrants who becomes an American stand-up comedian and TV writer. Sure, Loutfi has grown into both of those professions. But few can talk about having a father moving to Connecticut from Syria in the late 1970s, having …
⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2 Plenty of Fringe shows begin with trigger warnings, but how many can boast a cute warning? Grace Helbig was inducted as part of the inaugural class into the VidCon Hall of Fame earlier this summer, along with fellow O.G. YouTubers Rhett & Link, Smosh, and Hank Green. Green released …
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lara Ricote, the 2022 Best Newcomer, has returned to the Fringe with a new hour exploring her relationship issues, whether it’s the unique one she fosters with each audience, or the uniquely weird one she has with her Argentinian boyfriend, who moved to the Netherlands to be with Ricote, …
⭐⭐⭐½ Lee’s debut solo hour packs an emotional punch, reframing their journey as a first-gen identical twin of Taiwanese parents through song-and-dance numbers, an onstage costume change revealing their pandemic boobs, and a closing drag number paying homage to their late brother. It’s a lot to take in. But TIti …
⭐⭐½ This is the opening of his official show description for the 2024 Fringe: “For years, Reginald D Hunter has been misinterpreted as a controversial comedian because of his show titles despite his repeated objections that he is not a controversial comedian.” Ahem. Oops. For the record, I saw Hunter’s …
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Emma Holland grew up in Indonesia from ages 6-16, and she’d maybe rather have that be what sets her apart from other Australian comedians than her love of collages. Because who wants to be known as a collage comedian? And yet, There Will Be Collage. There also will be …
