Cat Cohen is a force of comedy nature. Only she can perform a whole show about having a stroke without allowing the audience a moment to draw breath between laughs.
Broad Strokes marks the 33-year-old US comedian’s triumphant and beautifully unhinged return to the Edinburgh Fringe, with sold-out nights up to her eyeballs and a show that fully deserves every star.
The Only Murders in the Building star’s cabaret-style hour is jam-packed with belly laughs and intentionally navel-gazing gags about the need to be the brightest, most interesting woman in the world.
‘It’s giving coastal grandmother aesthetic,’ Cat says of her stroke, which happened just as she was about to travel to (demure French accent incoming) ‘Eurrrropppe’ in 2023 for her cancelled Fringe run.
Netflix special star Cat’s on-stage persona is far more preoccupied with the image of having a stroke than the stroke itself: is the physical hole in her heart a manifestation of her need for validation? Isn’t it ‘creative’ to have a stroke at the age of 30?
Not only is Cat one of the most impressive stand-up comedians to grace the Pleasance Courtyard, but she also sings hilariously penned songs which explore important topics like, ‘Are you mad at me?!?!?!’ in a silky-smooth voice and ample glitz, primed for the West End.
But there isn’t a whiff of musical cheese here: just radical frankness and deft comedy that scratches the bones of the zeitgeist before we realise we’re in it.
Describing her stroke, Cat doesn’t take a serious turn but amps up the comedy by 100 decibels. She’s watching Selling Sunset and tries to turn it off, but her arm won’t move. ‘Okay, Chrishell…’ she panics.
This is typical of Cat’s humour: irreverent and unapologetic.
The idea of being a normal girl makes Cat’s skin crawl. As do ‘adult blondes’ who no one should trust. Another recurring joke is that Cat still identifies as ‘young for her grade’ which means she can’t reasonably be expected to buy a house or grow up any time soon.
But Cat isn’t just a relatable queen. She’s also an incredibly skilled joke writer, crafting multi-layered and surprising gags just when the audience thinks they’ve got the measure of her.
Like when the Uber arrives to take a distressed Cat to the hospital, and she sees a female driver. ‘What is this, the f***ing Barbie movie?’ she jokes.
Somehow, Cat provides maximum laughs and minimum trauma-dumping in a show exclusively about her hitting rock bottom.
Well, she’s picked herself up from the floor and created one of the Fringe’s most exciting shows this year. It’s a, ahem, stroke of genius.
I’m left wondering: what can’t Cat Cohen do?
Cat Cohen: Broad Strokes is showing at the Edinburgh Fringe until 24 August. Tickets here.
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