Main-Character Energy: Cat Cohen’s Broad Strokes

Cat Cohen, the comedian and performer known for blending humor with musical elements, has premiered her new one-woman show Broad Strokes at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. The production marks a significant evolution in her work, as it draws from a life-altering medical episode she experienced at age 30—a sudden stroke followed by major heart surgery.

Broad Strokes unfolds within a visually striking gothic set designed by Derek McLane, which juxtaposes playful and dramatic elements reminiscent of a Barbie Dreamhouse crossed with a Meat Loaf video aesthetic. Cohen appears onstage in a striking pink Renaissance-inspired dress, custom-made to fit the eclectic tone of the show. From the outset, her comic style is evident: rapid-fire jokes and cultural references aimed at a millennial audience familiar with contemporary social trends and internet culture.

Known for her quick wit and dense comedic layering, Cohen navigates themes of feminine identity, millennial anxieties, and romantic misadventures. Her performance style has often been described as akin to a spirited sister of singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles, combining candid lyricism with sharp humor. Yet in Broad Strokes, the comedy takes on a deeper resonance as it is anchored by Cohen’s confrontation with her own unexpected health crisis.

The show chronicles the moment Cohen’s life was disrupted by a stroke while watching television, an event that shattered her previous self-conception. Until then, she balanced her identity between a relatable young woman with everyday tastes and a hypochondriac prone to dramatization. The medical diagnosis, which revealed a hole in her heart necessitating an expensive and complicated surgical procedure, abruptly shifted her trajectory and forced a reckoning with mortality.

Despite the gravity of her experience, the tone of Broad Strokes remains buoyant. Cohen and director Alex Timbers collaborate to maintain a balance between levity and sincerity, allowing the narrative to explore serious themes without succumbing to despair. Humorous vignettes—such as a sketch featuring an oblivious nurse and reflections on the discomfort of receiving medical test results via text—highlight Cohen’s ability to find comedy in vulnerability.

Broad Strokes also marks a progression in Cohen’s personal narrative arc. Previously known for jokes centered on dating struggles and self-deprecating humor, this show introduces a more mature perspective. While romantic relationships remain a theme, including the presence of a supportive boyfriend, Cohen grapples with shifting self-expectations and the challenge of adulthood. The show’s latter moments delve into darker territory, contemplating alternate life paths and domestic realities with a nuanced blend of melancholy and humor.

Cohen’s creative roots in cabaret comedy, particularly in the late 2010s New York scene at venues like Club Cumming, inform the show’s stylistic choices. She has influenced a generation of comedians through her distinct blend of camp, philosophy, and irreverence. Broad Strokes continues this tradition while also engaging with the evolving form of comedy-theater solo performance, a genre that demands both comedic timing and theatrical depth.

Produced by Mike Lavoie and Carlee Briglia, the show aligns with contemporary solo performances that merge humor with personal confession. However, Cohen’s approach in Broad Strokes is less overtly self-aware than some of her peers, instead opting for a brisk narrative that touches on trauma without dwelling excessively on pain. The show’s structure, including its musical compositions, reflects Cohen’s tendency to prioritize humor and spontaneity, though this sometimes comes at the expense of conventional songwriting polish.

Ultimately, Broad Strokes presents an intimate portrait of an artist confronting unforeseen adversity while maintaining her unique comedic voice. Cohen’s performance underscores the tension between embracing the role of a protagonist in her own story and the desire to remain an ordinary individual amid extraordinary circumstances. Her story is one of resilience and adaptation, offering audiences a candid yet entertaining exploration of life’s unpredictability through the lens of cabaret comedy.