Michelle Wolf returns to Edinburgh for the first time since 2016 with a show that intertwines the deeply personal and the political, infused with her characteristic transgressive humor. The Pennsylvania-born comedian moves swiftly between fury and absurdity, often within the space of a single joke.
Michelle Wolf returns to Edinburgh for the first time since 2016 with a show that intertwines the deeply personal and the political, infused with her characteristic transgressive humor. The Pennsylvania-born comedian moves swiftly between fury and absurdity, often within the space of a single joke.
Director: Eric Abrams
Writer: Michelle Wolf
Stars: Michelle Wolf
Anger is the engine of many comedians, but in Wolf's particular style—precise and hilarious—she uncovers reasons to be angry (and laugh) about things you've never thought about before. These days, the target is often men, and rightly so. The stakes feel higher. Eight months pregnant and with a young child at home, Wolf is now more aware than ever of how unfair the world is to the people who literally give birth to all people.
In fact, as she points out, even in nature, male lions aren't the ones who bear the burden. But she makes it clear that it's not about men being the villains. She muses that perhaps they're just trying to cope in a society that still doesn't offer them that outlet. Even so, it's women who end up paying the price.
Naturally, at this stage of her life, material about pregnancy and motherhood predominates in the show. She tests the audience with a story about drinking a "placenta smoothie" after her first child. The reaction it elicits only underscores her point: society is still uncomfortable with the realities of being a mother, even though they've always existed. From there, she jokes about the indignities of breastfeeding, the absurdity of so-called "mom hacks," the persistent problem of women's clothing without pockets, and a pun about how quickly her daughter was born. Mothers will recognize much of this immediately, but the masterful delivery of the jokes ensures they resonate far beyond that audience.
Since moving to Barcelona and focusing on her family, the 40-year-old comedian hasn't performed in comedy clubs as frequently as before. Instead, she's adopted a different rhythm, creating half an hour of new stand-up material each week for her podcast, Thought Box, often recorded live.
That process shapes this Edinburgh show, which feels like a mix of material about motherhood, political commentary, and quirky observations, all held together with a confidence that conveys the sense that she doesn't care whether it lands or not.
In fact, Wolf had plenty of other topics to cover. And yes, the 2018 White House Correspondents' Dinner made her famous, but her career has always extended far beyond that. Even so, she revisits dismantling the macho culture in the White House, explaining why Trump was never an alpha male.
Later in the show, she addresses internet rumors, including her supposed marriage to a woman, as well as questioning men who defecate naked, stories of female spies in World War II, her place in a multiracial family, and even a more risqué segment with reflections on conjoined twins.
Wolf has said many times, including on her podcast, that you can joke about anything as long as it's a well-crafted joke. She is living proof of that.
The hour flows in a deliberately informal way, unfolding as a mix of topics and digressions that reflect the moment she's experiencing. She remains as meticulous as ever, always finding new angles to express her point of view.
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