Cat Cohen has faced death. But in Broad Strokes, her new solo show now playing Off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, the comedian gets the last laugh.
Cohen, who’s suffered from migraines since she was 12, was in the midst of packing for a European tour when she began to feel “kind of weird.” Within moments, her arm went numb. A trip to the emergency room and an MRI revealed she had a patent foramen ovale (PFO)—a congenital hole in the heart.
Over the next 65 fast-paced minutes, the “vindicated hypochondriac” recounts the life-altering event through words and songs, peppered with tangential pop culture riffs.
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A hypochondriac gets the last laugh
Cohen strikes an effective balance between pathos and punchlines, opening with “By the Sea” (music co-written with David Dabbon), her ode to a long line of suffering women who have convalesced by sea.
In contrast, Derek McLane’s heavily draped gothic cathedral scenic design and Cohen’s Tudor-inspired mini dress designed by Kelsey Randall feel like remnants from Death Becomes Her and Six rather than the world Cohen evokes.
But with a well-honed three-piece band and punchy light and sound design by Jake DeGroot and Cody Spencer, respectively, Cohen has the crowd in the palm of her hand. The lyrics favor straightforward end rhyme over the fun wordplay of the monologue sections, where her voice comes across sharper and more agile.
By all accounts, Cohen has fully recovered—her migraines have even disappeared, a rare side effect from the procedure. She still worries, though. A lot. “I worry it will happen again. I worry something worse will happen. I worry I worry I worry.”
For many who have faced a critical medical diagnosis (myself included), Cohen’s words ring alarmingly true. Somehow, we come out the other side. And in Cohen’s case, with plenty of laughs along the way.
Is ‘Broad Strokes’ worth seeing?
In Broad Strokes, Cat Cohen turns her scariest year into the tightest set of her career—proof that the best material really is the stuff you didn’t ask for.
- Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher Street, New York City
- Notable performer: Cat Cohen (solo show)
- Running time: 65 minutes, no intermission
- Performances through September 25, 2026
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