Josh Glanc: Family Man

Attending Josh Glanc’s set at the SoHo Playhouse on Friday night, it became immediately clear why he is a recurring highlight of the Fringe Encore Series. This series is designed to showcase the "best of the best" from the international fringe circuit, and Glanc, a master of high-energy, "oddball" Australian humor, delivered a roughly 55-minute masterclass in surrealist comedy that felt perfectly suited for the venue's historic, intimate atmosphere.

Glanc’s performance style sits at the intersection of stand-up and avant-garde clowning. The show thrives on a precarious balance of intentional awkwardness and manic precision. He utilizes heavy repetition not as a simple gimmick, but as a psychological tool; he repeats a phrase or entire bits until they move past being "just a joke," through a valley of discomfort, and finally emerges on the other side as something very funny. It is a bold comedic choice that requires an immense amount of confidence and timing to pull off without losing the room.

The audience interaction is perhaps the most distinctive element of the set. Rather than the typical, often-tired "crowd work" involving light interrogation about hometowns or occupations, Glanc weaves participants directly into the fabric of his sketches. He treats the audience as collaborators in his chaos.

As someone who was made part of the act myself, I found the experience to be delightfully unpredictable. The interactions were built on simple, low-stakes prompts that Glanc skillfully spiraled into moments of high-tension absurdity. Some audience members were utilized for quick sight gags, while others became recurring characters in his fever-dream narrative. This inclusivity makes the show feel less like a performance being watched and more like a shared experience being survived.

Ultimately, Glanc’s set is a testament to the power of the "alt-comedy" scene. It is 55 minutes of fast-paced, unhinged, and deeply smart nonsense. For those who enjoy comedy that breaks the fourth wall and leans into the strange, Glanc remains an essential voice in the contemporary fringe landscape.

Josh is appearing through February 14, so get tickets before he returns Down Under.