Brian Byrne has taken his clown adaptation of Chekhov’s On the Harmful Effects of Tobacco across the to Pittsburgh and Hollywood Fringe, with a Rochester Fringe run still ahead later this month— and then he’s bringing it to Scranton Fringe next. Catch it at the Electric City Trolley Museum on Friday, October 2 at 8:30 PM, or Saturday, October 3 at 2:00 PM or 8:30 PM.
Billed as a lecture that goes completely off the rails, this one-man show follows a man who shows up to give a talk on the dangers of tobacco and ends up saying everything except that. We talked to Brian about Chekhov, staying faithful to a script while still making it his own, and his real goal for the night: making people laugh.
In your own words, what is your show about?
My show is about someone who doesn’t know what he’s doing. There’s something he’s supposed to do, but he doesn’t do that. Instead, he lets himself go — for maybe the first time — and expresses things that he’s never been able to say before. He’s a person at the end of his rope, and finds himself, surprisingly and inappropriately, with an audience.
What sparked this piece?
To tell the truth I was assigned this piece at school, which is to say, my teacher cast me in it. I guess she saw something of me in the character, and I can certainly relate to someone who has no idea what he’s saying or doing. It’s also a piece where you can go off the rails a bit, and I think that too, suits me in some way. In any case, I had a lot of fun with it, and I began to dream about making a show of it.
What does “Fringe” mean to you as an artist?
I think the great thing about Fringe festivals is that you can really do your own thing, and can basically do whatever you’re inspired to do. Though this piece is based on the writing of Chekhov, I feel like I’m able to really make it my own and perhaps do it a little differently than has been done before. That is my hope, anyway.
What do you want someone to feel — or think about differently — after seeing your show?
I mostly want people to feel joy, to laugh at the show, and to indulge in some playful silliness and stupidity. Maybe perhaps also recognize some truth or humanity in this character, however pathetic or absurd he may be.
What’s been the hardest or most surprising part of making this?
The challenge has been the push and pull between remaining faithful to the script and taking it to new places. And trying to keep it fresh and new every time.
Anything else you want people to know before they walk in?
Basically, this is me trying to do a play. I’m going to give it my best, and I hope you have a great time. I try to do it for each individual audience, and to make it special. My main goal is to make people laugh, but if you have other feelings that’s great too (except hopefully not that you hate it).
Catch On the Harmful Effects of Tobacco at the Electric City Trolley Museum on Friday, October 2 at 8:30 PM, or Saturday, October 3 at 2:00 PM or 8:30 PM, as part of the 2026 Scranton Fringe Festival. Buy tickets here. Our thanks to Brian for sharing the honesty behind the laughs.
