One of the games I like to play is “SF Sketchfest Roulette.” This is when I pick a random show with nobody I’ve heard of on the bill and hope for the best! The lucky winner this night was Femmes The Rules. A show that was advertised as a show where female-identifying comics interrupt male-identifying comics while they do a bit. GENIUS PREMISE! I’m on board.
I entered Brava Cabaret and thought, “this is really cute!” I have been to the other two rooms in the Brava Theater Center but was surprised by how intimate the cabaret space was without feeling overly crowded. The acoustics were perfect, and it had all the elements right for a good comedy show. And it’s hard to get a space *right* for comedy.
We were greeted by three hosts this evening: Mary Jane French, Bailey Norton, and Sammy Mowry. Stylistically, these three comics couldn’t be more different, and yet it worked? Mowry is a bit brasher, Norton is a bit drier (“You might not be able to tell by looking at me, but I’m very pretty.” GENIUS!), and French was very broad. They all explained the premise and then took turns round-robining who played “the man” telling jokes and who played the interrupter. In addition to the interrupter having free reign to interrupt all night, the comedian taking center stage also had to do, well, whatever the interrupted demanded. It made for some lovely and uncomfortable moments.
The six comics of the night paired off, with the male of the pair going first and then switching off who got to interrupt and who had to do their bit.
Ever Mainard vs. Tyler Jackson
Our first pairing was pretty epic. Tyler Jackson attempted a bit where he had a board with joke premises, and the audience got to pick the joke. Without Ever Mainard’s interruptions, I think I still would’ve enjoyed this bit. But Mainard really put him through the coals, demanding he stands bow-legged, telling him not to interact with the audience, and eventually simply forcing him to tell jokes over “Hunger Strike” by Temple Of The Dog. Their chemistry was on fire, and they played off each other like siblings.
I wasn’t expecting the two to switch. But Mainard had their chance at doing a bit while Jackson was given permission to interrupt. Did Jackson interrupt? Not really. But he did laugh. A lot. Mainard was funny, so I get why.
Jeena Bloom vs. Drew Lausch
After Mainard and Jackson’s delightfully loving interplay, I will admit that Jeena Bloom and Drew Lausch were a little bit of a disappointment. Not that it was bad… We just went from two people connecting to two people who didn’t seem like they’d ever met. Lausch was great, don’t get me wrong. And when Bloom told him to recite the first verse of “Piano Man,” he didn’t know it, so instead started singing Billy Joel’s far less famous “Vienna,” which was one of the best moments of the night. Mostly because comedy is rooted in surprise, and someone only knowing a deep Billy Joel album cut and not one of the biggest hits EVER is pretty surprising.
Bloom’s set was excellent, and Lausch didn’t interrupt her once. Some solid, storytelling-centered stand-up.
Katrina Davis vs. Mateen Stewart
This pairing was such a dynamic duo that I think they should do this together all the time. I know I said that Mainard and Jackson felt a little like siblings, but David and Stewart played off each other like “shared a bedroom” siblings. I have a hard time really even remembering when one set ended and the other began because they continuously interrupted each other’s sets, often telling deep details about the other’s love life in the process. In case you are wondering, Stewart is partnered with an actual model, and Davis’ boyfriend is white. I guess we really didn’t learn that much about Davis’ love life. No matter; it felt like I was at the dinner table with my older brother and sister, who riffed off each other the entire meal.
Femmes The Rules happens semi-regularly in the LA area. So if you wish to see this and don’t want to wait until they come back to SF, it looks like their Twitter page is the most dependable source of info. And if you are one of the few people left on Twitter, please try to convince them to join Mastodon like the other cool kids.
