GayCo's The Audacity of Nope a Definite Yep
By Joseph Erbentraut in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 18, 2009 6:20PM
With Maine's rejection of same-sex marriage, the postponement of a transgender-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the continued federal inaction on legislation like Don't Ask Don't Tell, recent headlines facing the LGBT movement have been a bit of a Debbie Downer. It all leaves us gays in need of a good laugh and a stiff drink.
GayCo, Chicago's home for gay and lesbian sketch comedy, delivers the latter with its new show, The Audacity of Nope or How I Fell for a Pansy Scheme, which runs through Dec. 5 at Strawdog Theater. Directed by Sean Cusick and written by the performers themselves, the show has enlivened recent events facing the LGBT community with licks of laughter and plenty of satire leaving practically no stone unturned. There's Iowan church ladies singing about ham balls and marriage equality, Anderson Cooper crying into his coffee at the CNN news desk, martians asking a lesbian couple to demonstrate procreation and even right-wing "environmentalists" arguing the LGBT movement is responsible for natural disasters. It all wouldn't be so funny if it weren't so true to life.
And of course, owing back to its title, the show does take on Barack Obama, whose "fierce advocacy" is embodied by GayCo founding member Andy Eninger's surprisingly accurate portrayal. This was among the show's many highlights, in addition to a gay rights rally piece where the list of co-sponsoring sub-sub-subcommunity organizations is practically never-ending and the butch post-op sub-furry former lesbians demand their right to speak.
The Audacity of Nope is certainly worth checking out - the music is fun, the comedy is fresh and the writing doesn't pander. It's like a gay SNL. Except that it's actually funny, really funny. And hey, as for that drink, you can just head down the street after the show and choose from a wide variety of gay-rific nightspots. Sounds like a pretty solid date night to us.
The Audacity of Nope, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through December 5, Strawdog Theater, 3829 N. Broadway, 8 p.m. $20. 800-838-3006 or here.