As the opening show in producer Woody Shticks’ Tender Loving Queers comedy mini-festival, Class Clowns was a strong starter. Introducing the characteristics that proved consistent through the weekend- a spotlight on LGBTQ voices, a jubilant atmosphere, and really excellent, personal comedy- Class Clowns absolutely shone.
All the more impressive was the confidence with which each first-time comedian approached their material. Each performer was a student, some of them still in high school. None of them had ever performed stand up for an audience. Regardless, their was no fear or lack of ability in the performance of any of the sets. While some performers were perhaps more nervous than others, for first-time sets the young group was routinely very funny. I would have been perfectly convinced if this was the 10th or 20th time the students had performed. Comedy is hard, but this group made it look easy. Their were six performers in total: Alexie Walker, Nikko Jay Johnston, Fab U., Parker P. Cock, Ari-Rose Rinehart, and Pearl Lam. One performer, Diego Ortiz Villacorta San Juan unfortunately couldn’t make it.
Content ran the gamut from coming out stories, to life in Switzerland, to the difficulties of being an “unsuccessful lesbian.” Each of the comedians was very personable, and the tone of the work as a whole was very open and genial. Furthermore, the MC work of producer Shticks, who talent of Class Clowns maintained a welcoming atmosphere. Many of the performers had friends in the audience, turning the small theater of 18th and Union into an intimate, inviting space. Maren Comendant stage managed the show, and kept everything flowing smoothly during the hour.
Class Clowns is through with its run at 18th and Union, but to find more information on Woody Shticks, and his theater troupe the Libertinis, go to woodyshticks.com and thelibertinis.com. For more information on 18th and Union, go to https://18thandunion.org/.