The City of Ladies at Brighton Fringe is a theatrical comedy bonanza surrounding medieval feminism, high-octane sketch comedy, and a chaos overdose – and the result is a gloriously silly, laugh-out-loud, educational riot that could probably lead a small revolution if given a megaphone and 20 minutes.
Performed at the pop-up Rotunda Theatre on Brighton seafront, the offbeat comedy explores the radical ladies of the past through puppetry, drag and golden robes. Join ladies Rectitude and Reason, two of the three muses (Justice is on a wicked comedown) as they help Christine de Pizan to imagine a city constructed and populated exclusively by women, loosely based off her novel written in the 15th, presenting a utopian city where women are respected for their intelligence, strength and accomplishments.
Performing previously, wowing the crowd at Camden People’s Theatre, the standout comedy showcased by the fabulous duo Polly Chedgzoy and Morgan Obermeyer was a true riot to see. The performers bounce between stand-up comedy and monologues with the drunk energy of a hen party that accidentally stumbled into a philosophy seminar and decided to just own it.
One minute they’re eviscerating the patriarchy with wit so sharp it could open a tin of beans, the next they’re re-enacting a surreal period-piece wheel of fortune show with the crowd winning bags of turmeric and garlic bulbs galore, before finishing the show with a lip-sync-for-your-life of “Girls just want to have fun” that Cyndi would be proud of.
The cast chemistry is undeniable, their timing is killer, and their message, while delivered with a bucketload of punchlines, is heartfelt and empowering. If the future is female, then this is the funniest possible version of that future.
The City Of Ladies is on at the Rotunda Theatre on May 8, 13 and 14 at 8.15pm and May 26 at 5.15pm.
Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/the-city-of-ladies/
Venue: Rotunda Theatre, Regency Square, Brighton
