Win Tickets to Girls Only: The Secret Comedy of Women
**CONTEST CLOSED. Congratulations to Rachel Lucero, winner of the Girls Only tickets. Thank you to all who entered!**
I went in seeking redemption.
The last time I invited my friend, Kim, to live theater, it was to Puppetry of the Pen!s several years ago. Did you see that? It was the most awful waste of time and money (with the possible exceptions of Windows Vista and The Road to Wellville) I have ever endured. I was quite surprised that Kim agreed to see another show of my choosing.
It needed to be good.
Kim and I were guests of the Denver Center Attractions’ presentation of Girls Only: The Secret Comedy of Women at the Garner Galleria Theater.
My expectations were high (so was my trepidation). I’d heard great things about this show (ditto for Puppetry). Perhaps I was suffering from the theatre version of PTSD — Post Traumatic Show Disorder.
I should mention at this point the unfairer sex. While men are not proHIBited from attending (there was one lone guy sitting in front of me), there is really very little of interest to a male. Girls Only is not sexy or lurid or terribly revealing, skin-wise. And really, boys, we are NOT taking about you. Attending would be, for a man, like being a fly on the wall at a baby shower or a slumber party – better in theory than in reality.
Not to mention that BOTH restrooms are Ladies Rooms. Woohoo! Although I was a little freaked out at intermission when I ended up in a room with urinals.
On with the show. The stage is a pink girl’s bedroom, circa early 1980s, as evidenced by the Shaun Cassidy poster. As Kim and I settled into our seats 10 minutes before curtain, the actresses were already on stage. In their bras and panties (dissecting rather than evoking Victoria’s Secret catalogs). This led Kim and me to discuss just what it would take for US to get on a stage in front of other women in our undies. We lamented our bodies’ shortcomings — cellulite and pooches — not to mention the special, uh, grooming that may or may not be necessary.
(It IS called Girls Only, after all.)
Stars and creators Linda and Barbara are, in fact, two very funny, creative and brave women. They conceived of this show after working together doing improvisational comedy for several years, and after reading their diaries to each other one afternoon. It was clear they were on to something.
Girls Only opened at the Avenue Theater in 2008, and was later picked up by Denver Center Attractions. Linda and Barbara are now cloning themselves, hiring and training actresses in Denver and eight other cities to bring this show to Girls across North America.
Girls Only is a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Some is scripted and some is improvised; all is funny. The Girls sing. They dance. They prance, they dress and undress. They snoop, they fete, they toot (a trumpet) and strum. They reveal and reminisce. They share a puppet show and a few short films. There are approximately 682 laughs (not really, I didn’t actually count). I watched the other ladies in the audience laugh and giggle with abandon. Often and hysterically. (Hint if you attend: be prepared for leakage — eyes or otherwise).
So, since it’s just us girls, let me put it this way: normally, it’s not a good thing to wet your pants in a theatre. But then again, that Depends (hoho, haha). On whether you’re there to laugh uncontrollably at the forgotten and recovered girliness of your life.
Here is a sampling of situations highlighted by Girls Only. These (and many others) seemed to resonate with the audience because we share such memories and thoughts in our collective girly heads:
* Those foamy pink sponge rollers (every head in the audience nodded as we remembered our individual Glamour-Don’ts)
* Boobs as sundials
* The joys of panty hose
* 1001 uses for leftover “product” after menopause
* The disconnect in the controversy surrounding public breastfeeding alongside the existence of Hooters restaurants
* An actual phone call with a man who just. won’t. listen.
Girls Only gets 10 stars: 5 of its own and 5 leftover from Puppetry of the Pen!s.
And I am redeemed.
GIVEAWAY: The Denver Center Attractions has donated 2 tickets that will go to one lucky commenter on this post. No fancy-schmancy verbiage is required, but feel free to take this opportunity to leave a possible diary entry from your own girlhood. We will randomly draw a winner on April 22, so the deadline to enter is that last moment of April 21. Please make sure your email address is easily accessible.
MAMAS NIGHT OUT: The next Mile High Mamas Night Out (for Mile High Mama Bloggers) will be scheduled in May or June, and will be an outing to Girls Only at special group rates. An added bonus is an after-show Q&A by the Girls, Linda and Barbara. Details will be in this space as available, so make sure you don’t miss a day of Mile High Mamas. For a preview of this show, click here.
Images from ACEComedy.com
How fun is this write-up!? Makes me excited to go see it for Mama’s Night Out!
Ahhh…the rite of pantyhose. I remember trying to get them back on right after gym class in jr high – while trying to get dressed as soon as possible! Pantyhose do not go over wet legs without a fight…the trauma : )
It sounds like a great show!!
This show sounds so much fun!!
I remember when “Aunt Flo” visited for the first time. I had always had this fantasy about the day I would start my period. I imagined telling my mom and having her take me out for lunch to “celebrate” and then to the store to buy feminine products and just having a nice lady afternoon. What really happened was more of a nightmare than a dream come true. I was in 6th grade band class when I felt “it” happen. I called Mom at work to tell her I started my period and waited for her to tell me to wait in the office with the nurse, that she would be there to pick me up and we’d go do all the things I had day dreamed about. What she said was this, “ask the nurse for a pad, change it regularly, have a good rest of the school day and see you at home this afternoon”. That was it?!?! WHAT??? Really, Mom? That’s IT? And yes, that was it! According to Mom, I had just experienced something that women have been experiencing for ages and it was no excuse for me to ditch school.
I have a “friend” who could use a good laugh! This could definitely do the trick…
My mom passed away when I was 10, at the funeral my mothers sisters asked if not if I was okay but if my mom talked to me about being a women, I lied and said yes… we were sent to live with my dads spinster sisters who told me at 11 I could wear a pad to swim in the pool during those times…. thank God nobody ever saw or that one flew out…
I remember the time “Aunt Flo” arrived unexpectedly during 8th grade – I was wearing my white & black striped jeans (come on, you know you wished you had a pair back then!). Thank goodness for my mom who ran me a spare change of clothes & supplies!
Mamas night out at the show?! Sweet, I’m totally in!
Sponge rollers… ahhh, I remember the days!
http://whatwasisayingagain1018.blogspot.com/
This sounds like a great show! I would know exactly what other friend would enjoy this as well!!
I remember hating pads so bad that I would cry when I had to use them and so trying so hard to figure out the tampon thing!!
Aaah, the pink foam rollers. When I wore those out, I upgraded to some skinny, hard plastic rollers, and then came the perm…
This sounds like a wonderful follow up to Menopause..the Musical. I would love to go!
I remember when I was 11 thinking you used “Nair” like lotion and it wasnt until I developed a severe rash that I found out you leave it on for a little bit and rinse… oops!! Not to mention that the lotion smelled horrible…
Sounds like a fun time!
This sounds like a super play, and one I would love to take my daughter to as she is entering the years of “womanhood”! Kuddos to these gals who can come out in their undies!
I would love to go see a show like this. After having 2 kids and being a stay at home mom. I cant remember the last time I was able to go out, get dressed up and have a good time without having some type of spill on me or a little one needing to go potty.
I would love to go and reminisce about the good embarrasing times that a girl goes through. Awww…. You have love puberty.
I AM GOING and taking my best friend (and sissy in law), Missy L. She’s hysterical and twisted.. should be a hoot! Did I mention my 40th (YES, the big FOUR-OOHH!) is in June? Sure would be a wonderful present if I WON, right?!???
I AM NOT MISSING ANOTHER MHM NIGHT OUT. SO THERE! Ya’ll are STUCK WITH ME.
)
http://coloradodentons.blogspot.com/
I am SO enjoying all your memories and comments, Ladies.
The Nair story is hilarious!
I could use a night out and a good laugh!
I remember being in 8th grade and my “aunt Flo” was late. I had been at a school dance (where a cute boy ran by me and kissed me)about a week before this particular morning. I woke up and checked..no “aunt flo”..I started crying and and my mom came into the room. What’s the matter, she asked, “I ‘m pregnant” What, have you been MESSING AROUND WITH A BOY? Yes, Pete Lander kissed me at the school dance and now I’m pregnant. My mom said, Oh h–l, you have to do more than that. But she never told me and I finally asked a girl “that knew all” when I was a 11 th grader…quite a bit different than today’s teens???
Ah, these comments have been delightful. I remember the horror of having my purse raided in the 7th grade, and having the boys toss around the pad they found in there. Isn’t puberty awesome!
I’d love a night out, and I know just the friend who needs one!
I have an 11-old daughter and she just studied human reproductive basics at school…will it be appropriate to bring her to this show with me?
This sounds like a much needed distraction from my life! Pick ME!
Min –
There were some girls at the show I attended who were celebrating a 13th birthday. My daughter is only 8, so I’m not sure what today’s 11 year olds are like, but I’m thinking a lot would go over her head.
Not much would be inappropriate, though. There is a skit called “Up With Puberty” with a point about how teenage boys are.
Great review! Having been raised with two sisters, this review brought back a lot of memories of being a girl.
I related to the story about putting panty hose on while sweaty. Yuck! I believe men developed panty-hose. Sheer (pun inteneded) torture!
I am now raising three sons — one teen and two shortly behind (12). It’s a whole different world!
Thanks for this very funny review. The show sounds great!
http://www.oraclesun.blogspot.com/
http://www.coachwithsheri.com/blog/
sounds like fun!!
I love that the show came from reading their diaries to one another. What a really fun show.
http://stirrup-queens.blogspot.com
This sounds like a trip – a definitely girls night out is in order. Boobs as sundials? This I can relate to!
Oh, I’d love to go. It would make up for suffering through The Taffetas. That was brutal. I’ve wanted to see this show for awhile.
Girls Only reminds me of a production I saw 15 years ago in Phoenix–I can’t remember the name of what I saw–no…was a part of, but I’ll never forget the feeling, the laughter that brought tears to my eyes in laughter and in, well tears for what seemed like hours.
I going to try and take my 21 year old daughter to this so she can see what life still has in store for her!
[...] Girls Only giveaway url='http://69.89.31.226/~weeblesw/?p=5320';size='small';If you’re FEMALE, if you’re in COLORADO, if you like to laugh until you wet your PANTS, check out my MileHighMamas post. [...]
[...] If you’re FEMALE, if you’re in COLORADO, if you like to laugh until you wet your PANTS, check out my MileHighMamas post. [...]