At: Judy's Beat Lounge on second floor of Piper's Alley, 230 W. North Ave. Tickets: $13-16. Runs through: Feb. 24
Gayco presents its Friday evening show, CNTRL+ALT+DELETEan LGBT exploration of identity in our current times. If you're looking for a fun escape from our recent news, this probably won't be it. The current problems in our world permeate this look at LGBT life.
The opening skewers La La Land's singsong success while our country spirals downward. Casey Coppess is full of energy and fun but this, and a lot of the evening, never quite get the laughs needed to succeed. There's another skit about the straight guy arriving in the gay office that miscasts him as well ( it should have been ensemble member Lanny Fox ) and feels very dated. The same occurs with the skit between warring impending gay and lesbian parents.
There were a few skits I thought were funny, or that, at least, had some funny ideas, such as the GOP couple boycotting everything or the gay barista stalking a customer. The highlight for me involved lesbian attorneys reclaiming things that have gone mainstream from their culture; Kathy Betts sells it. There was also a funny/moving skit about grandparents making a video for their grandchild. ( Fox and Jessica Belless need better material. )
Other than that, most of this falls pretty flatfrom the stereotyped drugged-out queens on the CTA to jokes about hooking up on Pride. Other moments were total head-scratchers ( Seagulls? Ewoks? ) that feel like private jokes.
Overall, this show feels like a first draft. In our current world situation, this comedy should have been really pointed satire or total escapism fun. This is neither.
However, the company does a nice tribute to late founding member Judy Fabjance, the namesake of the theater. They are not the best singers, but the segment is heartfelt and a tribute to all those who have inspired LGBT activists and performers.