Absolute Adoration.
I loved Snooty Pageant. This was the best show I saw during Chicago SketchFest this year. After deciding what characters they want to play, how to play to their strengths and what common thread they could use to weave together their story, these two powerhouses pulled together a dynamite performance.
Stacey Smith and Katie Dufresne took the audience on a rollercoaster ride through the “Miss Lower 48 Pageant” presenting characters from North Dakota, New York, West Virgina, Florida, Wyoming and Maryland. These ladies bounced back and forth across the stage the entire show, never letting the energy drop. From interview questions to talents such as chugging a beer, getting dressed for winter quickly and burping, first-class, grade-A femininity was thrown all over the theatre.
A few of my favorite sketches were these two as Girl Scouts and the two-woman team of “Dunk-a-Tonk.” They stepped on stage with green sashes, clearly indicating Girl Scout status and bounced right into a slew of puns and selling techniques. They realized they probably shouldn’t call the younger girls “Brownies,” because that was racist and after analyzing specific high-selling keywords, “whoreganic” makes its way to the top. But the girls do remember two specific things: the number one rule of being a Girl Scout is “don’t be a prostitute” and “Never be a Tagalong, always ask for Samoa.” Could not be more hilarious or charming.
You’ll notice these two sporting NBA gear, that, my friends, is “Dunk-a-Tonk.” Dufresne took on the role of “Rim Job” and Smith was “Back Splash.” These two launched into this sketch highlighting their fundamental female preferences and differences and concluding that “together we make the perfect woman – separately we suck at life.” Loved how they took this to the extreme.
I adored this show. It was fun, fast-paced, clever, smart, resourceful, creative and pushed boundaries. But I did not realize, that outside of the musical numbers, most of the show is improvised with certain “golden nuggets” or beats to hit. Snooty Pageant is not fully scripted, but Smith and Dufresne are so talented, no one would have ever guessed and frankly, I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
Under the direction of Jay Steigman and musical direction of Chris Yearwood, Snooty Pageant stole my heart. I can’t wait to see the next time this show hits the stage. Until then, it’s a safe bet I’m going to try and see as many shows with these ladies as possible.
To read the rest of my reviews of the 13th Annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, click here.
