CHICAGO — Ladies, get your head in the gutter and get ready to share: Comedy show "Ladylike" wants you to tell all your grossest, funniest stories.
Held just once a month since May, "Ladylike" has already attracted a large following: Its July 13 show saw a crowd trailing out the door of Cafe Mustache, and more than 600 people had said they wanted to attend, said producer Gena Gephart. All were gathered to hear six women tell stories about getting their period or going to the bathroom at, er, inopportune times.
Gephart, of Logan Square, said the show challenges stereotypes about women and promotes the work of female performers. "Ladylike" is one of the only all-female productions in the city, Gephart said.
Of course, "Ladylike" also gives the storytellers a chance to joke about things like poop and bodily functions, areas that often seem off-limits to women.
“Women are held to this standard of being pure and being polite,” Gephart said. “College guys are always like, ‘Ew, gross. Ladies don’t poop. Don’t tell me that. I won’t be sexually attracted to you if I know you have bodily functions like a human being.’ Which isn’t that fun.”
Contrary to what those college guys say, ladies do go to the bathroom — and Gephart is a big fan of talking about it. The comedian plans to tell her own story at the next "Ladylike" show in mid-August.
“I love talking about poop and I’m sick of hiding it. It’s empowering to be like, ‘This is when I destroyed somebody’s couch,’ and also just like really fun,” Gephart said. “I have a story about when I was 20 and my boyfriend and I were breaking up, and I was sitting at his house and I almost clogged his toilet. Just being completely stressed out that I ruined his plumbing and being so sad that we were breaking up.”
The stories so far have been humorous, and mostly comics have spoken, Gephart said, but anyone can submit a story by contacting the troupe through Facebook. The only requirement is that you identify as a woman or non-binary person (though men are encouraged to attend the shows).
“The idea is sort of to celebrate how fun it is to celebrate s----ing your pants. … just sort of break down that stereotype that ladies can’t talk about that or shouldn’t talk about that, that we should be embarrassed … ,” Gephart said. “Not only are [women] as gross as dudes, but it’s fine. It’s funny and we’re having a good time.”
Barely able to hold back giggles, Gephart recounted stories shared by others at "Ladylike:" One woman talked about getting her period during an improv class and having to play it off, and another woman told the crowd about how she got sick and went to the bathroom in her pants while falling off a golf cart.
“It’s been really great so far. Online and stuff a lot of people are really excited about it,” Gephart said. “Bring all your lady friends out and laugh at poop jokes.”
Attending the shows is free, though the performers do ask for a $5 donation.
The women of "Ladylike" will host shows at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Aug. 29 to accommodate their growing fan base. The performances are expected to be held at Cafe Mustache, 2313 N. Milwaukee Ave.
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