REVIEW: Panimo Pandemonium Presents ‘Tough Titties’

BY SHON HO

Part of the Panimo Pandemonium Festival at Kings Cross Theatre, supporting 15 new works by emerging artists over eight weeks – Tough Titties, presented by Gaptooth Productions, celebrates comedy and identity whilst delivering frank social truths.

Tough Titties is a variety show which gets the audience booing at the patriarchy within the first few minutes of the opening number. Written and devised by Kristelle Zibara, Renae Valastro and Catherine McDonnell, the show isunapologetically brazen and serves up some good laughs.

The punchy sketches in Tough Titties are broken up by stand-up interludes from local comedians and story tellers. The show covers over apologetic conversations between women consisting entirely of the notorious ‘I’m so sorry but…’, an obnoxious doctor who literally asks their patient to jump through a hoop for a hysterectomy and spoken word poetry professing an intense love for KFC.

Of note was the utter absurdity of two actors wearing giant ovarian cysts as headgear, verbally taunting and dancing aggressively at a woman undoubtedly experiencing terrible cramps. The actors clearly holding back tears as they tried to do everything physically in their power not to break character, made the sketch all the more hilarious.

While not every joke landed and some punchlines werepredictable, the energy and joy of the cast was palpable. Thegleeful mayhem of Tough Titties had the audience cackling in a celebration of women.

The sellout season of Tough Titties ran from February 7-9.

The Panimo Pandemonium Festival continues until March 13. Info: www.kingsxtheatre.com