Comedy is an inherently powerful thing. It’s personal, vulnerable, and publicly private like an open secret. It allows us to connect to similar people with an elaborate nod or wink, making us all feel a little less alone in the world. Outburst, Coalition Theater’s annual sketch revue in conjunction with Virginia Pride, is that treasured secret handshake for Richmond. Like a folded-up note passed between hands during class, it’s a reminder to each other: I’m all in if you’re all in with me.
The reason why Outburst works so seamlessly is not just the people involved and their chemistry; while that is a key element, the bigger factor is the show’s structure. It makes perfect sense: Sketch comedy is pure narrative, and narrative is the foundation of the queer experience. We tell our stories and share our experiences so that we can be seen, so that we can be heard.
I don’t know a single LGBTQ person that doesn’t use comedy as a defense mechanism to protect ourselves, to protect our hearts. Here, in laughter, we can finally relax and revel in the stories shared. Dating is such a scary, nervous thing for any breathing soul in the world, regardless of your sexual identity. But what if it was an ’80s rock video akin to Whitesnake? It’s terrifying to tell someone that you’re bisexual and face the danger or rejection that can often follow—but what if that was accompanied by your own personal barbershop quartet? What if we knew how to deal with overzealous parents who were a little too supportive? What if we actually had those parents? What if that was the worst problem we had to conquer at the end of the day?
Outburst covers the gamut of queer experiences and how we find ways to survive day in and day out. From dating fears, to work-life balance, to answering the question as old as time: When will we finally get a song about the life of American hero, President Pete Buttigieg? Comedy tells our life experiences for better and for worse. Comedy helps us finally reclaim our power in a world that wants us in fear. And we do it with the sharpest one-liner in the knife block and a smile on our face.
Tickets are $15. And you better buy them fast, because OUTBURST: Queer and Present Danger is bound to be a sell-out.