Oh my god, I absolutely loved Comic Sans Man.

I went last year and was charmed – I laughed and laughed and laughed. Those on stage had a contagiously good time, exuding confidence and wit. This year was no different: I just had the best time. 

For those of you unfamiliar, Comic Sans Men works on a simple premise: no men (bar the token man, who accompanies sketches with dramatic keyboard playing), a monologist, a dozen improvisers, and prompts from the audience. Lucy Summerfield was dazzling as last night’s monologist, quick on her feet and totally irreverent. She encouraged audience members to shout some prompts at her and delivered upbeat, stand-up-y monologues based on them before giving the stage to the rest of the cast.

"It is one of those shows that manages to consistently deliver what it promises"

This is where the magic truly begins – the show is completely improvised, but it feels far from it. The cast was synergetic: they moved in tandem, quickly picking up on one another’s ideas, ending sketches just before they became too long, producing a show full of movement and swagger. The improvisers were hilarious and never took themselves too seriously – sketches touched on everything from body hair and dating to dog shows and fathers in prison. This is where credit should be given to directors Persephone Tsebelis, Jade Franks and Tigerlily Hutchinson for flawlessly directing their cast, making them so comfortable and in tune with one another that each performance could be nothing but a success.

What I love most about Comic Sans Men is that, fundamentally, it creates a space for female and non-binary people to enjoy themselves. It is not pretentious or uptight, but completely free, inclusive of all those on stage and giving them a platform to bounce off of one another with ease and flair. Comic Sans Men is fun, especially for those performing it, and it’s infectious. I’ve always felt it was the most accessible and relatable comedy show in Cambridge precisely because it doesn’t try very hard to do anything other than provide a platform for a group of insanely talented comedians. 

Comic Sans Men is an evening of jeering, whooping, and laughter. It is one of those shows that manages to consistently deliver what it promises: a group of incredibly funny female and non-binary people who will have you in fits of giggles – and that’s regardless of whether you indulged in one of those themed cocktails at the ADC bar. Comic Sans Men is fun, irreverent, and genuine – it would be a mistake not to go and see that for yourself.