Female Funny Fest

by Debra Auspitz

Festival

The performers in Tapestry Theatre's third annual Female Funny Fest don't just want to talk about girlie stuff and they don't hate men. The common link shared by these eclectic female performers is simple: They're all really funny. The Funny Fest is populated by well-known locals like Brat's Madi Distefano, New Paradise's Lee Ann Etzold and singer/songwriter/sender-upper Liesel Euler, and Fringe Festival favorites like Jennifer Blaine (performing from her well-received Fringe '03 performance, Sorry). These veterans are joined by other returning performers, like the "psychic" Rosen sisters, Debbie and Gail, and by new-to-the-fest folks like Minnesota's Jill Bernard, who will present a one-woman improv drum-machine bit, and Erin Reilly, a marionette artist. Plus, WHYY's Marty Moss-Coane will make an opening-night appearance to read a selection from local playwright Arden Kass. With so many artists gathered at the Adrienne, the intimate space is infused with a party atmosphere, as the performers interact with the occasionally rowdy crowd and hop onstage to collaborate with one another. We're sure everyone has new tricks up their sleeves for this year's fest, but if Etzold wants to gather her Flop cronies (back together for a limited run of the hit clown show) to do their sidesplitting interpretation of Jewel's "Foolish Games" again, or join with Euler for their song about the plight of tall women ("No, I don't play basketball"; "No, I'm not a model"), we won't complain.

Female Funny Fest, Mon.-Fri., Dec. 1-5, 8 p.m., and Sat., Dec. 6, 1 p.m., $15, The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St., 215-888-MUSE.