REVIEW: MAN UP! A Show for Women, EdFringe 2024 ★★★★☆

Meet Drag King Chip Johnson! World leading conservative feminist, a feminist because he cares about women and knows what’s best for them. Sit down (preferably in the kitchen) and listen to his expertise on women’s issues. From politics, periods, Me Too and abortions – he has something to say on every subject.

This mansplaining, condescending trust fund kid finds himself completely at home among the likes of Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson. He plants himself firmly in the zeitgeist, making references to events as recent as Kamala Harris’ pick for VP (decided, if I’m not mistaken, literally the day I saw the show). Covering a range of controversial (to some) women’s issues, he’s determined to get his point across while also maintaining that it’s all for their best.

Pathetic, greasy and funded by a company that sells Splornt, pure “lemur testosterone” that looks more like slightly dehydrated lemur urine, Chip delivers a tight comedic set, interspersed with PowerPoints and short video clips to help illustrate his various opinions on women’s issues. Opinions we should be listening to, he says, because of his masculine superior logic. We watch at Chip rambles himself into insanity, occasionally pausing to glug down this foul looking drink (the aforementioned Splornt).

The writing is golden, stuffed to the brim with witty one-liners, puns and cultural references. Maggie is a talented drag artist and plays the hateable Chip with gusto and charm. I did find that the show lacked some set dressing, with just a stark dark table and a PowerPoint projection in the background.

I felt like a character with Chip’s personality deserved something a little more flamboyant. I also felt like the energy was not as high as I would like it to be, and I believe Chip could be pushed a little further. The writing stands out, though, and Chip is a character you love to hate.

With a tight set and a brilliantly hateable character, I think this is definitely a show worth seeing this year if you’re looking for a fun mockery of the kind of men that make a mockery of media.

Sharp, funny and loveably hateable, Chip Johnson is sure to win over your heart.

Recommended Drink: I’m not sure if I’m even legally allowed to recommend this, as I’m concerned it may not actually be classified a “drink”, but I suppose you’ll have to enjoy MAN UP! with a whole bottle of Splornt, in their iconic shade of suspicious yellow.

Catch MAN UP! A show for women between 8-11, 13-18 at 20:15 at C ARTS | C venues | C aquila. Tickets are available through the EdFringe Box Office.