‘Edna In A Bottle’ Returns, Catches Sketch Comedy Lightning in a Bottle

“Probably the most intelligent comedy involving a giant talking vulva” is a sentence I never thought I’d write, but nonetheless the latest installment of “Edna in a Bottle: Tastes Funny” has elicited this response. Produced by Potatoes Mashed Comedy, this monthly sketch comedy show combines the quirkiness and absurdity of San Francisco life into an interwoven series of themed sketches. This month features aliens discussing the Kardashians, the dissection of techbro behavior, the search for a true dive bar in SF, and much more.

Created by Edna Mira Raia a little over a year ago, the show has recently moved from its original home at The Bindery to Pianofight, which provides an entirely different atmosphere and experience for the attendees. As I walked in, I asked someone at the back of a large line what show they were seeing. “Some kind of improv thing?” the guy said, so I assumed we were going to different shows, only to see him walk into the same theater as me. If he thought it was improv, he must have been pretty impressed by how cohesively the show’s themes took different forms throughout the sketches. Not all of it is planned, however– the clever use of audience participation throughout the show adds a layer of unpredictability to the comedy. If you don’t feel like being pulled on stage to wear a bear costume or hold a ridiculous protest sign, maybe sit in the second row.

100 years ago, this show probably would have been on a vaudeville stage with some jugglers and tap dancers sprinkled in. No, you’re not coming to a highly polished play straight from Broadway, but you’re also not paying for one. At a $20 ticket price, seeing four performers cycle through topical satires with rudimentary costume changes in between makes you realize how much these performers do for the joy of stretching their artistic muscles. Ask yourself how much your last bar tab was and think about whether that might have been better spent supporting local performers who are working hard to create something original. You never know what could happen if you turn off Netflix and take a chance on a local comedy show. Some of these talented performers could end up on Netflix, and wouldn’t it be fun to say you saw them way back when?

Edna in a Bottle takes place at Pianofight every third Thursday & Friday at 10 PM, except January. This month’s show presented Thursday January 23rd and Friday January 31st. Tickets available here.

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