Everybody loves a good belly laugh but on the competitive stand-up circuit, those can sometimes be hard to come by.
SLO County has become somewhat of a comedic destination, but it’s still big news when a veteran headliner like Margaret Cho makes a rare Central Coast appearance.
Thanks to Cal Poly Arts, locals were treated on a recent Saturday night to a raunchy, no holds barred performance at the Performing Arts Center SLO. Cho’s 75-minute “Live and Livid” show was equal parts political, cultural, and sexual.
Not too many comics, even legends like Cho, can pull that off.
But after a funny warm-up set by the skinny, energetic Dan Webb—who also dissed on sexuality, family, and being gay—the Korean-American Cho hit the stage sporting a new hairdo and dark, stone-washed, baggy jeans straight out of the 1980s ‘hood.
She immediately bragged about her most Asian cut ever, proud of her bangs and short, dark sheen.
She’s clearly a woman who’s comfortable in her own skin.
Ultimately, Cho’s monologue was mostly about sexuality and her observations/life experiences as a bi-sexual minority that are original, unique, and completely unfiltered.”
Growing up in San Francisco, one minute Cho is talking about her parents renting out the People’s Temple building for an anniversary party in late 1978 after the infamous mass suicide (“it’s just a little haunted,” imitating her mom in her best broken English Asian accent). Then Cho segues into a hilarious bit about casually disposing her menstrual pads despite Mom advising a haz-mat approach of tightly wrapping them in layers of plastic and paper bags.
Next she dove into political rants that everyone knew was coming. Trump and MAGA are easy targets so her rants about Hegseth, Johnson, et al were more insightful than funny. But when she began channeling RFK, Jr. about no vaccines in that grating, raspy voice, everyone laughed and cheered.
Ultimately, Cho’s monologue was mostly about sexuality and her observations/life experiences as a bi-sexual minority that are original, unique, and completely unfiltered. She doesn’t gratuitously curse like many comics, but suffice it to say her attention to detail is unmatched among stand-ups.
“I’ve had four abortions, which is kind of amazing for a lesbian. But what can I say, I like dick. I hate men but I like dick.” If you want raunchier anecdotes, and she’s got plenty, check out her current tour next month in So Cal, where the 56-year-old Cho now lives.
My girlfriend was cracking up the entire time, but we noticed that many others among the nearly sold-out crowd alternated between cringing and laughing—which makes sense. Comedy remains a very personal thing that elicits a gamut of reactions.
If comedy’s your thing, you have many options on tap at local nightclubs: comedian Brad Williams on June 6 at the PAC SLO and several more at the Fremont Theater, which has quickly become a comedic hot spot.
Major kudos to Molly Clark of Cal Poly Arts for delivering a diverse schedule of entertainment offerings through the end of June at one of our most beautiful Central Coast venues.