What I liked
Whether it be the songs, the personal stories or all of the humorous bits in between, the writing of everything in this show is strong and incredibly smart. The costumes and makeup are whimsical, precise and intentional. The humor is so easy to relate to that it had it’s own sense of catharsis. The location/venue also really played to make such an ideal space for the type of show and for audience engagement.
What I didn't like
The performer had admitted that they just had reworked the ending to their show to be “less sad” but my own personal preference was that I liked the original ending that Chanel had said the show had before the change, preferring the emotional impact it was prepared to leave me with. The song of the new ending however was my favorite of all the songs of the night, so it’s a toss-up.
My overall impression
Chanel didn’t just understand the assignment of Clowning, but rather feels like they could teach the whole class about it. If someone had asked me what a modern day Clown would do, I would take them to this show as a glowing beacon of an example. This show blew me away. Chanel allows us to laugh both with and at them, all for a good reminder that the only way to manage life as a Femme-presenting individual is to laugh about the absurdity that is actually reality. All The Boys I Blocked sang, rocked, danced, juggled and all-out-clowned my heart and soul with it’s sincerity and artistic expression. An absolute must see.
