LA Weekly REVIEW “The Shoe Show”

All-female sketch troupe Tomboys in Fishnets skewers male and female stereotypes in this collection of skits written by all six comedians. Like Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In dumbed down by bong hits, The Shoe Show’s loose series of vignettes, based on shoe metaphors (i.e., don’t judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes, act your age not your shoe size, etc.), never gets too deep but is hilarious in spots. In one sketch, “P.E.T.A.,” animal-rights activists protest a swanky Hollywood club where the patrons’ tight pants reveal the camel toe–shaped outline every woman fears; and in another, Kyra Groves precisely mimics a rapping, lip-licking “playa” who’s got a pair of sneakers for every different task in life (taking-out-the-trash shoes, finding-the-remote-control shoes, etc.) Below lowbrow is what you might call these tomboys’ fare, with potty humor ranging from pornographers’ union demands for eyewashes (due to facial cum shots) to swipes at Rosa Parks’ wrinkled face. Not to mention questions regarding whether to lick one’s own balls and the aphrodisiacal qualities of boxed wine. Gratuitous nudity adds to the seemingly free-form naughtiness and gives these women an air of empowerment. If you’re already buzzed and/or just got dumped, you might want to try this shoe show on for size. Zephyr Theater, 7456 Melrose Ave., Hlywd.; Wed., 8:30 p.m.; thru Aug. 13. (888) 208-9868. Written 7/25/2003 (Wendy Gilmartin)