It takes confidence to build a comedy show around a topic that many people still struggle to talk about. It takes even more confidence to invite the audience to become part of it. Presented as a one-night-only premiere performance at Dixon Place Lounge, Brooke Ferris's My Orgasm and Me uses her experience of once being part of a cult as the starting point for a funny, thoughtful and unexpectedly insightful exploration of consent, communication, pleasure and self-discovery. Blending clowning, storytelling and audience participation, it creates an evening that's as entertaining as it is thought-provoking.
The intimate lounge setting is the perfect fit for the piece, creating a relaxed atmosphere from the moment you walk in. Before long, Ferris is inviting volunteers to join her on stage, but what really stood out was how carefully those interactions were handled. Audience participation can sometimes feel awkward, but here everything was fully consensual, clearly explained, and approached with warmth and humor. It's a clever reflection of one of the show's biggest themes, creating a safe space where everyone feels comfortable joining in.
At the heart of it all is Brooke Ferris, who gives a fantastic performance. Her facial expressions and comic timing are brilliant, and she has the kind of stage presence that makes you smile before she's even spoken. We've seen Ferris perform before, and once again she proves just how naturally she connects with an audience. For someone of relatively small stature, she somehow feels enormous on stage, and it's almost impossible to take your eyes off her.
Although it draws on clowning, My Orgasm and Me never feels like a traditional clown show. Instead, it mixes physical comedy, storytelling and education into something that feels fresh, funny and very current. Ferris uses stories from her time in the cult as the thread that ties everything together, but rather than dwelling on the darker aspects, she focuses on what those experiences taught her about community, trust, boundaries and personal growth. We laughed throughout, but underneath all the comedy is a genuine curiosity about how we talk about sex, relationships and understanding ourselves better.
One of the things we appreciated most was that the show never feels like it's lecturing the audience. Ferris explores topics that many people still find difficult to talk about, from consent and communication to the difference between chasing a climax and actually understanding pleasure. Along the way, she encourages us to think differently about intimacy, suggesting that it doesn't have to be transactional or driven by expectation, but instead built on communication, confidence and trust.
For us, one of the biggest takeaways was that this is really a show about self-love and self-confidence. Knowing your own boundaries, understanding what you want, and feeling comfortable talking about it all come across as the foundation for healthier relationships with other people. It's an uplifting message that stays with you long after the laughs have finished.
For a premiere performance, My Orgasm and Me already feels impressively well put together. The audience interaction is handled with real skill, the balance between comedy and meaningful conversation feels natural, and Ferris shows exactly why she's such an engaging performer. It's easy to imagine this piece continuing to grow, and we're genuinely excited to see where she takes it next.
Even in this first outing, My Orgasm and Me is funny, fearless, thought-provoking and full of heart. It gets people laughing while opening the door to conversations that many of us don't have often enough, and that's no small achievement. We'll definitely be keeping an eye on the website (www.brookeferris.com) to see wherever Ferris takes this show next.
We're giving this 4/5 D's (D D D D)
Cast and Creative
Co-Directed by Joyful Raven and Kevin Allen
Co-Devised by Brooke Ferris, Joyful Raven and Kevin Allen