Marga Gomez may not be getting any younger but her funny bone is stronger than ever. In her new one-woman show "Not Getting Any Younger," Gomez has the audience in hysterics with her takes on salesgirls who say "uh huh" instead of "you're welcome," why she pays extra for soy milk in her latte at Starbucks ("my white friends made me lactose intolerant"), can't-miss dance moves at clubs and her vision of how men see women's conversation ("woman talking. Must sleep").
Best of all are her remembrances of her childhood, which seems to be a limitless resource for Gomez who has already done shows about her parents ("Los Big Names" and "Memory Tricks"). Taking the subway and bus to the old Freedomland in the Bronx turns into wonderful commentary on a bad business decision, as well as a terrific story about her Mom winning the Chubby Chucker twist contest.
The show is perhaps a little long, not because it isn't always funny, but because there are so many great endings. You figure she can't keep going -- but, sure enough, she's off into another set of stories.
Our favorite bit was Marga's description of going to her childhood friend Lisa's birthday parties, where the chaperone was Lisa's father, who had been kicked out of the Marines for being too aggressive. It's this same Lisa whose idea to torment old people leads to Marga's classic Old People Helper club, which might have done better if it didn't sound like Hamburger Helper. The gags just keep on coming and we can't get enough Marga Gomez.
RATINGS: ☼ ☼ ☼ BANG
The San Francisco Theater Blog Awards Division awards "Not Getting Any Younger" Three Stars with a BANGLE of PRAISE. Solo performers have to make us believe each character they create, but they also have to make us love them when they're playing themselves. Because Marga makes us laugh so much we love it when she plays her tormenters -- like the old lady with the pot of water or all the schoolkids in Starbucks. Most of all, though, and the recipient of the BANGLE, is Máma Gomez. Marga's mom steals the show at Freedomland and gives us a vision we will always remember, every time we hear "Let's Twist Again."
Marga is still hiding from her criminal friend Lisa -- upstairs at the Marsh. It's a really small space, so get tickets quick and buy the cheapest ones. You laugh just as hard in Row Three.
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Marga Gomez "Not Getting Any Younger"
The Marsh
1062 Valencia Street, San Francisco
Thu-Sun EXTENDED THROUGH February 25
$15-$35 sliding scale.
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