Review of Cold Blooded Witch: The Sex Musical at Under Saint Marks!

A Review by Dana Norris

When I decided to attend Cold Blooded Witch: The Sex Musical by Maggie Lalley I didn’t know what to expect. All I knew about it was from the Facebook e-vite I received. And if experience has taught me anything it was that you never know whether or not a show will be good until you get there. I went to the show not knowing what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised… Cold Blooded Witch: The Sex Musical was a charming blend of musical theatre and stand up comedy. A one woman show consisting of heartwarming original songs paired with a unique comedic style. The writing was clever, but appeared entirely spontaneous-as if the person putting on the show wasn’t taking themselves too seriously. Much in the way Bo Burnham constructs his one shows, this piece combined several different mediums to tell a single cohesive narrative. Bouncing back and forth between stand up comedy, original songs, and neurotic dances; Maggie told a heartfelt personal story that kept the audience in stitches. The story arc began with Maggie introducing us to her sociopathic best friend Bethany. Bethany is mentally ill, incredibly manipulative, and has no qualms about taking full advantage of Maggie’s thirteen year old naivete. Although only a year older, Bethany’s propensity towards compulsive lying causes her to introduce Maggie to witchcraft, and induct her into a sort of lesbian sex cult. All of this would be extremely disturbing for an average audience member to witness, were it not for the constant humor that weaves it way through the whole show. Humor makes challenging personal stories winsome and enjoyable to hear. Not a single moment passed without a laugh line, despite that weightiness of the content itself. As I watched the performance I marveled at how easy it was for the audience to engage. This speaks volumes to Maggie Lalley’s talent as a comedian and a performer. Although the show felt effortless, the obvious craftsmanship of the creator was not lost on anyone. In short, entire show as a delightful affair. Cold Blooded Witch: The Sex Musical is a hillarous trip down a very disturbing memory lane. If you enjoy live theatre, or just want to laugh this show is for you! 5 stars!!!