It's not often that I venture into the world of local Theatre, having been absolutely spoiled by the productions of ZACH Theatre, and Broadway in Austin for the last decade, but when I got word of a one woman comedy exploring the depths of sexual liberation in the aftermath of a global pandemic, I was intrigued. So, opening weekend, I went to Crashbox to take a closer look at Katie Folger’s “Getting in Bed with the Pizza Man.”

Getting in Bed with the Pizza Man is an evocative one-woman show exploring the highs and lows of sex and singledom from the feminine lens by actress, writer, and comedienne Katie Folger. Wedged between the romantic ideals of a seemingly bygone era and the ever growing hookup culture of today, Folger presents the question: What do love and sex look like? If nothing else I know my audience, and the sexual life story of a white woman from the DFW area is likely to be a hard sell, but I gave the show a shot and was genuinely impressed. 

Folger brings a certain level of charisma to the stage, and her vivacious style of storytelling can quickly pull audiences in. The show follows Folger at various points of life post COVID, as introduces us to unique highs and lows along her journey of self exploration. One of the things I appreciated about the show was the intentional un-romanticizing of dating and hookup culture that so many women fall prey to. From hooking up with the ex of an acquaintance to navigating the emotional roller coaster of going from a stranger's indulgence to their inconvenience with stunning speed. 

It doesn’t take long for audiences to get a glimpse of the weight that comes with navigating the sexual landscape for women. Admittedly, much of Folger’s perspective was new to me. I haven’t had to navigate the women’s side of the sexual exploration and the gravity of the hurdles along the way, and I think that speaks to the strength of this show. Folger brings a humorous air to most beats of the show, regailing audiences with scandalous exploits and journeys to unknown truths, and it’s highly entertaining to sit back and watch her unpack her emotions along the way.

As a performance, the show isn’t bad. It’s actually pretty good. Folger’s natural charisma shines through most of the time, with heartfelt delivery. There’s room for improvement when it comes to embodying the male characters, but that’s an obstacle that deserves to be handled by adapting the show into a larger production. 

I won’t spoil the details of the show because it’s well worth the watch. Whether you’re a woman that can relate all too well to the stories she tells or a man who hasn’t stepped outside his own echo chamber in a while, Katie Folger’s Getting in Bed with the Pizza Man is bound to be a conversation starter.

Getting in Bed with the Pizza Man 

Thursday – Saturday at 7:30 pm | Late Night Performances: Friday & Saturday May 12 & 13 at 10 pm
CRASHBOX, Bolm Studios | 5305 Bolm Rd. #12 | Austin, TX 78723
Tickets: $35 | Tickets available at katiefolger.com/gbpm-tickets