Ready for a night filled with laughter, a crowd eagerly waited outside the Wilbur Theater for renowned comedian Fortune Feimster’s comedy tour “Live Laugh Love!”
On March 18, the theater was packed with a diverse group of individuals, ranging from college students to retirees. The stage was only embellished with a microphone and a stool, allowing Feimster’s personality and jokes to take center stage.
Feimster’s comedic style is known for her observational humor and personal anecdotes, making her a beloved figure in the stand-up scene. She is a magician with her expressions, often utilizing big movements to add to her comedic emphasis.
As the doors opened, the crowd quickly filed into the theater, ready for a night of hilarity. After talking to attendees, the audience was excited to hear her take on current events and pop culture, and many were anticipating her signature Southern charm and wit.
She opened the show with an anecdote about her recent honeymoon travels, recalling how her wife unknowingly planned a trip to non-LGBTQ+ friendly locations. For the duration of the honeymoon, Feimster and her wife had to roleplay as cousins to avoid any negative attention.
Later, Feimster described a moment when her mother called a firetruck to get out of a cemetery after being on a solo mission of curiosity. Her mother accidentally stepped into a wet grave, getting stuck, leading her to call the authorities to assist in her rescue. Indescribable laughter erupted from the audience.
Feimster’s comedic routine often tackles family, relationships, and the LGBTQ+ experience. Her ability to connect with her audience through humor has earned her critical acclaim and a loyal fan base.
Throughout her performance, she seamlessly wove together personal stories and social commentary, leaving everyone in stitches. Her relatable and witty humor made the audience feel like they were catching up with an old friend, and her ability to find humor in unusual situations left a lasting impression on everyone in attendance.
While Feimster displayed her love of her family throughout the show, there might be one thing she loves more than anything: Hardee’s biscuits. To convey her love of these buttered cakes, she told the audience how she totaled her mom’s car trying to get to her local Hardee’s drive-thru line on time. This demonstrated her unique skill as a dimensional comedian: the ability to make offbeat material widely relatable.
Feimster’s ability to weave personal anecdotes into her comedy is a testament to her skill as a performer. Her love for Hardee’s biscuits is just one example of how she can take a seemingly mundane topic and turn it into a hilarious and memorable bit.
The comedian began her career in entertainment as a journalist and performer for the Los Angeles-based sketch comedy group, The Groundlings. She is also known for her roles in television shows like “The Mindy Project,” “Champions,” and “The L Word: Generation Q,” as well as her two Netflix stand-up comedy specials: “Sweet & Salty” and “Good Fortune.”
“Sweet & Salty,” released in 2020, features Feimster’s signature Southern humor as she talks about everything from her childhood in North Carolina to her experiences as a lesbian in Los Angeles. “Good Fortune,” which came out in 2022, showcases Feimster’s self-deprecating humor. In the special, she talks about her journey to becoming a comedian and shares stories about her experiences as a gay woman in the entertainment industry.
In addition to her work in comedy, Feimster is also an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, and has been recognized for her activism by organizations such as the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Her perspective and ability to blend humor with important social issues have amplified her voice in both the entertainment industry and the LGBTQ+ community.
When Feimster is not an avid supporter or a stand-up comedian, she works behind the scenes on a podcast called “Sincerely Fortune,” which launched in 2018. On the podcast, she invites a variety of guests, including comedians, actors, and public figures to discuss their lives and careers. The conversations are often lighthearted and humorous, but they can also be insightful and thought-provoking.
In each episode, Feimster shares some of her own experiences and perspectives on life, offering listeners a glimpse into her world. Even through just audio, she is an engaging host who is able to put her guests at ease, creating a fun and entertaining atmosphere for listeners.
Without a doubt, Feimster electrified the Wilbur Theater through her natural comedic and narrative abilities. She spoke about how much she loves the city of Boston, and when the show came to a close, the audience began to crave her comedy and await her return to the city.
The show proved that “Live Laugh Love” truly is Feimster’s motto for both life and comedy, bringing a new meaning to an everyday phrase.
