Even if you’ve never watched it, you’ve probably heard of the reality television phenomenon that is the Real Housewives. Set in various cities (Atlanta, New York, Beverly Hills), it follows the adventures of wealthy women with little to do but fight among themselves.
Comedy writers Kate James and Tim Sniffen have developed a parody of the Housewives franchise for the stage and are bringing it to San Diego. It's called "The Realish Housewives of San Diego: A Parody" and it runs Feb. 2-7 at the Balboa Theatre.
James and Sniffen are both graduates of The Second City, the legendary Chicago-based comedy troupe and school where Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert and Bill Murray trained.
The parody includes drinking and drama set in local neighborhoods, spas and upscale lunch spots. James says the cast of five women and one "brave" man will poke fun at San Diego politics and preoccupations, including some of the odder fashion trends of recent years.
"One of the women has made her fortune by putting words on the butts of pants," James said by phone from Chicago. "She’s a butt-word pant mogul."
James is a self-described "super fan" of the television series.
"It makes me feel like I have more control over my own life than I thought I did," James said.
She believes the broad appeal of the show has to do with some element of schadenfreude.
"The everyday person enjoying somebody with too much access, too much power, losing control and becoming the buffoon every once in a while," James said.
She said that since starting the project, a lot of closeted fans have come forward and sheepishly admitted to watching the show, despite not telling their friends and co-workers.
"People's relationship to how they feel about the show and whether they want to be a public or private fan is really amusing to discover," James said.
The writers spend weeks interviewing people and reading the news in each city before the run. San Diego is only the third city on the national tour. Seattle, Denver and Boston, along with others, will host a Realish Housewives parody.
"The Realish Housewives of San Diego: A Parody" runs Feb. 2-7 at the Balboa Theatre in downtown San Diego.
