Esther's Follies

Political humor with music and magic
Noteworthy for: The high-energy show strikes an entertaining balance between physical comedy and smart satire.

A 6th Street institution since 1977, Esther's Follies combines musical comedy, political satire, and magic in a raucous, fast-moving hour-and-a-half show. The ever-evolving performance draws heavily from major news events, with an emphasis on political buffoonery. They pick on everyone, but in left-leaning Austin, conservatives get the lion's share of abuse.
Occasionally, they delve into local issues, which won't mean anything to most visitors - and some of the humor is predictable and over-the-top. But taken as a whole, the show delivers sharp commentary and plenty of laughs.

Magician Ray Anderson often steals the show with a mix of close-up tricks and witty banter. But the real star is 6th Street itself. The stage has a big window behind it, and performers routinely interact with and mock the often-intoxicated pedestrians. Sometimes, performers will blend in with the crowd outside and inject themselves into the show in surprising and hilarious ways.