Vilification Tennis Supports Reproductive Rights in Its September Show

Since first attending CONvergence six years ago, my friend group has known that, every Friday night, it’s “VilTen” night: I haven’t attended a panel or planned an event if it runs through Vilification Tennis’s annual convention show. If you’re not familiar, Vilification Tennis is a comedy show in which the comedians play a game of tennis, except there isn’t a ball—instead, there are insults lobbed against the other team.

The show isn’t for the easily offended. At every performance—the ones at CONvergence and other special events and their monthly show at the Bryant-Lake Bowl on Lake Street in Minneapolis—the performers give a content warning about how their jokes will be offensive, and jokes will be told regarding certain topics we “shouldn’t” joke about. The upcoming September 27, 2019, show is no different: Vilification Tennis is devoting it to reproductive rights, titling it No One Chooses Us: Vilification Tennis Gets Aborted. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. at the Bryant-Lake Bowl, and the show starts at 10:00. Don’t forget to bring a past CONvergence badge or Fringe button to get a discount on admission.

This show is unique among VilTen performances, as Molly Glover is hosting instead of Tim Wick. In addition to the insult comedy, there will be games planned to entertain the audience. First-time Vilification attendees will be introduced to the show with a unique, reproductive-positive experience. I’m going to get this out of the way right now: there will be jokes about abortion. If this upsets you due to your beliefs, this show is not for you.

Throughout, the team will be taking donations for Red River Women’s Clinic, the only clinic in North Dakota that provides abortion care services—I repeat, this is the only clinic in North Dakota that provides such services. Living in the Twin Cities, I feel privileged to have access to birth control and abortion services if I need them. That’s not the case in other states or rural areas. Another point I want to make is that abortions are not the only service Red River Women’s Clinic offers. It performs pap smears, which are lifesaving medical tests, as well as pregnancy testing, infection tests, and miscarriage management. Regardless of your opinions on abortion, most clinics that provide abortions do so much more to benefit reproductive health, and it’s crucial that we support these clinics when we can. Red River Women’s Clinic is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and has a program that offers financial assistance if it’s needed for their services.

Glover’s passion for Red River Women’s Clinic stems from her experience working at Planned Parenthood in the Chicago area back in 2003. This cause is something she’s extremely passionate about, a fact that easily shined through our conversation regarding this show. She also wanted to made it clear this show is for all people of all genders. Too often when we discuss reproductive rights, we speak about it as a “women’s issue.” This isn’t inclusive speech, as reproductive rights encompasses everyone in some capacity regardless of gender.

Vilification Tennis is a monthly show located at the Bryant-Lake Bowl. If financially possible, I would recommend bringing extra cash for donations to the Red River Women’s Clinic. Tickets are available online at Bryant-Lake Bowl’s website or at the door and can be picked up at will call. Tickets are $15 at the door or $12 if you order in advance or show your Fringe button or CONvergence badge. The Vilification Tennis team is ready to be offensive while raising awareness for reproductive rights for all.