Thus the Dating is a Dumpster Fire comedy show was born.
For two years, McTavish has regularly gathered comedians and audiences to commiserate on the horrors of modern dating; performing stand-up sets, sharing personal anecdotes and, at times, playing matchmaker. Her next show is a special Valentine's Day edition on Thursday, February 13, at the Oriental Theater.
"Everyone in Denver complains about how hard dating is here," McTavish says. "This is an opportunity for people who are going through the same thing to come together. There are so many of these stories about absolutely insane dates."
Denver's dismal dating scene is a well-documented phenomenon (Westword has covered the issue extensively). McTavish's comedy show provides an outlet for locals to vent their frustrations. Each show features a new panel of Denver comedians who share their experiences; the upcoming show will include Morgan Gallo, John Davis, Helen Driesen and Austin Black.
The event typically starts with the audience answering a dating question on slips of paper to be read aloud by the comedians. Past shows have resulted in Q&As like, "What's the biggest red flag you've ignored? — When he left his toenail clippings on the counter." Or, "What's your craziest ick? — When he throws a bowling ball like a little bitch."
Every show is different. Sometimes the comedians give dating advice to audience members, debate who should pay on a first date or whether it's weird to have sex with socks on, or test out their best pickup lines. (McTavish's favorite came from Jeff Nelson: "Girl, are you 9/11? Because I'll never forget you.")
"You never know what's going to happen," McTavish says. "The audience members have really surprised me with how willing they are to get into it."
Dayna McTavish, 45, has been doing comedy since early 2020.
Jeff Stonic
This will be McTavish's second Valentine's Day show, and she has special surprises planned in honor of the holiday. Last year, she brought a psychic to give audience members love predictions. This year, she's bringing in a cupid to create matches.
The event has resulted in a few audience members going on dates — and one comedian getting a proposal to make out in the bathroom, McTavish says, though none of the matches have "gone the distance." But that's not the point.
Rather than helping people find love, the show is meant to help Denver singles find solace in their suffering, McTavish explains. Has the performance made her feel better about the state of dating? "It's hard to get much worse," she says.
"I have been single for a long time. I've been in the trenches and it's been rough," McTavish continues. "You go through a cycle. You get off the apps, you get back on the apps, you get disgusted with the apps. ...Then you go on a date with a man who says we should eat homeless people and you think, 'Maybe I shouldn't be dating.'"
Dating is a Dumpster Fire has made her realize a lot of people are in the same boat. "It's a great way to get out there, meet new people and just laugh about the situation," she says.
Because if we don't laugh at Denver's dating scene, we'll cry.
Dating Is a Dumpster Fire, 8 p.m. Thursday, February 13, the Oriental Theater, 4335 West 44th Avenue. Tickets are $18; learn more at tickets.holdmyticket.com.
