Babes With Blades: yo ho
Rachel Sleek Bañuelos and Sierra Bryn
Babes With Blades Presents YO HO Review - Gay Pirates!
TLDR: Set in the golden age of piracy, we’re taken to the Caribbean in Babes With Blades world premiere of yo ho. Inspired by the story of two women pirates, we’re taken on a journey of gender and sexual awakening for everyone aboard this pirate ship.
Brittani Yawn, Stef Brundage and William Delforge
Welcome Aboard, Sailor
A figure comes onstage with a sword holstered to their belt. They wear heavy boots, striped pants, with a beard across their face. Nothing seems amiss here, pirates have swords and no one has time to shave when there is much plundering, pillaging, and looting to be had. But looking closer, that shadow of a beard really isn’t that good of a fake beard at all, almost too obvious of a fake beard. We look closer at their pants and, not that pirates can’t wear pink, but their pants are pink, blue, and white stripes, alluding to something else perhaps?
This pirate greets their newly captive military man and welcomes him aboard Calico Jack’s pirate ship. But it seems there’s more than meets the eye for this new recruit as well. And when we meet Calico Jack himself, he saunters around the deck with a captain’s presence, but we notice his coat has some sparkly, sequin panels sewn in. He’s also harboring a secret as we see him admiring his reflection after applying a little blush and eyeshadow.
These three pirates are about to go on a sexual and gender journey of their own in Babes With Blades newest play, yo ho.
Rachel Sleek Bañuelos and Sierra Bryn
Hijinks, Trickery, and Sexual Fantasies Ensue
Based on a legend of the high seas, yo ho tells the story of Anne Bonny and Mary Read. As the story goes, they were actually two women pirates disguised as men and did actually fall in love. Babes With Blades tells their story as the two discover their feelings for each other and find themselves. We bounce back and forth between life on the ship and the port in Nassau where the governor has decreed a war on piracy, especially putting a bounty for Calico Jack’s capture.
A mere five person cast creates a tall order for them to fulfill a grand adventure on the high seas. Stef Brundage, Sierra Bryn, and Rachel Sleek-Bañuelos play our three main pirates, while William Delforge and Brittani Yawn run around changing costumes to become every other character. But no matter who is playing who, they come up with distinct and funny personalities for every single character going through their own journey.
They’re the men on the ship acting like the bro-iest of brohems laughing about sleeping with women because obviously on a ship with all men, they’re all gay and sleeping with each other. The priest preaches against the sins “those people” have brought to this island, but has a hidden kinky side that has nuns calling him “Father” for a very different reason. And when it becomes clear there’s opportunities to act out some very specific fantasies, all these pirates are in for the scene.
But that’s not to say this story is all laughs and comedy. Sleek-Bañuelos and Bryn as Anne and Mary share their life stories and find solace in each other as they pretend to be men and explore their sexuality with each other. We see Brundage’s private moments as Jack tries on a dress for the first time and longingly strokes the scarf around his head wishing for long hair. There’s these moments of vulnerability as these characters discover what it means to be free and yourself.
Brittani Yawn and William Delforge
The After Party Thoughts
With “Red Wine Supernova” and “So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings” playing over the speakers, if you didn’t think you were going to a queer show before, you certainly will be well aware by the time you enter the theatre. yo ho is a fun little queer play where the cast is silly and adds little quirks to all their characters but still has its heartfelt moments as our characters explore their feelings and desires.
For those that are looking for a more serious play or for someone who is not into historical plays that take a lot of liberties, this show may not be for you. But for fans of Our Flag Means Death, anyone who loves a good swashbuckling, and those who want a coming out story set on a pirate ship, yo ho would be a great fit for you!
RECOMMENDED
Rachel Sleek Bañuelos, Stef Brundage and Sierra Bryn
When
Now through August 29, 2026
Where
The Edge Off Broadway
1133 W Catalpa Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
Runtime: 2hrs, including intermission
Tickets
$28+
Tickets can be purchased through the Babes With Blades website
Photos
Tom McGrath/TCMcG Photography
Find Allie and The After Party featured on Theatre in Chicago
Sierra Bryn, Brittani Yawn, Rachel Sleek Banuelos and William Delforge
CAST
Stef Brundage (Calico Jack)
Sierra Bryn (Mary Read)
William Delforge (Chad / James)
Brittani Yawn (Vanessa)
Rachel Sleek-Bañuelos (Anne Bonny)
Schnaude Dorizan (Vanessa Understudy)
Stephanie Fongheiser (Anne Bonny Understudy)
Cris King (Calico Jack Understudy)
Makenna Van Raalte (Mary Read Understudy)
Quintin Craig (Chad / James Understudy)
CREATIVE
SMJ (Playwright)
JD Caudill (Director)
Carly "CB" Cason (Fight Choreographer)
Line Bower (Technical Director)
Jennifer Mohr (Costume Designer)
Payton Shearn (Production Assistant)
Laura J. Wiley (Lighting Designer)
Maddie Abelson (Properties Designer)
Kat Coyl (Assistant Director)
Syd Genco (Makeup / Hair Designer)
Amy C. Gilman (Scenic Designer)
Rose Hamill (Production Manager)
Alex Kingsley (Sound Designer)
Meme Matteson (Assistant Fight Choreographer)
Grace Elizabeth Mealey (Stage Manager)
Talia Neidorf (Assistant Stage Manager)
Alyssa Vera Ramos (Intimacy Designer)