The Second City formula – a revue filled with snarky commentary on the news of the day, silly sketches, music, audience participation improv, even a little slapstick comedy – has been very successful over the years. “She the People” differs only in that it is comedy written by women for women – but men will enjoy it too!
“She the People”, directed by Carly Heffernan, features Carisa Barreca, Alex Bellisle, Katie Caussin, Mary Catherine Curran, Sayjal Joshi and Kaye Winks. Every one of these women have amazing comedy chops.
Some of my favorite bits
- Women in commercials – a woman wearing khaki pants while demonstrating cleaning products, a woman sitting by a waterfall selling boner pills, who laughs at his boner, finishing with “Please buy my husband”
- A song about a ‘gay’ baby – ending with the baby crowd surfing
- A group of really clueless cheerleaders and a disbelieving coach
- A skit confusing people - Chuck Schumer, Amy Schumer – places – Boston, Baltimore (maybe Buffalo) and more
- A campaign speech by a woman running – returns later when she’s won; and issues Executive Order mandating the addition of pockets to women’s clothes
Some really funny repeats –
- After repeating some of the names men call women – babe, hon, girlie, and so on – the worst, of course, being BITCH, they asked everyone in the audience who’s ever been called bitch to raise a hand – and more than half the audience complied, cheering – then asking them to high-five the closest bitch.
- A woman who wants a man to look at her face, not her body, dons a dinosaur suit to make her point.
- Are you worried about becoming your mother? Here’s an entire hilarious skit about your worst nightmare!
- The 16 corset strip
- The game show “You Oughta Know” in which ‘celebrities’ and one lady from the audience are asked questions straight from the news. The audience member was good-natured enough to laugh when she was shamed for knowing about the Kardashians but not the news.
“She the People: The Resistance Continues” runs through June 2nd at UP Comedy Club, 3rd Floor of Piper’s Alley, The Second City, 230 W North Ave, Chicago. Parking is available in the garage adjacent to The Second City complex. Running time is roughly two hours including an intermission. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 8:00 pm; Sunday at 7:00 pm. Tickets start at $31. FYI (312) 337-3992 or www.secondcity.com/shows/chicago/people-girlfriends-guide-sisters/.