**** Highly Recommended I think Second City’s 113th Mainstage Revue, This Too Shall Slap is the funniest I’ve ever seen. I can’t remember the last time I laughed that hard! Everywhere I looked, people in the audience were laughing. There’s only one really political sketch, although some zingers fly by. Although there’s a little less audience participation, there’s plenty of sketches and zingers to keep you laughing. 4 big Spotlights
The Mainstage has a different look for this revue. They still have the six chairs but the background has changed. Several warped doorframes, askew at different angle and heights form a large doorway. The background consists of panels of different colors and textures. Whatever they used, it works well with silly sketches and different colored lights.
Jen Ellison directs this talented cast, Leila Gorstein, Adonis Holems, Hannah Ingle, Bill Letz, Jordan Stafford and Adisa Williams as they act, do improv, sing, dance, and make the audience laugh.
Some of my favorite highlights:
- Claudine’s Kitchen, a cooking show on the Food Network done live before a studio audience. On today’s show, Claudine (Ingle) will make Strawberry Shortcake, a dessert suggested by an audience member (at our show, that person couldn’t come up with an idea which led to a lot of laughs). Her crazy sister tries to be part of the show, and a vital ingredient is delivered by a whip cream farmer (Stafford).
- A group of teen video gamers playing Space Wars totally ignore Dad every time he tries to interact with them
- Day 12 of an Anger Management class and everyone has learned to tweet Like in the chicken dance) with both hands whenever getting even a little bit agitated. Then the instructor invites them to play an AM graduation tradition, Musical Chairs. The first one out of the game goes completely ballistic, and has to be reminded of his personal chant – I push the cart, the cart doesn’t push me. Each one out of the game is funnier than the last!
- In a song called Dictator Nation, the cast wore sparkly fascist-style military jackets and hats as they took us back to 1984 (the book), singing clever lyrics about arresting you. This song ended with a huge cheer from the audience.
- The guys sang a song about what boys do (when women aren’t around)
- The nurse’s office at Eisenhower Elementary where the nurse is watching Law & Order. As students come in with various ailments, like throwing up, got hit in the head, whatever, the nurse doses them with Gatorade, even rubbing some under the nostrils (learned that from RFK)
- Someone failed at a Twister game – got deported
The Second City’s 113th Mainstage Revue, This Too Shall Slap, is in an open run at The Second City, 230 W. North Avenue, Chicago. Parking in the adjacent garage is readily available but pricey. Bar-food and drinks are available throughout the performance. Running time is just about two hours, with an intermission. Performances are Tuesdays through Thursdays at 8:00 pm, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:00 & 10:00 pm, Sundays at 7:00 pm. Tickets start at $39. FYI (312) 337-3992 or www.secondcity.com.