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An Evening With the Second City

by Ted Loviscek

If you are used to going to the theatre and seeing one long show, with one theme, the same storyline, and the same characters throughout, An Evening With The Second City is not that. It is closer to 20 short shows (sketches), with actors playing many characters, and if there is one theme, it’s that it’s all funny.

Current events are being spoofed, satirized … topics range from local events to relationships to religion to funerals. All have a place in making you laugh. If you are seventy or twenty, there will be something (or everything) included to get many laughs from you. This current ensemble cast consists of Rob Baker, Dale Boyer, Adam Cawley, Caitlin Howden, Inessa Frantowski, and Kris Siddiqiand and is directed by Chris Earl. Not only does this group perform the show, they also wrote it  – a ‘collective creation’.

The ensemble has been assembled from the best from the Second City touring company that came from the best from Second City student productions. They usually stay with the group two or three years. The director has been with the company for 20 years, himself starting as one the performers. Director Earl explains, “In terms of sketch comedy, I think we are the gold standard. Our mandate is to be topical and satirical. We’re not going to be as underground as the others. What we will do is put on a show with a level of sophistication, theatricality, and polish, that you wouldn’t normally see with the other sketch troupes.”

Performing the scenes without props (except chairs) and no special make-up or costumes, the cast still keep all their voices, faces and characters believable. We see the problems of home schooling, showing how dysfunctional parents discover and cope with their daughter’s “sex-ting”, and sketched  continue to roll. Male/female relationships. Bratty children. The Catholic Church. Funerals. YouTube. All are targets for this bunch of six.

And if you aren’t laughed out after the two hours of show, as a bonus after a short break the cast is back – trying out and performing new material that may be included in their next show.

Being both and a writer and performer, Ted Loviscek has written and reviewed the performing arts, the entertainment scene, and its people in Toronto for publications including the Grapevine, Toronto Tonight, and the Toronto Star. As well as being a published, and prize-winning playwright, part time comedian, he has contributed material to radio programs on CFRB and AM640 — as well as having written and performed on CBC television.

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