New Review at Second City is Slap Happy

This Too Shall Slap. The title of the show says it all, my friends. “Second City,” my ass,

Chicago is first in comedy. I’d heard the buzz that this show was excellent, and I was delighted

to check it out.

The atmosphere at Mainstage Second City (pro-tip, entrance on Wells St.) bustles while

the audience orders food and drink throughout the show. There’s an unavoidable element of

distraction among the order taking and deliveries. Even though I watch TV with subtitles

because I don’t want to miss a single word, breaking bread with strangers really adds to the

communal vibe. Comedy, more than any other performing art, has a symbiotic relationship with

the audience. It’s like magic; the more the audience laughs, the better your performance

becomes. And by the time the show starts, the audience has already developed a camaraderie.

The cast of the 113 th Second City Mainstage Revue slaps mighty vigorously. Physicality,

characterization, timing, idiosyncrasies, it’s all there. Not to mention the writing by the

performers themselves! I loved that everyone in the cast had multiple moments to shine.

Highlights in alphabetical order (vague to avoid spoilers) were Leila Gorstein as the conjuror

hippie. I was utterly transfixed and enmeshed in her spell. In perhaps the most crowd-pleasing

scene involving hand gestures, Adonis Holmes stole the spotlight with intensity and energy for

days. Honorable mention for his contribution to a musical number that is soon to become our

new national anthem. Hannah Ingle with the blond wig. How can someone be so damn funny?

Bill Letz with a microphone. You’ll know exactly what I’m talking about when you see it. Jordan

Stafford in a bathrobe. This was my favorite scene (OK among many favorites) because I loved

his character so much. Adisa “Di” Williams with the best portrayal of a kid I’ve ever seen on a

comedy stage. Absolutely brilliant. I will remember this show. I will use the aforementioned

hand gesture forever in my daily life. Takes notes SNL. (Seriously, fly out from your white

Sauron “First City” tower and come see this show.) My all-time favorite part was hearing my

child laugh out loud the whole time. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for that.

Decades ago, I saw a show at Second City. There weren’t many people in the audience,

and it must have been an off night because it was humorous but unimpressive. I decided sketch

comedy was inferior to improv. It’s just that improv has an underlying thread of abject terror

running through the veins of the performers that is palpable, while sketch can come up stale.

But this show changed my mind. I loved it. I love sketch. I love it as much as improv. I realized

it’s not a contest in the first place, just apples and oranges. This Too Shall Slap is a damn good

apple, just like in the Garden of Eden. The opening night audience gave the show a standing

ovation, so do yourself a favor and taste its forbidden fruit.

This Too Shall Slap is playing Tuesdays through Sundays for the foreseeable future at the Second City Mainstage, 1616 N. Wells Street in Chicago's Old Town. For tickets and information go to https://www.secondcity.com/shows/chicago/this-too-shall-slap-chi

For more reviews go to https://www.theatreinchicago.com