“A Clown Car Named Desire”

Highly Recommended**** Over the years, I have found that Chicago comedy is far above that of any other major city, an done of the reasons has to be the training ground that exists at the corner of North Avenue and Wells, Second City. With their many stages featuring some of the zaniest comics and the training school that they run along with the troupes that are sent to other cities so that they can have a taste of Chicago, Second City is “the best!”.

Their  new E.T.C. show, “A Clown Car Named Desire” is another evening of raucous comedy. Written and performed by six very talented cast members, Carisa Barreca,the adorable  Brooke Breit, rubbery faced Mike Kosinski, Michael Lehrer, Punam Patel and the powerful  Chris Witakse, this is an evening filled with comic looks at life as seen by younger people, the “hipsters” so to speak with a periodic usage of audience members ( a special Second City touch) that make the evening special and because of the audience participation, no two shows are identical. We meet a gay couple on “prom night”, a group of workers in an specialty clothing store, a love hate relationship from days gone by, a couple who try to think back to how they became who they are and a host of others.

As is the case in Second City E.T.C. Shows, you will find yourself laughing at things that you are not even sure you understand, but in your sub-concious, you do get it! Directed by Ryan Bernier with music direction by Alex Kliner, “A Clown Car Named Desire” really has nothing to do with the circus or a clown car, it is a title of a Tennessee Williams play gone Second City which does set up a spoof they do on an unheard of Williams play ( in our case, it was the “Hairy Triangle”) that is created by words the audience throws out to the actors.

There is a small reference to a “Cirque” type of show as they do a scene in glow in the dark, but for the most part, this is just another let yourself go and have a ball show! performed live at Second City E.T.C. located at 1608 N. Wells Street ( Pipers Alley) second floor with an open run with performances as follows:

Tuesdays  8 p.m. ( starting August 6th)

Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ( starting July 2nd)

Thursdays   8 p.m.

Fridays and Saturdays at 8 and 11 p.m.

Sundays at 7 p.m.

Tickets range from  $23 and can be purchased by calling 312-337-3992 or online at www.SecondCity.com

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