“Do You Believe in Madness?” The Second City’s 108th Revue

[rating=4] Second City is truly an important part of Chicago. We are the core of the improv and comedy scene, and in fact, the training ground that has created hundreds of performers throughout the years. It is the constant flow of ideas and revues that keeps these theaters ( yes, they have several in the “Old Town” setting and even on a week night, the buildings were abuzz with people who were out for a good laugh. They got it!

The 108th Revue, “Do You Believe in Madness” opened on the original stage, the MAINSTAGE, last night. Last night, we sat away from our usual “on the rail” vantage point. When you sit in the general area, several things change. If you eat ( and they have some tasty food) you are sharing a small table with others ( our “others” were from Oregon and Libertyville and were more than cordial as “dinner guests”) and you find yourself making new friends. If you sit close you also take the risk of being IN the show as the comics do use the audience to play off.

Often people ask, “How do they create the shows?” and “Who writes them?”.

The answer is loud and clear. The performers IN the show write the show. They are evidently locked in a room together where they hash out ideas that come to mind and then work out the details of each bit. When they have enough material to fill roughly two hours, they bring in their director ( in this case the very clever Ryan Bernier) and add music ( Nick Gage) in order to work out the timing and the music. While it may not appear to fit the title in every skit, I think we will all take away some different ideas from this very funny show.

Notable bits will be different for each of us as well. “Who ate my pretzel” a family quiz show was hysterical for me as I have had a similar experience. “Bus Stop” where one person , who takes a bus every day, greets another and feels that since they see each other every day, they should get to know each other. Adam Schreck and Andrew Knox ( watch this man’s face and his very expressive eyes) pull it off. They are both in the “pretzel” bit along with Mary Catherine Curran and Asia Martin.

The other two writers/performers in the show are Jordan Savusa ( a wild -looking “Jim Belushi type”) who led a great ukulele  class later in the show along with the adorable Sarah Dell’amico ( who is an absolute riot in the ukulele bit). FYI- each segment/act ends with an ensemble bit with Savusa taking the lead about all those that have left the Trump administration. The crowd went wild!

Yes, part of Second City has always been politics and in today’s world, every day there is new material. This troupe of quality comedians follows the tradition that has been on Wells Street for almost 60 years. Topics such as “secret families”, a very funny “abortion bit” ( Dell’Amico and Martin), “Facebook” with (Schreck and Knox) -wow, this one truly makes you think! and a host of others. The bits are fast moving and while they do not lead from one to another, they are all about some of the craziness that we see in our world today.

As always, Second City shows are “open end” so, “Do You Believe in Madness” will continue until ? with performances as follows:

Tuesdays  8 p.m.

Wednesdays  8 p.m.

Thursdays  8 p.m.

Fridays  8 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Saturdays  8 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Sundays  7 p.m.

Tickets start at $31 and drinks are optional ( but make the evening very funny) and they do offer some good “eats”. We had the chicken strip basket, crispy artichokes and the corn dog basket. They need to do crispier fries, but when they are trying to get food out to so many in a short period, it is difficult. Come early if you are eating so you have the whole table to do so.

To make reservations/buy tickets, you can call 312-337-3992 or visit www.secondcity.com.  The box office is located in Pipers Alley at 230 West North Avenue.

The theater is located at 1616 N. Wells Street.

FYI: On week night performances, after the show you can stay in the theater for an improv experience called the “Third Act” where the performers will start to develop their next show. Sounds like a fun experience for those who are night owls.

To see what others are saying about the show, go to www.theatreinchicago.com, click at Review Round-Up and then “Do You Believe in Madness?”.