****/4 “Pandemonium, Please Hold” is smart, hysterically chaotic and a triumph of mainstage shows. This is one of the funniest shows I’ve seen at Second City. It captures the best of what we have come to expect from S.C. performers. The scenes are topical and at many times, gleefully unhinged. This show is fresh, current, relevant and sharply polished; the cast is seasoned and connected. They have audiences laughing at the chaos and never buried by it. The show title is a perfect reflection of what they have in store for us for about two hours.
The show is strongly anchored by Bill Letz (returning to the Mainstage for his second revue), Second City touring alums: Preston Parker, Cat McDonnell, Zoe McKee, Second City e.t.c alum Eddie Mujica, , and Yazmin Ramos (alum of the inaugural Second City New York ensemble); the ensemble is nimble, focused, comfortable and sharp from the opening thru the encore. In fact, what makes this revue work so well is the momentum and comfort of the cast with each other (keeping rhythm on one woman’s chest area seems to be no privacy intrusion at all). There is mutual trust and connection between them.
The show never lingers too long (with the possible exception of a sketch about a Disney Cruise facing a Titanic fate) and always runs at full power. The balance between spontaneity, improv and planned sketches is exactly what gives the evening its charge. The take on driverless delivery vehicles is classic and the first time I’ve ever seen the very current topic addressed.
The writing found new ways to widen a joke without losing the point. This was brilliantly exhibited in a sketch about how comedy writers will keep A.I. from interfering with live comedy writing and performance. With audience input, it became instantly fluid and relatable; this scene is sure to be fresh and new every night; I wish I could watch it over and over with new audience suggestions. Similarly, the shift to musical numbers raises the energy up and keeps the production alive from one scene to the next.
The production also benefits from Second City’s always clean, minimalist staging. Even a set of simple chairs adds hilarity to a scene where the performer needs to move down the line of chairs at her mother’s funeral…somehow six chairs transform into twelve! As always on a Second City stage, the minimalist design enables the audience to focus on the performers who are always front and center.
Most importantly, this ensemble plays as a true unit. Each performer is listening, matching, and building on the rhythm in real time.
This is the kind of Second City show that reminds you why live sketch comedy is a classic not-to-be-missed Chicago experience. The audiences here are smart and the comedy on stage is as well…it’s quick, responsive, and reflective of our current moment without feeling inappropriate or disposable.
“Pandemonium, Please Hold” is enjoying an Open Run.
Performances are as follows:
Tuesdays 8 p.m.
Wednesdays 8 p.m.
Thursdays 8 p.m.
Fridays 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Saturdays 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Sundays 7 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at: www.secondcity.com. Don’t put your effort to get tickets and see this show on hold….get to it!
Second City is located at 1616 N. Wells Street
box office 312-337-3992
To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Pandemonium, Please Hold”.
Frank Meccia’s review
**** It’s hard to believe that The Second City, the legendary home of improvisational comedy, is now 67 years old. The very place that helped launch generations of comedy stars and fed talent into Saturday Night Live for more than 50 years is still proving why Chicago remains one of the greatest theatre cities in America. With its newest Mainstage production, “Pandemonium, Please Hold,” the famed comedy institution reminds audiences exactly why it continues to matter.
This is the 114th Mainstage Revue, and admittedly, some productions over the past several years have occasionally missed the mark. That is not the case here. “Pandemonium, Please Hold” is sharp, fearless, energetic, and consistently funny from beginning to end. It feels like a true return to form — the kind of fast-moving, socially observant comedy revue that made Second City famous in the first place.
The cast of six seasoned performers works together like a perfectly tuned machine, each bringing their own unique comedic strengths while still functioning beautifully as an ensemble. The chemistry between the performers is undeniable, and every sketch feels polished without losing the spontaneity that audiences expect from Second City.
Chicago native Bill Lutz proves throughout the evening that years of training and experience have paid off. His comedy style is never forced. He understands that timing, facial expressions, and subtle reactions can often be funnier than delivering a punchline loudly. His physical comedy and understated delivery consistently earned laughs, and his stage presence gave many scenes an effortless rhythm.
One of the true breakout stars of the night was Zoe McKee. Originally from Oklahoma, McKee absolutely commanded the stage every time she appeared. Bold, fearless, and bursting with personality, she delivered some of the loudest audience reactions of the evening. Every sketch she participated in seemed to elevate instantly once she entered. Her confidence, comic timing, and ability to fully commit to outrageous characters made her impossible to ignore. She has appeared on Second City stages before, but this production truly showcases just how dynamic and powerful a comedic performer she has become.
Cat McDonnell also delivered standout work throughout the production. Her solo musical sketch was one of the highlights of the night, demonstrating not only strong comedic instincts but impressive musical talent as well. Playing piano while delivering hilarious original lyrics, she blended satire and performance beautifully. The sketch was smart, polished, and one of the evening’s most memorable moments.Chicago native Preston Parker showed remarkable versatility in both ensemble work and solo moments. Whether playing exaggerated characters or grounding scenes with subtle reactions, Parker consistently added energy and balance to the production. His chemistry with the rest of the cast was especially noticeable during the faster-paced ensemble sketches
.Yazmin Ramos, who has spent considerable time performing in New York, was exceptional in every role she tackled. Her ability to switch seamlessly between characters and emotional tones made her one of the most versatile performers of the evening. Ramos possesses the kind of range and confidence that could very easily transition to Saturday Night Live or other national comedy platforms
The final member of the cast, Eddie Mujica, may have delivered some of the most underrated work of the night. His facial expressions alone generated huge laughs, and his ability to portray multiple personalities within rapid scene changes was incredibly impressive. Mujica brought a controlled chaos to several sketches that perfectly matched the revue’s frantic comedic energy. With experience appearing on numerous major television productions, he brought a professional polish that elevated the entire ensemble.
The production is expertly directed by Carisa Barreca, whose experience with previous revues is evident throughout the evening. Barreca understands pacing, transitions, and how to keep momentum moving without allowing sketches to drag. Even during scene changes, the show maintained a smooth and polished rhythm.
Technically, everything was up to the high standards audiences expect from Second City. The lighting, sound, backstage coordination, and musical elements all operated flawlessly. For a two-hour production with an intermission, the evening moved remarkably smoothly and never felt overly long.
The food and drink service remains mostly the same as longtime patrons will remember. Service felt slightly slower during this performance, although that may have been partially due to the theatre being kept unusually cold from the air conditioning. Still, those minor issues hardly distracted from the overall experience.
Most importantly, this revue feels like it has staying power. With its open run already announced, it is easy to imagine “Pandemonium, Please Hold” becoming one of the stronger long-running revues in recent years. The combination of sharp writing, fearless performances, and outstanding ensemble chemistry gives the show tremendous replay value.
At a time when audiences desperately need reasons to laugh, The Second City once again proves why live comedy remains so important. Parking in the area is relatively easy; the venue remains one of Chicago’s most iconic entertainment destinations, and the night is absolutely worth the trip.
If you have not been to Second City in a while, this is the revue that should bring you back. “Pandemonium, Please Hold” is funny, energetic, timely, and exactly the kind of smart Chicago comedy audiences have been waiting for.
The show plays Tuesday-Thursday at 8 pm. Friday and Saturdays at 6:30 pm and 9:30 pm, and Sundays at 7 pm. Located at 1616 N. Wells Street, Chicago, Tickets start at $40, and are available at the Second City box office, or by phone at 312-337-3992 or online at www.secondcity.com.
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