“Together at Last”

Highly Recommended **** It felt great! That is what it felt like to be back in “Old Town” where comedy is second nature. Yes, we were back at Second City ( after roughly 18 months of very little laughter) for their 109th staged original revue. “Together at last” is the title and as usual, it is written by the funny cast members and directed by Anneliese Toft with music by Jeff Bouthiette. It has been 707 days since their last main stage production opened. That is a VERY long time.

The layout is as I remember it, but to please the AEA and to keep their staff and audience as safe as possible, the seating has been changed. The first section near the stage is vacant. The tables and chairs are in place, but they have roped off that section and have spaced the other audience areas to limit the nearness of each audience member. People who are 2nd City regulars will see that they cannot play off the audience as in the past and they do not bring up anyone. They also, to make things easier, ask people to TEXT specific items during the show so they can pop them on screens. These are key words that they must use to do “improv”. This replaces the “yell-out” from the past.

The show , is in fact, a celebration of how we have made it through the “pandemic” and they touch on every topic that we experiences thru the pandemic. The Insurrection becomes a musical number as does a very special musical depicting “Divorce- the Musical” ( a very funny bit) handled to perfection by Sarah Dell’Amico and  new cast member, Evan Mills ( he has unbelievable facial gestures).

This is a highly energetic cast, who after 707 days appear to be happy to be back where they belong. Many audience members, when watching a show at 2nd City, start to imagine which of these sharp talents will someday be on “Saturday Night Live” ( many of those stars got their training at 2Nd City). I truly believe that these two could easily make it along with the genius of  Jordan Savusa and Mary Catherine Curran.

I am not minimizing the work of Asia Martin and Adam Schreck. They are solid, but if I were to select which ones would be right for SNL, I would have to say Savusa, Dell’Amico first, Mills to follow and then Curran- they are spellbinding performers who grab you and you find yourself hoping they will be in the next set.

When you watch “improv” each show is unique based on the suggestions made by the audience. There were a few times tonight when cast members broke up and as someone who performed in the past, being in an audience when this occurs is fun. Watching the cast member start to laugh and watching their mind spinning trying to figure out what to do to get back in the scene is fun, and doesn’t happen often. When it does, it creates a memory that you will have forever.

The show has lots of political material, vaccinations, PTA situations, and is roughly two hours of having a blast and forgetting what was and  looking forward to what will be. The most important part of the evening is laughing until it hurts ( a very good hurt), having some yummy vittles and a drink or two.

“Together At Last” is an “open run” with performances as follows:

Wednesdays 7 p.m.

Thursdays   7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Fridays  7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Saturdays  7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Sundays  7 p.m.

Tickets start at $29 and are available by calling 312-337-3992 or online at www.secondcity.com

Second City entrance is now at 230 West North Avenue. There is a check-in booth where they will look at your vaccination card and Photo ID

Mask are required during the entire show except when eating or drinking.

The material, as always , is not for children .

There is parking in the garage adjacent to the theater.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Together at last”.

note: Actors Equity Asscoiation=AEA