At the age of 65 you might think that The Second City, the legendary Chicago comedy troupe, would be ready to retire. But between now and the holidays, there’s strong evidence at the Cincinnati Playhouse’s Shelterhouse Theatre that no one is slowing down. This is the fifth time that Second City has brought a comedy revue to the Playhouse as the “alternative” offering for the holidays — following last week’s early start, it’s onstage through late December, playing opposite A Christmas Carol.
It’s a feast of grown-up comedy (recommended for adults and older teens), culled from years of comedy performance and improvisation. Much of the material was originated by legendary performers who have gone on to star on Saturday Night Live and Second City Television — including John Belushi, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Eugene Levy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bill Murray, Bob Odenkirk, Catherine O’Hara, Amy Poehler and Martin Short.
The cast of six actors performing here in Cincinnati are definitely ready for prime time. Lanky and animated Acquah Dansoh, perky and sassy Jessica Joy, Adam Peacock with perfect comic timing, Allison Price who excels with songs and sultry stances, physically manic Dominic Rescigno and versatile Brittani Yawn (a grad of Miami University) have studied up on our area, so there are lots of local references, from the Bengals to Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse. There’s a generous helping of classic Second City material, especially a funny noir-detective skit created in 1959 by legendary actor Alan Arkin. Peacock is the hard-boiled narrator, and the rest of the cast play stereotypical characters interacting with an audience member. With suggestions from the audience, the talented improv performers unwind the story in an array of unexpected directions.
Several of the cast members have a long history with Second City, and they use their individual recollections of a first experience with a show as a springboard to resurrect a memorable routine. Each performer has moments to shine. Peacock excels as a sad sack guy on a first date, and Rescigno’s antic physical presence ranges from a sullen teenager and a frenetic gossip reporter to a windsock at a car dealership. One of the show’s highlights is the two of them angrily competing in a rigged game of Pictionary against Joy and Price who seem to telepathically have a series of slam dunks.
Numerous improv highlights make every performance unique. Asking the audience for a few suggestions — a locale, a situation, a pair of characters — they put together a hilarious series of scenes, especially one that interlocks and flips back and forth. Another segment offers a TV news team of anchors, weather, sports, gossip and in-the-field reporting that reconfigures several times with suggestions of various city settings from the audience.
Dansoh and Yawn do a split-screen of two couples living side by side in Over-the-Rhine. It requires them to play two very different pairs who cannot quite understand one another. It’s a showcase of acting talent with well-defined characters and high energy delivery. There’s another bit with two couples getting together after some time apart who now seem to have nothing in common.
Audiences will enjoy this show which is stuffed nightly with sketches, songs, blackouts and quick takes, including some catchy musical numbers. Self-effacing Matthew Pollack is the onstage music director, keyboard player and sound designer who accompanies much of the action with underscoring and sound effects. If you go, prepare to listen fast, since the comedy routinely exceeds the speed limit. You’ll be laughing so hard at the one scene that you might miss the next one that flies by.
These accomplished comedians will be onstage in Mount Adams for eight weeks for their two-act, two-hour performance. It’s highly likely that if you see the show twice, you’ll see two very different performances. Based on past history with the Second City at the Playhouse, these evenings will quickly be sold out. It’s an iconic avalanche of comedy that’s entertained Cincinnatians on multiple occasions over the years, and this one promises more of the same.
The Second City: 65th Anniversary Show, presented by the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, continues through Dec. 22. For tickets: 513-421-3888 or cincyplay.com.
This article appears in Oct 16-29, 2024.