SHUT UP AND… SHOW US YOUR TWEETS
Starring Rob Baker, Dale Boyer, Adam Cawley, Darryl Hinds, Caitlin Howden, and Reid Janisse. Directed by Sandy Jobin-Bevans. Tue-Fri, 8pm; Sat 8pm & 10:30pm; Sun 7pm. Second City Mainstage (51 Mercer). $23/$28 for Fri & Sat shows. Indefinite run.
With age comes wisdom, and with that comes the gradual, grudging acceptance that Second City shows are, and will remain, as connected to their titles as Greenland is to the Andromeda Galaxy. This is the last you'll hear from me on the subject.
Nonetheless, in the spirit of SC's latest Twitter-branded outing, Shut Up and… Show Us Your Tweets, let's see if I can't stay in the implied spirit of things and parcel out a review in no more than 140 characters at a time. (Including spaces, with all the usual excessive punctuation but with a minimum of sloppy spelling.)
And away we go:
Whoa. So much turnover this time! Three noobs: Dale Boyer, Rob Baker from Touring Company and Adam Cawley. Saw him in Mantown. LOL!
"Shut up and show us your Tweets"? Meh. Better not be bunch of nerd jokes. Get enough of those from Big Bang Theory.
Fifth mainstage show for Darryl Hinds? Heard he'd been poached by Chicago. Video screen looks wicked cool. Ooo! Graphics!
Ha! Baker and Caitlen Howden work well as couple having long-distance phone sex. Ewww! "Back fat." Ha! Incest.
More political this time, like last one, 0% Down, 100% Screwed, but more bite. Mocking Miller and McGuinty — sort of. Or do they like them?
Reid Janisse cast as obnoxious American again in refugee sketch... and again in sketch about killer asteroid? Sounds like George W.
Oh Canada, where would you be without American jokes?
Why is SC serving us olives and pearl onions? Who do I have to blow to get a refill of... Oh right! The show!
OMG. Baker's musical number about seal clubbing. LOL! Like a hakapik blow to the skull of smug Canadiana.
This townhall healthcare sketch is funny, despite its reliance on cultural stereotypes.
This "there goes the neighborhood" sketch is fucking hilarious, because of its reliance on cultural stereotypes. Another win for Baker.
The new blood has made a difference. This show is tighter, lighter on its feet and wins by taking more risks.
Is it just me, or is Hinds meant to be Rick James in this H&M sketch?
Oh Ontario, where would you be without rest-of-Canada jokes?
Toronto? Same question.