“The couch is your coffin; and social media the funeral parlor”
Are current events getting you down? Starting to feel the weight of it all? Well The Second City’s The Revolution Will Be Improvised, now playing at the Kennedy Center through July 31st, may be what you need to laugh a little while you cry (or rage).
Performed by an amazingly talented ensemble cast, The Second City’s The Revolution Will Be Improvised does a lovely job of pulling topics from the headlines and poking fun at them while also not forgetting to address the real-world effect these events have on people in the present, and also the future.
Act one starts off strong with a rapid-fire pace of short skits and introduction to improv concepts that naturally takes the audience through the Second City process. The first such example of the latter came through a sketch about returning to the office after the covid-shut down that hit so flawlessly, it was hard not to see oneself going through the exact same situation played on stage. But it doesn’t end there. The cast will then re-enact the exact same scenario but in different time periods provided by audience participation; and while the essence of improv means no two shows will ever be exactly the same, the ability of the cast to flip their lines to reflect the dialog and pop-references of an entirely different era speaks leaps and bounds to the talent and knowledge of the cast.
Sculpted by the sharp-witted direction of Frank Caeti, this first-rate ensemble dazzles both as a collective, but also allows for plenty of opportunities for the individual members to shine and pulse on the stage. Sarah Dell’Amico shows remarkable range as she is able to fluidly move the audience across the emotional spectrum from hilarity to solemnity while always feeling 100% honest in her performance. Yazmin Ramos is a rock in her stead-fast manner of playing her comedy directly in such a way that only heightens the audience’s laughter because they did not see the joke coming. Adam Schreck truly shines in his confident knowledge of history and events and the fluid nature to which he is able to weave them into the performance to land a poignant joke, while Jordan Stafford has a wonderful intuition for subtle physicality. Brittani Yawn’s demure strength serves her well as she gives the show’s impassioned ending speech which ties the themes of the evening together. And finally, I had the joy of observing Toni Boutin (Understudy, performing for Sayjal Joshi), who felt the most natural and comfortable on the stage, as if they were indeed living and breathing the performance.
Veteran Second City writers Edgar Blackmon, Peter Grosz, and Allison Reese keep the heart of their sketches jovial while not being afraid to drop the hammer on the audience to make a point. Meanwhile, Musical Director Stuart Mott, has succeeded in not only creating several fun musical numbers (I’m still humming “Call Your Uncle”), but also has amassed an impressive collection of songs ready to play in order to match songs from eras improvised on the stage at any time.
The Revolution Will Be Improvised is not afraid to shy away from hard hitting topics. Everything topical from arming teachers, to online dating, to protests, to “Is It Cake,” and of course, abortion are addressed throughout the performance. And while often simultaneously poignant and hilarious, I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least address a few points sprinkled throughout the performance that didn’t quite land with the audience in the way which was probably intended. Most notably, the recurring skit of “Brittani on her phone” seemed to want to be the vein connecting the skits and themes throughout, but mainly came across as jarring to the pace of the overall performance as it did not come across as having a direct point until the final scene. And while the payoff scene is fine in what it achieves, it could have been stand-alone.
All in all, there are far more hits than misses, and of course, no two improvisational performances will ever be the same. But one thing is sure, you are guaranteed to laugh!
The world is a difficult place to exist in nowadays, and the ensemble of The Second City’s The Revolution Will Be Improvised will take you on a journey through today’s headlines cathartically and therapeutically as a means to laugh and cry at the events surrounding us. Performances run through the end of July, but don’t miss your chance to witness the brilliance of this Second City ensemble!
Running Time: Approximately 2 hours, including one fifteen-minute intermission.
The Second City’s The Revolution Will Be Improvised plays at the Kennedy Center June 18th through July 31st, 2022 in the Theater Lab at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC. For tickets call the box office at (202) 467-4600 or purchase them online.
