Second City Toronto – Way Better Than SNL
March 23rd, 2009 by winna | Featured Blogger |
| picture courtesy of Second City Toronto |
A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending my first Second City performance. Boy was I impressed, especially considering my growing disappoint of Saturday Night Live. Albeit, I must say it has gotten slightly better since the Sarah Palin sketches. Nevertheless, Second City is way better. Not having seen the original Chicago show, I have no real other comparison to draw from other than SNL.
So what makes Second City better than SNL? First, I have to of course include the fact that the sketches are indeed longer and therefore, I guess, easier, to pack in more funny than it would be for shorter SNL sketches. Secondly, I would like to point out that the actors in the sketches were oftentimes the ones who wrote the sketches, and can therefore present the sketches they way they intended to. Unlike SNL (where big corporate owners control everything since it’s broadcast on live television), Second City (I am assuming of course), has more liberty as to what they want done. Lastly, Second City is pretty much a different show altogether, but for the purposes of this article I equate the two simply because they’re both sketch comedy shows.
Now with that being said, let’s move on and not make further excuses as to why SNL can’t help but suck. The Second City show I saw was packed full of surprises and randomness. Topics included the recession (but with a tastefully comedic spin), racism, sex, break-ups, random people standing around and looking at you, politics (with a spot-on impersonation of President Barack Obama), etc. The show was brilliant, not only in its versatility of topics and ability to bring up controversial and recent subject matter, but because of its delivery. The dialogue was tasteful and considerate, flawlessly presented with quick wit and charm.
The only thing I wasn’t so keen on was the improv which comes after the 2-hour scripted part. The improv lacked any real substance and just seemed to drag on hopelessly. The actors tried, as they may, to be shocking and funny. That just fell flat and left the audience, well at least me, feeling weirded out and uncomfortable. There were of course some funny moments but nothing really worth staying the extra hour for.
To learn more about Second City Toronto and other shows playing, visit their website.
March 23rd, 2009 at 8:28 am
Although I haven’t seen the current show, I had grown weary of Second City’s offerings over the past few years. But then again, I remember their classic days, both in the current location, and way back in the Old Firehouse on Lombard Street (I remember seeing Gilda Radner and Dan Ackroyd before they went to SNL). But some of the best improv theatre available in the city happens at Bad Dog Theatre on the Danforth. $10 per show and it’s always fresh and pretty smart.
March 23rd, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Bad Dog theatre, hmm? Never heard of it. I hope it’s as good as whose line is it anyway! I shall check it out sometime. Thanks for the suggestion!
March 27th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
=O Bad Dog Theatre? I pass by it sometimes, it’s less than 5 minutes away from Broadview subway station I believe.