Oh my, my, Phoenix has been invaded by the east coast funny people! When a comedy troupe with as much brains and brash as Second City’s gang of Chicagoans spend a few weeks getting to know Phoenix, you can bet the result is nothing less than hilarity and hijinks extraordinaire.
Performing on the center stage at the Valley’s illustrious Herberger Theater, Second City Does Arizona is extending their run on our town through May 16 and the jokes just keep coming. When you are boasting the name Second City, which has turned out every single comedian worth knowing in our country from Bill Murray, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Mike Myers, Tina Fey, Steve Carrell, and Stephen Colbert (just to name a few of their celebrity alumni), you better be packing some laughs, and this show doesn’t disappoint.
It’s no secret that our town is the hot spot of discussion right now with certain laws being passed, and as this cast puts it, we’re virtually “comedy Christmas” at the moment. Taking their original sketch comedy approach along with the ever-funny improvisational games, this show keeps the audience rolling from the opening song. Utilizing audience members for sketches and building upon Arizona current events, this group is just as quick, intelligent, and witty as their legacy leads you to believe.
Hitting on every Arizona hot topic from certain controversial immigrations laws, John Mcain hero songs, javelina raps, and a constant reminder that our state is hosting about one billion traffic ticket cameras, you cannot help but agree that this gang has got us down! While some of their humor pokes a little close to home, you cannot help but laugh at their astute observations and hilarious outsider views on what we call the norm in this beautiful state. Their depictions of city resident stereotypes (Tucson folk loving the natural beauty of cacti while Scottsdale patrons just want to go clubbing) alone is worth seeing this show, as they hit the nail on the head over and over again. From golf obsession to scorching car door handles, Second City Does Arizona is no misnomer; these remarkably funny people didn’t miss a beat while visiting the amazing desert we call home.
