By D. A. Blackburn
In its latest offering, The Second City invites guests into its home for 75 minutes of "fresh air." As performer Nancy Hayden explains at the production's outset, the company's normally scathing satires are frequently punctuated with breezy musical interludes that serve to break the tension of heated scenes. In this new production, "Songs of The Second City," four players revisit some of the company's most memorable musical moments from the last half century.
The concept of "Songs of The Second City" is alluring, as the "fresh air" in a Second City production often yields some of a show's biggest laughs. And in this respect, the production delivers as consistently as the postal service.
Along with Hayden, Margaret Exner, Quintin Hicks and Rico Bruce Wade all tackle their material with gusto and poise. They display their comedic talents with a mix of physical comedy, improv and non-musical play that serves as easy compliment to the work's musical focus. All perform well within the musical requirements of the production, and at times, each shines for their vocal prowess as well as their comedic abilities.
"Songs of The Second City" covers a lot of ground thematically, as songs range in subject matter from urban decay to racism, and from emasculation to the (inappropriate) nature of young love. In a particularly funny number, two senile nuns sit with a priest as he tries to select music for the funeral of their mother superior. Hicks, as the sole vocalist of the scene, serves as the group's phonograph player, and nearly steals the show in a moment of inventive and hilarious vocal work.
"Songs of The Second City" is, in fact, a breezy and light production. It's a single act romp that lacks the fire of the company's average production, but maintains a sharp and satirical tongue – garnering big laughs in a tidy package.
REVIEW:
'Songs of The Second City'
The Second City, 42705 Grand River Ave., Novi. Wed.-Sun., through June 8. Tickets: $15-$20. For information: 248-348-4448 or http://www.secondcity.com
