Saturday night, the Arizona Theatre Company lassoed the Second City to Phoenix in a no-holds barred world premiere comedy revue all about Arizona. The SECOND CITY DOES ARIZONA is an original revue of comic sketches, improvisations, catchy songs, and even a few dances aimed at everything and everyone that is unique to Arizona. Leave your thin skin at home and be prepared for a night of belly laughs.
Second City alums include Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Bill Murray, John Belushi, and Gilda Radner. Saturday’s Opening Night performance included hilarious performances from Ryan Archibald, Amanda Blake Davis, Cody Dove, Lauren Dowden, Martin Garcia, and Andel Sudik.
For approximately two hours, these very talented and clever performers poked fun at everything unique to Arizona including photo radar, the Stupid Motorist Laws, the Arizona heat, golf carts, snowbirds from the Midwest and, yes, even a few of our local politicians. Bet you can’t guess which ones!
I thought the Second City performers were at their comedic best when they did on-the-spot improvisations à la Whose Line Is It Anyway? style. Two good sports from the front-row audience, Belinda from Hong Kong and Bob the Mining Consultant (Yes, these are real people. I’m not making them up) volunteered a little information about themselves and before the audience knew it, we were treated to song and dance routines and hilarious one-liners about Belinda and Bob. Somehow I don’t know if Bob the Mining Consultant’s life will ever be the same, especially after Andel Sudik’s dead-panned comment about black lung disease which just about brought the house down.
Yes, you had to be there. And, yeah, you really should be there!
Due to popular demand, The Arizona Theatre Company has extended the Second City Does Arizona until Sunday, May 16 at the Herberger Theater Center. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Arizona Theatre Company Box Office at www.arizonatheatre.org.