New Second City revue mines postelection 'Discontent' for laughs
“The Winner ... of Our Discontent,” the latest Second City revue, makes explicit in its title everything about its content.
Animated by the lingering, postelection malaise still afflicting millions of Americans, Second City's 105th main stage revue focuses heavily on the national rift the election exposed.
Written and performed by main stage veterans Paul Jurewicz, Rashawn Nadine Scott and Jamison Webb along with newcomers Shantira Jackson, Kelsey Kinney and Martin Morrow, the fair to middling “Winner” examines a broken America. Beginning on an optimistic note, director Anthony LeBlanc's production opens with Chicago Cubs fans and Hillary Clinton supporters cheering history in the making, only to discover “as one curse ends, another begins.”
In one of the show's most pointed and poignant sketches, the terrific Jackson muses on “Black Heaven,” where Prince is Jesus and “black folks can just be.” Morrow riffs on his native Alabama, exporter of football and racism. A computer technician suggests to a woman with a malfunctioning alt key, try alt-right. And Donald Trump's sons (Jurewicz and Webb) wander through the audience praising “president daddy” and promising a presidential library comprised of picture books.
The talented young ensemble takes aim at familiar targets: white privilege, black fear, racism, misogyny, dysfunctional roommates, dysfunctional couples and dysfunctional families.
“Winner” delivers some clever bits and several poignant moments. A Lake Forest investment banker (everyman Jurewicz) smokes pot with his mother; a grandmother issues her millennial grandson a political call to action; and an overly dramatic driver's ed teacher (the deliciously frenetic Scott) overwhelms her students.
The indefatigable Jurewicz plays a Cubs bat boy running interference for a battling couple, while Scott plays a savvy psychic who comforts Kinney's grieving teen. A skit about suburban homeowners watering their lawns and riffing on audience suggestions features a deft turn by Webb.
But some sketches - a reality show hosted by Hillary Clinton and one about a bass player hired to cheer up a kid recovering from an appendectomy - go on too long. Others lack the sting satire requires. Film critic Owen Gleiberman opined as much Dec. 6 in a Variety essay comparing Trump's ascendancy to a Sacha Baron Cohen movie.
“In addition to rock-solid investigative reporting, what this era now needs - demands - is an intensity of satire,” Gleiberman wrote. “A higher level of satirical brinkmanship is called for. The old liberal nose-thumbing won't suffice. What's required is a satire rooted in audacity, in cutthroat perception, in a mastery of images.”
Here's hoping Second City rises to the challenge.
One thing more. Earlier this year, several Second City ETC cast members resigned after they say patrons made racist remarks to them and fellow audience members, a trend that some say is fueled by the president-elect's rhetoric.
In response, the theater posted a warning. It reads: “Second City has a zero-tolerance policy and does not allow hate speech of any kind whether it's directed toward our artists, employees or patrons. Those verbalizing any homophobic, misogynistic, xenophobic, racist or prejudiced comments will be asked to leave.”
No one should have to endure hate speech. And no theater artist should be made to feel unsafe on stage. But comedians and improvisers - by virtue of their talent and training - are in a unique position to respond to verbal attacks from obnoxious patrons.
Certainly, servers and security guards have a responsibility to cut off and eject disorderly, overserved audience members. But a barbed retort works almost as well against a boor and bigot. Here's hoping Second City cast members fill their quivers with an array of stinging responses, and, when the time is right, let the arrows fly.
“The Winner ... of Our Discontent”
★ ★ ½
Location: The Second City, 1616 N. Wells St., Chicago, (312) 664-4032 or
Showtimes: 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 8 and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Tickets: $19-$36
Running time: About two hours, with intermission
Parking: Paid lots nearby, limited street parking
Rating: For adults, includes sexual references, mature subject matter and language