Second City is “Black and Highly Flavored” this February and March

The annual Black Excellence Review at the Second City is four years in and has become a great way to spend an evening in the dead of Chicago winter. In a time when light-heartedness has become a radical act, this year’s theme is JOY – while honoring Black artistry, humor, resilience, and community.

Mainstage alumni Julia Morales is the first woman of color to direct a Second City Black Excellence Revue, and she takes Second City’s tried and true formula of long and short-form sketches, musical numbers and improv games to a place with a vibrant, celebratory feel. One of the best aspects of Second City is that the performers always seem to be having a good time, and this show was no exception. Music Director Cesar Romero was particularly involved in this show, and the same could be said for him! He provided emotional tone and even punchlines with sound that felt organic and impromptu – hard to do with music. In one sketch, he was key for the Dance fight through decades of music that was impossible not to dance and sing to, right along with the cast.

As ever with comedy shows, one doesn’t want to give too much away, but my personal favorite sketches were often the ones that dealt with identity, or nostalgia. A repeated sketch was The Crits Family Show, a play on 80s and 90’s era sitcoms, that managed to stay sharp, funny and current while still giving memories of classics like Living Single, Family Matters, and even older shows like Good Times. Another fun one was Two Girls in a Taco Truck, which had a wild time with all of the many ways people can choose to identify – while staying appropriately raunchy.  

Another sketch played with the experience of social awkwardness, and yet another with middle school girls celebrating Black History, but you know, Sexxxxay. Happily, outright silliness was a feature as well, like a sketch about a cat roommate and another involving missing pants that had the audience roaring.

The cast deftly jumped from role to role, keeping the momentum going and using their own, specific talents to great effect. E.J. Cameron channels a spot on professor of history, a crazy old man and a silly, forgetful waiter with such believability, I found myself looking for him in every scene. Jillian Ebanks’ warm smile and welcoming air lent a wholesomeness that wouldn’t seem likely, given the subject of some of the skits. Jason Tolliver has the air of a buttoned up businessman but then busts a dance move with such commitment and enthusiasm that all assumptions fly out the window. Tyler VanDuvall enters every role with a confidence and old-school charm that makes his forays into outright silliness even more entertaining than they would otherwise be. Lauren Walker has total command over her body, disappearing completely into her roles, but also, in a few scenes, using it like a musician would an instrument, or a clown, props. Finally, Kimberly Michelle Vaughn’s obvious formal dance training and total commitment to insanity is used to perfection in a scene about a dance audition.

In case there was any doubt that the cast was having at least as much fun as the audience, they played two more improv games at the end of the show. Their quick wit and good nature made for an interactive night. The audience, it seemed, was yet another cast member. If a night of culture, comedy and camaraderie sounds like a good time, Black and Highly Flavored is where to be.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Alina C. Hevia

Black and Highly Flavored runs February 5 – March 20, with performances on Thursdays and Fridays at 8pm in UP Comedy Club, located at 230 W North Ave, 3rd Floor of Piper’s Alley, Chicago. Tickets start at $39 and are available at The Second City Box Office, by phone at 312-337-3992, or online atwww.secondcity.com

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.