Second Thoughts

I recently listened to a CD of classic Second City sketches through the years. I wasn't as impressed as I expected. They weren't horrible, but they weren't that much better than what you'd see from a clever college troupe.

I should admit off the bat I'm being unfair, because these CD was compiled from old tapes not meant for release. (Sometimes the sound was so bad it was tough to listen to). Also, these were live performances meant for live audiences, and recordings of such generally don't capture the spirit of being there.

But were there other reasons for my lack of excitement (beyond, perhaps, expecting too much?). One thing is the Second City style. They develop character-based material, and rely on the personalities of the performer, sometimes at the expense of clever dialogue. Audiences may like it, but more purely written material tends to have sharper lines. Also, they pride themselves on seeming up to date, even cutting edge--that sort of material can date fast.

One thing I liked, though. Because of their improv training, they listen to what others say and respond to it. This means they avoid a common cliche in comedy, which is one person operating at cross-purposes with another--in other words, one guy doing something totally incomprehensible to the other, with the other guy constantly smiting his forehead. Their characters try to communicate, and generally understand each other, which opens up different areas for humor.

The list of people who performed at Second City is impressive. Their experience there was valuable, but I think the main reason so many great names are attached to the institution is that the place attracted people who were top talent to begin with.