The Real Chicago

Top Menu

  • Home
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact

Main Menu

  • Home
  • The Big City Blog
  • General Features
  • Around Town
    • First Look – Reviews
    • Hidden Gems
    • Inside Scoop
  • Eat. Drink. Shop.
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • A Round of Drinks
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Insider
    • The Local Corner
    • My Chicago
  • Interviews
  • Forum
Sign in / Join
  • Home
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact

logo

Header Banner

The Real Chicago

  • Home
  • The Big City Blog
  • General Features
  • Around Town
    • First Look – Reviews
    • Hidden Gems
    • Inside Scoop
  • Eat. Drink. Shop.
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • A Round of Drinks
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Insider
    • The Local Corner
    • My Chicago
  • Interviews
  • Forum
Breaking News

Chicago’s hidden gems: Kiss Kiss Cabaret, Unabridged Bookstore, Lulu Belle’s Pancake House and TNT at The Annoyance

First Look - ReviewsOld
Home›featured-blogs›First Look - Reviews›First Look review: Second City’s ‘Miracle on Wells Street’ at Up Comedy Club

First Look review: Second City’s ‘Miracle on Wells Street’ at Up Comedy Club

By TheRealChicagoOnline
December 9, 2013
1086
0
Share:

By Corey O’Day MIRACLE_545x395_web_art_001

Playing at: UP Comedy Club, 230 W. North Ave. www.UpComedyClub.com

When: Thursdays at 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., and Sundays at 7 p.m. through December 31.

Basic storyline: Second City strays a bit from its usual performances and debuts a brand-new holiday revue, Miracle on Wells Street. It’s a jumble of song, dance, sketch and Second City’s signature improvisation that darts about at the frantic pace of the holiday season.

What to expect: A fast-paced, sketch-heavy show about shopping, carol-singing, family road trips with an angry Siri, misspelled letters to Santa, and an attempt at acknowledging other winter holidays via PowerPoint — like Kwanza and the Festival of Wild Women.

What stood out: The improv skills of the cast. While the sketches and scripted snippets garnered chuckles from the audience, the genuine guffaws were a result of Second City’s tried-and-true strength: improvisation. Another particularly laugh-inducing moment was the impassioned duet between ensemble member Rachel LaForce and musical director Jacob Shuda: “We’re Finally Gonna F**k on Christmas.”

Final thoughts: Miracle on Wells Street is a fun, untamed combination of filth and family. The audience is tossed from comedy to sympathy and back again as the cast members flex their sketch-writing muscles to offer a little something for everyone during the holiday season.

TagsChicago ComedyCorey O'DayMiracle on Wells StreetSecond CityUp Comedy Club
Previous Article

First Look review: World’s Fair exhibit at ...

Next Article

First Look review: Step Up Productions’ “HoliDaze” ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

TheRealChicagoOnline

Related articles More from author

  • First Look - Reviews

    First Look review: Second City’s “Unelectable You” is a rollicking, tongue-in-cheek mockery of the 2016 election

    August 8, 2016
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • General Features

    Up Comedy Club: A sparking, versatile new venue from Second City

    October 1, 2012
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • First Look - Reviews

    First Look review: Brunch, bottomless mimosas and plenty of laughs at Second City’s new “Sunday Bloody Mary Sunday” show

    July 30, 2015
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • First Look - Reviews

    First Look review: Second City’s clever, quick-moving “Fast, Loud and Funny” boasts wide-ranging talent

    February 5, 2016
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • The Big City Blog

    The Big City Blog: Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival — the quirky, hilarious, community experience runs Jan. 10-20 at Stage 773

    January 3, 2019
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • Inside Scoop

    Inside Scoop: Free Millennium Park concerts and movies, Tuesdays on the Terrace at the MCA, farmers’ markets and deals

    May 31, 2016
    By TheRealChicagoOnline

You might be interested

  • Around TownGeneral Features

    Top Chef, Chicago style: Analyzing the city’s hottest restaurants

  • Around TownGeneral Features

    New on the scene: Recapping recent restaurant and bar openings in Chicago

  • Around TownOldThe Big City Blog

    The Big City Blog: A Chicago summer bucket list

Originally launched in 2006, The Real Chicago — as a glossy entertainment magazine, website and email newsletter — has consistently provided the very best insider information, features and reviews to help both tourists and active locals get the most out of exploring the greatest city on Earth.
© Copyright The Real Chicago. All rights reserved.

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login